Good news for some...

15/12/2005
Ofcom announced today that seven more Community Radio stations have been awarded full five year licences in Central and East Brighton, Colchester, Plymouth, West Hull, Bankside – London, Hackney – London, Southall – London.  This brings the total number of Community Radio stations licensed to 62.  A list of the new stations follows. In addition, Ofcom also announced 32 non awards in the London area and one in Scotland. The remaining 11 London applications, all of which propose to broadcast on FM, are still under consideration.  However, because of limited suitable FM frequencies available, Ofcom has stated that it does not expect to be able to license more than a small number of community radio stations in the FM band in the Greater London area.

Diane Reid, Director of the CMA, said: “The spectacular growth of the Community Media sector in the last year is an important reward for the dedication that Community Media groups have to improving the places where people live.  We are however disappointed by the outcome for London where the greatest demand from a diverse range of communities exists for Community Radio licences. It is our hope that this situation can be improved and earlier this year we started working on methods of taking this forward.”

Amarjit Khera, Station Manager of newly licensed Desi Radio in West London said: “Desi Radio is delighted to gain a five year licence and is looking forward to a new era of community radio broadcasting''

A special session on Community Radio for London was held at the CMA AGM earlier this year: participants made a number of recommendations including suggestions that all stations, not just those with 5 year licences, should be supported and resourced, that stations should work together and that Ofcom should not force groups to look for their own frequencies.

The Community Media Association has requested meetings with both Ofcom and
the DCMS to discuss future options for frequency availability.

Community Radio stations are a new tier of not-for profit broadcasters, owned and run by local people, mostly volunteers, which enable communities throughout the UK to use the medium of radio to create new opportunities for regeneration, employment, learning, social cohesion and inclusion as well as cultural and creative expression. For more than 20 years the CMA and its members have campaigned for Community Radio licences, achieving this last year, when the Community Radio Order was passed.

Applications for the first wave of full time Community Radio licences were invited in September 2004. Ofcom received 194 applications for full five year licences to be issued in 2005 and is currently assessing those applications and examining frequency availability options.

 

List Of The New Community Radio Licensees

The new community radio licensees in each of these areas are:

RadioReverb (Central and East Brighton)
Contact: Karen Cass
170 North Street, Brighton BN1 1EA
Tel: 01273 323040
email: karen.cass@earshot.org.uk

RadioReverb will provide a community radio service for the Central and East Brighton areas, focusing on the needs of the deprived Marine and Moulsecoomb wards and other underserved groups.


Colchester Garrison FM
Contact: Major (retired) David Cassey OBE
Colcester Army Radio, NAAFI, Colcester, Essex CO2 9PF
Tel: 01206 782020 or 01206 782589
email: Colchesterarmyradio@garrisonradio.com

Colchester Garrison FM’s target community comprises soldiers, their families and Ministry of Defence civilians in Colchester.


Spirit of Plymouth FM
Contact: Christopher Girdler
Cornerstone House, 28 Old Park Road, Peverell, Plymouth, Devon PL3 4PY
Tel: 01752 242272, email: chris@cornerstonevision.com

Spirit of Plymouth FM will serve the Christian community of Plymouth.


West Hull Community Radio (West Hull)
Contact: Barry Robinson
56 Gorsedale, Sutton Park, Hull, HU7 4AT
Tel: 07986 127999
email: john.harding@btinternet.com

West Hull Community Radio will aim to provide a service to all of the community in West Hull.


Resonance FM (South Bank & Bankside)
Contact: Ed Baxter
London Musicians’ Collective Ltd, 3.6 Lafone House, 11-13 Leathermarket Street, London SE1 3HN.
Tel: 07817 082620,
email: info@resonancefm.com
website: www.resonancefm.com

This service is targeted at inner London’s community of practising artists and those outside the mainstream media. The audience also includes the socially deprived, minority groups and the culturally under-represented.


Sound Radio (Hackney)
Contact: Lol Gellor
Sound Vision Trust, 15 Olympus Square, Hackney, London E5 8PL.
Tel: 020 8533 4003
email: lol@svt.org.uk
website: www.soundradio.info

This station will broadcast on AM and continue to target the diverse range of communities that comprise Hackney and East London. The station offers a schedule of multi-cultural multi-lingual programming with a backbone of English language community output.


Desi Radio (Southall)
Contact: Ms Amarjit Khera
The Panjabi Centre Ltd, 30 Sussex Road, Southall, Middx UB2 5EG.
Tel: 020 8574 9591
email: info@desiradio.org.uk
Website: www.desiradio.org.uk.

Desi Radio provides a community radio service for the Panjabi community in West London, including the different faith communities and nationalities, and people of all ages. It broadcasts on AM.


Ofcom decided not to award licences to the following 33 applicants: 32 in
London and one in Dumfries and Galloway
Slough Asian Radio
Citizen Radio, Slough
Difusion FM, Wembley
Link FM Radio, Brent
2.4 Stadium FM, Brent
Brent Life
Avenues FM, Queens Park & Paddington
Bounce FM, Holloway Road
Issue FM, Lambeth
TLS FM, Lambeth
City Radio Clapham Park
ECO Radio, Wandsworth
Demo FM, Streatham Hill
Radio Peckham
Raven Sound, Bromley
Azhar Community Radio, Forest Gate
Betar Bangla, Tower Hamlets
Radio BG London, Leytonstone
Akasamona Radio, Hackney
Break FM, Newham
Gina FM, Newham
From the Nam FM, Dagenham
Red FM, Redbridge
Gravesham Community Radio, Gravesend
Shalom FM, Hendon
Hope Link Radio, Haringey
City Radio Haringey
Edmonton FM
GU1, Guildford
Sussex Surrey Radio, Redhill
Eafm, London-wide
Radio La Voz, London-wide

Lowland Radio, Dumfries & Galloway