FOUR Scottish communities have been awarded licences to run their own, local radio stations.
Inverness, Isle of Bute, North and South Queensferry and Dumfries are among the latest recipients of community radio licenses awarded by broadcasting regulators, Ofcom. In this current round, six licenses were awarded – the other two to Irish applicants.
Community radio services cover a small geographical area and are provided on a not-for-profit basis focusing, says Ofcom, “on the delivery of specific social benefits to enrich a particular geographical community or a community of interest”.
The Scottish recipients include Ness FM (Inverness), which will provide Inverness with “a local voice and a platform for local culture and the arts. Access to the station will be open to local residents, and programming will be governed largely by local market research to reflect the unique nature of the ‘Highland Capital’.”
Meanwhile, Bute FM (Isle of Bute) will “provide a community-focussed station devoted to the people of
Bute. It will include a varied mix of music styles and genres together with local news and views, up-to-the minute travel information and other items of local interest”.
Jubilee FM (North and South Queensferry) will “serve the community of North and South Queensferry, twin
towns on either side of the River Forth. The service will offer local news, local views, music and entertainment”.
Alive Radio (Dumfries) will “provide a community service with a Christian ethos for
the Dumfries area”.
Licences are awarded for a five-year period.
