March 2007
Wiveliscombe, Milverton and their surrounding parishes in Somerset celebrated the announcement that Ofcom have awarded their radio station a licence to transmit on FM for the next five years. The aim is to start broadcasting again later this year.
Although these parishes are just outside of the Quantocks, large parts of the area are able to receive transmissions via the airwaves. Everyone will be able to hear the station through the Internet.
10Radio was set up by local residents and has been operating for one month a year since 2005, providing a wide range of radio listening to the local community. It has rapidly won the support of local people, businesses and organisations.
Last year 10Radio featured over 200 presenters, involved over 100 volunteers and interviewed in excess of 100 local businesses, organisations and personalities. Following this success 10Radio submitted a 140 page application to Ofcom for a community radio licence.
On Wednesday 17 January Ofcom announced that the bid had been successful. Local resident Julian Mellor, who is a Director and co-founder of 10Radio, said
"This is fantastic news, it’s our dream come true. We will aim, throughout the year, to provide a radio service that meets the needs of the local community for news, information, discussion and debate and also entertainment through drama, comedy and, not least, music. 10Radio is and will remain entirely for and by the people of the Ten Parishes."
Since it started, 10Radio has worked closely with Kingsmead Community School. Pupils have presented a daily lunchtime show talking about life in the school and interviewing teachers while an ‘After School Show’ gave pupils free range to play music and discuss issues of topical interest. With the permanent licence 10Radio will be able to work with Kingsmead to greatly develop the potential of radio in the curriculum. Geoff Tinker, Headteacher at Kingsmead Community School said "Fantastic news! Really looking forward to working with 10 Radio over the next 5 years. It will enhance the school curriculum and significantly add to the opportunities available to our young people."
10Radio will also enable many people to get involved in making radio programmes that promote and discuss local issues. It will help underpin the strength of community in this rural and, for some, isolated area that lacks many of the services of larger towns and cities. Eddie Gaines, a local resident and Director of 10Radio said "Community radio offers a level of involvement and service that mainstream media can not provide. Radio gives rural people a voice and with that we can achieve almost anything!". 
10Radio now has up to two years in which to set up a permanent studio, recruit station management and undertake all other preparations for broadcasting. 10Radio will be on air 24 hours a day and live broadcasting will take place for 50 hours a week, probably on Friday to Sunday. Also for six weeks a year, especially during the Ten Parishes Festival and Somerset Arts Week, 10Radio will broadcast seven days a week. The target is to take to the air in late 2007.
Notes: Wiveliscombe, Milverton and the surrounding eight parishes of Ashbrittle, Stawley, Bathealton, Fitzhead, Chipstable, Huish Champflower, Clatworthy and Brompton Ralph, are located in Somerset in the hills on the edge of Exmoor. The stated aims of 10Radio in the Ofcom application are to:
- provide a wide range of radio listening to include many music genres, chat, discussion and investigation.
- provide a platform for local organisations, associations and businesses to promote their activities to the local population
- provide opportunities for local people to express their views, to explore issues of interest to them through the medium of radio
- provide particular opportunities for schoolchildren to make and present radio programmes to fit in with the school curriculum
- foster a sense of community and belonging in the Ten Parishes.
Ofcom invites applications on a regional basis for licences to broadcast to the local community for up to five years. This was the second round of invitiations. There were 16 other applications in the South West the next nearest being Culm Valley (Collumpton) and Glastonbury.
Licenses are awarded on the merits of the application and in particular the delivery of significant ‘social gain’ to the public within the community covered by the target broadcasting area. 10Radio incorporated as a Community Interest Company in November 2006. Anyone living, working or being educated in the Ten Parishes can become a member of the company. There is a Board of 10 directors all of whom live in the area and bring an expertise to the company.
10Radio CIC. Registered Office: 16 Silver St, Wiveliscombe, Somerset, TA4 2PA Registered in England and Wales Number: 6004254
Web address http://www.10radio.org/
