West Somerset Radio has been found in breach of its Ofcom licence for failing to broadcast since May last year.
The Minehead-based community station, operated by West Somerset Community Radio C.I.C., went silent on 31 May 2024 after running into financial difficulties and has not returned to air since.
In Ofcom’s Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin (Issue 531, 6 October 2025), the regulator confirmed that the station is in breach of Licence Condition 2(1) for failing to provide its licensed service.
West Somerset Radio told Ofcom it ceased operations when its bank accounts were frozen and the station became unable to meet costs such as studio rent. The directors said the decision to stop broadcasting was “entirely unintentional” and that they initially explored transferring the licence to a new entity before deciding to restore the existing operation instead.
The station said it has since secured new transmission hardware through a donation from a local engineering contractor and is working with volunteers and former presenters to relaunch the service. Internet and power connections are being reinstated, and an engineer was booked to complete installation work in September. The station now expects to return to air by the end of this year.
Ofcom acknowledged the station’s voluntary status and efforts to resume service but noted concern that listeners have been without the community station for more than a year. The regulator said it will monitor progress and expects West Somerset Radio to provide regular updates on its plans to restart broadcasts.