19/01/2007

Fifteen applications have been received by broadcasting regulators, Ofcom, from Scottish groups wanting to run a local radio station.

It follows the latest invite from Ofcom to apply for a community radio licence, which allows for broadcasts usually to a five km radius, by a not-for-profit group, whose main purpose is social benefit, rather than commercial.

It’s not known when Ofcom will decide who are the successful applicants. A community radio licence lasts five years and successful applicants must be broadcasting within two years of being given the go-ahead.

The applications are:

3TFM Community Radio for Health (North Ayrshire)

Alive Radio (Dumfries)

Brick FM (St Boswells)

Bute FM

Celtic Music Radio (Glasgow)

Dunoon Community Radio

Highland Christian Radio (Inverness)

Jubilee FM (North and South Queensferry)

Mearns FM (South Aberdeenshire)

Ness FM (Inverness)

Pulse FM (Barrhead)

Radio Asia Glasgow

Radio Fyneside (Loch Fyne, Argyll)

Radio North Isles (Orkney)

Speysound Radio (Badenoch & Strathspey)