ALTON’S Wey Valley Radio celebrated the 24th anniversary of the opening of the original station in 1992 with a meeting at Alton Community Centre to discuss the relaunch of the station.

Spearheaded by well-known local broadcaster David Way, who has been the driver over the past two-and-a-half decades of bringing community radio to the town, the aim is to be on air before the 25th anniversary next November.

According to Mr Way, approximately 30 people attended the birthday meeting on November 22, all fired up with enthusiasm for the rebirth of the town’s very own community radio station.

The team has already received a large amount of equipment – enough to build a studio, as well as an FM broadcast transmitter, which will be used as a reserve.

Former presenter Johnathan Cohen advised how the technical aspects were progressing, confirming the new FM frequency as 101.1.

A predicted coverage map indicated good coverage over the majority of the GU34 postcode, which includes Alton and the surrounding villages.

Having been awarded an Ofcom licence in June to broadcast to Alton and the surrounding villages for five years, and with a strong team on board, including directors, technicians and former presenters, the key challenge now is to find a studio premises and to raise funds to cover operating costs, not least of which will be the Ofcom licence fee and music royalties.

Mr Way said: “While we have a studio we still have nowhere to put it, a number of people have been very supportive including Alton Town Council, but at present nothing has been confirmed and we are still looking for a suitable space somewhere in GU34 area.”

The station is to be run entirely by volunteers so, confirmed Mr Way, “the costs need to be kept to a minimum hence the search for a cost-free studio location”.

He added: “If all pieces of the jigsaw fit together and enough money can be raised, we hope to be on the air by June 2017, or maybe earlier.”