[cma-l] Council in tune with community radio

[CMA-L]

{Press release]

Taunton Deane Borough Council is on the same wavelength as bidders hoping to
launch a new community radio station serving the county town.

The Council is supporting the principle of a hyper-local news, views,
comment and
entertainment station – but is not favouring any single bid.

Ofcom, the regulatory organisation for communications in the United Kingdom, is
inviting applications for licences in the South West with a closing date of
21 July 2011.

The Borough Council understands that at least three bids are being submitted to
cover the Taunton area and is supporting the principle while not
backing any single
contender.

Community radio stations typically cover a small geographical area
with a coverage
radius of up to 5km and run on a not-for-profit basis.

A successful station – 10 Radio – has been set up in Wiveliscombe and has gone
from strength to strength providing community programming for the rural area.

Borough Council Leader Councillor John Williams, Deputy Leader
Councillor Mark Edwards, who also holds the communications brief, and
Councillor Jane Warmington, responsible for Community Leadership, have met
some of the applicants to learn of their plans.

Councillor  Warmington said:  “We don’t yet know when Ofcom will announce the
successful bid but it will probably be in early autumn.

“The licence runs for five years and can be extended for a further
five years – we just
hope that one of the Taunton bids is successful.”

ENDS

Notes for editors:

In its guidance for applicants, Ofcom says: “A community radio
station’s programmes
will reflect the needs and interests of its audience.  But rather than
‘talk at’ its
community, the station should become a central part of it.

“This means creating direct links with its listeners, offering
training opportunities and
making sure that members of the community can take part in how the
station is run.
Community stations typically provide 81 hours of original and
distinctive output a
week, mostly locally produced.  On average, stations operate with 74
volunteers who
together give around 214 hours of their time a week.”

Contact:

Councillor  Jane Warmington, Executive Councillor for Community
Leadership, 01823 430734

Debbie Rundle, Public and Media Relations Officer  01823 356407

For more information about our services visit us online at
www.tauntondeane.gov.uk

Source: [PDF] http://is.gd/nscYf9

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