Residents across the Bath area are set to have a new voice as eager volunteers in the city launch a brand new community radio station next week.
Steve Fountain, Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst MBE and Simon McNeill-Ritchie
The full-time station will start broadcasting across Bath and West Wiltshire to more than 415,000 people on DAB, smart-speaker and online from Thursday 5th November at 7am.
Run entirely by volunteers, Radio Bath is in the process of becoming a charity, has social purpose at its core, and intends to return any surpluses from income to community projects.
Managing Director, Simon McNeill-Ritchie said: “During this difficult time for many local people, we will serve communities in Bath and West Wiltshire, by providing vital information, entertainment with great music and guests, and education programmes to give access to radio for young people.
“We are a Community Profit Organisation, which means we will return any surpluses we make to local good causes.”
The idea for the station was the brainchild of Bath businesswoman Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst MBE, former GWR Bath presenter Steve Fountain and award-winning social entrepreneur, Simon McNeill-Ritchie.
Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst explained: “This amazing opportunity for the city is the culmination of 10 years of shared dreams. The timing wasn’t quite right until we had the support from local business with spare office space, the chance to go on DAB and the availability of each of us to commit the time.”
Steve Fountain, Programme Director, added: “The local media landscape has changed so much over the last two years, with many commercial stations withdrawing from cities and towns entirely.
“Bath has been without a full-time radio station representing local views and news for nearly a decade.
“We want to fill a much-needed gap with a schedule of local information, news, entertainment and community interest interviews.
“We’re really looking forward to hearing from people from across our patch.”
Those behind the station say it has some surprises up its sleeve in the coming months and ambitious plans to broadcast live from many events around the city when COVID-19 restrictions allow.
The full presenter line up will be announced in the coming days.
Interested groups or organisations across Bath and West Wiltshire with news items can get in touch with the station by emailing [email protected].
