Martin Williams, Senior News Reporter
A PLAN to merge the UK’s oldest community radio station with it’s Dundee
neighbour has been put on temporary hold after regulators raised concerns
about the changes.
Volunteer-run Heartland FM in Perth and Wave 102 in Dundee want to join
forces, but Ofcom is concerned that it will lead to a loss of local
programmes.
The move has come after the Heartland station was saved from closure last
year after losing core funding from Perth and Kinross Council.
Last month it launched a crowdfunding campaign to raised £15,000 to find a
new home and “secure a long term future” after its landlord had plans for
it small office in Pitlochry. But it is understood the appeal was withdrawn.
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Heartland, which began broadcasting in 1992, and has now become a charity,
is reliant to keep going on a mix of advertising income and grant funding.
The charity’s annual unaudited accounts for the year to September, 2015,
published in the summer, show that during the year the local authority had
discontinued funding.
While that had been replaced by £24,000 from the Griffin and Calliachar
wind farm fund run by Perth-based energy firm SSE, advertising income
dropped by £12,000.
Total funds amounted to £12,622, nearly half that of the previous year.
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