At midnight tomorrow, Saturday, Coastal Radio 107.3 will go off air after a 28-day trial – and now, say directors, the hard work begins properly.
The station intends to continue to maintain the momentum it has created in the Great Yarmouth and north Lowestoft areas, proven by high websites hits, a strongly-supported Facebook page and avid listeners.
Posts on its Facebook site have commended Coastal Radio for its pure community content, with interviews with local groups, clubs and people - and also the presenters’ responses to requests for music and dedications from listeners.
Managing director Rob George, aka presenter Simon Jones said: “Our Facebook and website will continue to run and be regularly updated and we will be ‘on the road’ ensuring Coastal Radio is kept alive.”
The next step is to build a portfolio and case for gaining the five-year licence from Ofcom when it is offered later this year.
Coastal Radio will have to bid for licence alongside any other rivals.
And that, they say, is why they continue to need support – especially financial.
If they are granted the licence they will have two years to get up and running on air but Rob is hoping it wouldn’t take that long.
As a community station, the directors hope to approach local businesses for funds as well as grants from various organisations which would support their ethos of all things local.
Fellow director and presenter Dave Starbuck, said: “All the DJs will be at the Cliff Hotel in Gorleston on October 12 to raise funds for Centre 81 when we will be promoting the Coastal Radio name and aims.
“We are also going to be available to pubs and clubs for Coastal Radio pub-type quizzes to raise money for the station and gather donations.
“Anyone who wants to hold a fundraiser should get in touch with us.”
A Coastal Radio Christmas party will be held in November at the Star Hotel in Yarmouth and organised by presenter Richard Routledge, and again to raise funds for the station.
The station is being currently funded by a £5,000 Norfolk Community Foundation grant, together with advertising revenue and sponsorship.
To contact Coastal Radio after midnight tomorrow, email simonjones103@fsmail.net, log on to the website at www.coastalradio.co.uk, you can go to the Facebook page or call 01493 471073.
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