Radio Authority receives six applications for new local licence for Barnsley

67/02

28 May 2002

Radio Authority receives six applications for new local licence for Barnsley

The Radio Authority's closing date for receipt of applications for a new Independent Local Radio (ILR) licence to serve the town of Barnsley, in South Yorkshire, and as much of the metropolitan borough as proves technically feasible, was today (28 May).

Six applications have been submitted, for a licence on the FM (VHF) waveband. The details of those applying are listed below, together with a brief outline of each applicant’s proposed programme format:

DEARNE FM LTD. - P.O.Box 350, Barnsley, S71 1YD (contact: Michael Betton or Keith Briggs, 01522 549900); a truly local radio station from the Barnsley Borough, for the Barnsley Borough, with a high quality local news and information service that puts Barnsley first, with a popular and distinctive blend of music - a station that puts the people of the Barnsley Borough at the centre of everything it does and appeals to adults and children alike;

LOCKE FM (RADIO BARNSLEY LTD.) - 17 Pollitt Street, Barnsley, S75 1DJ (contact: David Cooper, 01226 238069; or Jason Bryant, 07904 587040); a community-based local radio service featuring a broad range of past and current popular music, with news and information specifically produced for people living and working in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley;

OAKWELL FM LTD. - 132 Burton Road, Barnsley, S71 2LQ (contact: David Parker or Stuart Cocker, 01226 215753); a genuinely local radio service, combining quality music from the 60s to the present day with local news, information and features, proudly supporting communities across the Barnsley Borough;

FM 102 THE POINT (COTTAGE BROADCASTING LTD.) - 19 Ladywood Road, Grimethorpe, Barnsley, S72 7JG (contact: Wayne Chadwick, 07973 214136; or Brian Lister, 07979 853990); a friendly, informative and truly local radio station providing a broad range of music from today and the past four decades, with an emphasis on information, news and features aimed directly at the people of Barnsley and surrounding areas;

SELECT FM (BARNSLEY FM LTD.) - 7 Home Farm Court, Wortley, Nr. Barnsley, S35 7DT (contact: Anita Day, 01226 356500; or Steven Stark, 01273 748000); a full service local radio station for the Barnsley area offering music from the 60s to today with local information, news and sport relevant to local people focussed on the 25+ adult population;

TYKE FM RADIO LTD. - 47-49 Church Street, Barnsley, S70 2AS (contact: Sir Nicholas Hewitt, Bt. or Derrick Connolly, 01226 734251); Tyke FM is the station Barnsley told us it wanted; our unique understanding of the area will be heard in the wide variety of our music, our lively informed speech, our unrivalled news service, and our warm and friendly personalities.

Copies of these applications will be available for public scrutiny in the reference section of Barnsley Central Library and at the Radio Authority's offices in London. The Authority welcomes comments from the public on the proposals put forward by the applicants, and upon the tastes and requirements of listeners in this area. These should be sent to the Director of Development, Radio Authority, Holbrook House, 14 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5DG, to arrive by Monday, 30 September.

The Authority expects to announce its decision about the award of the licence towards the end of this year.
ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS

The Radio Authority is responsible for licensing and regulating Independent Radio in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996. It plans frequencies, awards licences, regulates programming and advertising, and plays an active role in the discussion and formulation of policies which affect the Independent Radio industry and its listeners.

Contact:
Press enquiries:
Tel: 020 7887 4290 / 020 7887 4294
Out of hours tel: 07770 375283
Public enquiries:
Tel: 020 7887 4357

Revised: May 28, 2002