Local MP backs radio project

Plans for a community radio station serving South East Northumberland have had a welcome boost from Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery says one of the team behind the scheme, Colin Heathcote.

"As chairman of the South Northumberland Radio Group (SNRG) I met Ian to give him a briefing about the proposed station - to be called Synergy.

He fully supported what we are trying to do saying that a community radio station would be a great asset for the area. He thought it was a "˜very exciting project' and wished us luck in our efforts to raise the £60,000 we need to launch a full-time station.

Our first target is £10,000 to enable us to carry out an initial four-week experimental restricted service licence broadcast from a studio in Bedlington. We have been offered premises for a peppercorn rent but have to meet all the public utility and equipment costs together with the licence and performing rights fees.

We've major funding applications pending & I've also talked to several parish and town councils in the area about our plans and, to date, we've had money and funding pledges from four of them.

As experienced community radio technicians and/or broadcasters, we are committed to providing a genuinely accessible local community radio station. And local interest in what we are trying to do is building: an introductory piece on the www.bedlington.co.uk site about our plans has attracted 1,300 hits.

Prime Minister David Cameron talks about a "˜Big Society' and how he wants people to play a bigger role in the way communities function. We feel that a community radio station could help act as a catalyst to wider involvement by the public in what goes on in their areas.

Our objective is to broadcast professionally produced, entertaining programmes that will include music to suit all ages and tastes, interviews with community representatives and speech based contributions from local organisations. The broadcasts will be available via the FM frequency, and on line. Extensive community information will also be posted on the SNRG website: www.snrgroup.co.uk

The area's principal sources of local information are local newspapers and magazines. The radio station would complement these with a round-the-clock service that could offer immediate and rapid delivery of vital local information.

If anybody is interested in our plans, they can contact john.white@snrgroup.co.uk