Ofcom has today announced the award of four new community radio licences in England and Northern Ireland.
The new stations will serve communities in Carlisle in Cumbria; Amersham and Chesham in Buckinghamshire; Wallingford, Oxfordshire; and Ballymena in County Antrim.
Community radio services are provided on a not-for-profit basis, focusing on the delivery of specific social benefits to a particular area or community of interest.
More than 290 community radio stations are currently on air.
The four new community radio licences have been awarded to:
Border City Radio (Border City Radio Ltd), Carlisle, Cumbria
Contact name: Rafe Parker
Border City Radio will provide a service for all sections of the community in Carlisle. It will focus on bringing people together, helping the deprived and developing skills for young people.
Chiltern Voice (Chiltern Voice Limited) Amersham and Chesham, Buckinghamshire
Contact name: Andy Hubble
Website: www.chilternvoice.fm
Chiltern Voice will serve the people of Amersham and Chesham and the surrounding villages, providing music and community information.
Wallingford Radio (Wallingford Radio Limited) Wallingford, Oxfordshire
Contact name: Ian Fell
Website: www.wallingfordradio.co.uk
Wallingford Radio will be a source of local information, news and entertainment for Wallingford and surrounding villages in south Oxfordshire. It will also support social and charitable organisations in the local area.
Radio Ballymena (Ballymena On Air Limited), Ballymena, County Antrim
Contact name: Brian Reynolds
Radio Ballymena will provide a community-focused service for residents of Ballymena and will support community and cultural projects in the local area.
The licences are awarded for a five-year period. A statement setting out the main determining factors for the award of the licences above can be found on the Ofcom website.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. In addition to the licence awards detailed above, Ofcom considered one further application, but decided not to award a licence to the following:
- Radio 3C (3 C Broadcasting Limited), Burghclere, Hampshire