THE move to give Huntingdonshire its own dedicated full-time FM radio station looks set to be gathering pace as the venture finds more and more support. Huntingdonshire Community Radio (HCRFM), which has been broadcasting for two-week stints since 1995, h

THE move to give Huntingdonshire its own dedicated full-time FM radio station looks set to be gathering pace as the venture finds more and more support.

Huntingdonshire Community Radio (HCRFM), which has been broadcasting for two-week stints since 1995, has ambitions to become a permanent fixture on our airwaves.

A number of community radio licences are up for grabs in the New Year and HCRFM is hoping to secure one of them.

Bill Hensley, HCRFM station manager, told The Hunts Post he was confident that the station would be granted a licence by OFCOM.

Mr Hensley, of High Street, Warboys, said: "Everything is going really well and I'm confident we will be given the licence.

"We have 12 years experience so we have the history, expertise and local connections needed to run a successful community radio station."

He added that a public meeting held in Huntingdon on Wednesday, October 1, to gauge support for the radio station attracted about 100 people.

"This clearly shows how well supported and needed this station is in this area," said Mr Hensley. "This station will be for the community with the community helping to provide content and programming."

HCRFM would broadcast to Huntingdon, St Neots, St Ives, Ramsey and the surrounding villages. Yearly costs of running the 24/7 station are estimated at about £200,000, including the five or six full-time staff needed to manage its day to day running.

However, the station is still in need of sponsors and a home to broadcast from.

Mr Hensley who started his radio career at the age of 12 on school radio and has since broadcast for the RAF, Hinchingbrooke Hospital and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, said: "My dream has always been to have a radio station in a shop window. I want the community to have 100 per cent access to the radio."

He added: "Radio is in my blood and it would be a dream come true if we got this licence. But we need a premise - this could be two or three rooms in a garden centre or an office. It would be a great opportunity for a company."

OFCOM is expected to make a decision on the HCRFM licence application in January.

INFORMATION: To support HCRFM in its bid for a licence, e-mail bill.hensley@hcrfm.co.uk or write to Huntingdon Community Radio, 22 High Street, Warboys, Cambs, PE28 2RH.