Here is some more information about our progress:
RADIO
Warrington, the town’s online community radio station has taken a
giant step forward with its project to broadcast over the airwaves.
We
have been broadcasting online for more than eight years. In July 2015 we
were approved for an AM broadcast licence.
AM
broadcasting
on medium wave is very complicated and involves the construction of a
large aerial and
transmitter station. We needed approval from the planning department who
required specialist certification and detailed plans. However, in
October we were granted planning permission to build on land owned by
United Utilities in Great Sankey.
Radio
Warrington
has recently moved its studios to Warrington Market and has been
broadcasting on the internet 24 hours a day since March 2007.
After Ofcom
announced that there was no more room on the FM band, the station was
approved to broadcast on AM in 2014 and have been struggling with the
technical complexities and legal regulations associated with medium wave
broadcasting.
Steve
Lewis,
one of the station managers said: “Broadcasting on the AM medium wave
band is far more complicated and expensive than on FM, but we have been
very fortunate to have enlisted the support of some very
community-minded individuals, groups and businesses and all of our
efforts are now coming together.
"
a
launch date shortly.”
Community
radio
is very different to commercial radio giving broadcast opportunities to
local people regardless of age, experience or abilities.
They
intend
to include much more speech in their output giving lots of community
information, news and discussion so they are keen to hear from any
Warrington people who might want to get involved, particularly those who
have a good knowledge of the town.
They
are
on the lookout for sports fans to join their team, covering all local
sports and local musicians are encouraged to send in their recordings to
be played on air.
We
are
also keen to hear from groups or individuals who have any projects that
they would like to promote on community radio. In most cases people can
walk straight into the studios in Warrington Market and talk on or off
the air.
Radio
Warrington
is run and staffed by unpaid volunteers and is a community interest
company. If you would like to get involved, email manager@radiowarrington.co.uk
phone 01925 555110 or pop into the studios in Warrington Market for more
information.
