Funding Hurdles For Community Radio Must Be Removed

Speaking in a House of Commons debate today on Community Radio and Television, Paul Holmes, Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield said: "The funding structures demanded for community radio stations may prevent more stations from being established and prevent those that have been given licences from taking to the air.

As more community radio stations are granted licences, more and more of them are chasing the same limited pot of money, which must restrict the growth of community radio unless something is done about the pot.

Lottery grants are under severe threat over the next five years with the Olympics smash-and-grab raid to pay for the trebling, at least, of the cost of the Olympics due to incompetent costing.

That will hit many community groups, sporting activities and much community media over the next five years, with the average constituency losing £1 million of funding for such activities in the area. Community radio and TV, as newcomers to the scene, will inevitably lose out even more as a result of the Olympics smash-and-grab raid.

In Chesterfield and North-East Derbyshire Trust FM was granted a licence in 2006 and was due to go on air in 2007, but it is having severe problems because of the funding issues.

Community media offer an immensely valuable community resource and have huge potential, which has barely been tapped. They can reinvigorate and empower communities, offer training in modern technology at grass-roots level and get people involved in local politics, local community activities and local affairs.

The benefits are endless, but the problems of licensing, funding and spectrum for community TV are impeding community radio and strangling community TV at birth. The Government must act to remove those obstacles."

Speaking after the debate, Paul Holmes MP added: "Trust FM would provide a valuable local service to Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire, broadcasting high quality and locally relevant programming, as well as creating training and job opportunities for local people.

If community media is to be excluded from raising revenues from advertising to protect its social value then the Government must provide a means of accessing sufficient funding to get these stations broadcasting.

The Labour Government must remove the funding hurdles they have put in the way of such valuable community media projects so that residents of my constituency can finally gain access to such an important local service."