[Community Radio] [Community Media Association] FIRST FULL TIME COMMUNITY RADIO STATION FOREST OF DEAN LICENCED!

[Bill Best]

The UK’s first fulltime community radio station Forest of Dean Radio has
just been awarded a five year licence.

The Community Media Association and its members have long campaigned for
community radio stations. Director of the CMA, Diane Reid said: “This is 
a day to celebrate! At last communities have a real stake in the 
airwaves. The communities involved may be small, but the impact of the 
stations will be huge.”

Forest of Dean Radio project co-ordinator Amanda Smith said: “We’re over 
the moon! It’s a fantastic team effort. We weren't expecting to hear for 
a few more weeks. Now  we’re getting the word out to all our volunteers 
and programme makers. There’ll be a celebration for everyone and of 
course, we’ll be doing something on air.”

The group currently operates one of the pilot community radio services. 
It began broadcasting in July 2002 and broadcasts on AM (medium wave). 
The Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire is a rural area, and Forest of 
Dean Community Radio has built a relationship with communities across 
the varied landscapes and distinct culture of the Forest, through its 
commitment to social inclusion. Its service is aimed at everyone who 
lives, works or studies in the area.

Ofcom received one application for this area and the licence awarded to
Forest of Dean Community Radio is for a five-year period.

Applications for the first wave of community radio licences were invited 
in September 2004. Ofcom received 192 applications and is currently 
assessing those applications and examining frequency availability options.

There are currently 14 pilot community radio stations operating around 
the UK. Given the large number of applications received for community 
radio licences, Ofcom decided to assess them in order of priority by 
first considering applications for areas where the 14 pilot community 
radio stations are currently broadcasting. This involves over 70 
applications, and includes areas such as London, Manchester and Glasgow.

Ofcom is aiming to make decisions in these areas before the end of June,
before moving on to look at applications for areas not involved in the 
pilot scheme. Ofcom expects to complete this round of the community 
radio awards process by late summer.

Diane Reid
Director
Community Media Association
Access to the media for people and communities
http://www.commedia.org.uk/


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