Community radio stations are coming together around North East Essex to back an application for small-scale DAB for the Colchester and Clacton area.
A new company has been set up to apply for the licence, and is managed by Martin Steers who comes from Colchester originally.
He told RadioToday: “It’s great that the area has the opportunity to have it’s own local DAB transmitters, and I’m really excited to hear new and existing stations start broadcasting across the area.”
Partnering on the North East Essex Digital Radio bid is local community radio station Colne Radio which currently serves Colchester, Wivenhoe, and the Tendering area on 106.6FM
Justin Fairweather (pictued with Martin Steers above), Station Manager of Colne Radio said: ‘I look forward to Colne Radio being part of a new small-scale DAB multiplex, which would allow the Colchester and Tendring areas to experience a different and exciting choice of listening, engaging with local communities in the area’
BFBS Colchester is also supporting the bid. Nicky Ness, Director of Broadcasting & Entertainment at BFBS said: “BFBS, the forces broadcaster and military charity is excited about the prospect of a small-scale DAB multiplex serving Colchester and the surrounds.
“We are keen for both BFBS Colchester, an already active FM station in the area, and BFBS Gurkha Radio broadcasting in the Nepali language for the increasing numbers of Gurkha soldiers being relocated to this area as part of Ministry of Defence planning to be part of this BID.”
This story first appeared on radiotoday.co.uk