Back in September last year we reported that the team responsible for bringing us the very popular Summerfest Radio in the two weeks running up to the Haddenham Beer Festival each year had applied to the Government regulator Ofcom for a full-time community radio station in this area.
The good news is that a five year licence has now been granted!
The new station will be called Red Kite Radio.
"Summerfest Radio began nearly four years ago and has grown ever since, heavily supporting the beer festival which has grown significantly during the three summers we've been on the air," said Pete MacFarlane, General Manager of Red Kite Radio.
"We are independent of the Haddenham Beer Festivals Trust but have formed solid links with the Trust, with Haddenham.net and with many other local organisations, giving Red Kite Radio a solid footing in our community."
It is anticipated that Red Kite Radio will broadcast 24 hours a day with community news updates & information, interviews with community representatives, local people and organisations.
In close collaboration with Haddenham.net, the full-time station will also be helping to promote local schools, charities, groups, sports teams and many other organisations at the centre of life in our area. It will also offer radio skills training courses to people in the area.
The Red Kite Radio team has two years to launch the FM radio station. Local businesses will have the opportunity to promote themselves through cost effective radio advertising and at the same time know that they are helping to fund a unique broadcast service in the area. The broadcast launch date has yet to announced, but watch this space for further updates in the coming weeks.
To hear Mark Chapple, one of the Red Kite Radio team, describing the new radio station during an interview on BBC Radio Oxford, click here.
