CREDITON is a step nearer having its own community radio station, thanks to a recent announcement by Ofcom.

In January 2011, Queen Elizabeth's Community College, now Queen Elizabeth's Academy, went "live" with its own "in-house" radio station called "Q-mmunity Radio", which broadcasts to students each morning - and can also be heard on-line.

Ofcom, the Office of Communications, the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, granted Q-mmunity Radio, on April 5, a community radio licence to broadcast to target the Crediton learning community.

The application submitted by Robyn Vincent from Queen Elizabeth's adds that this will include the children served by Queen Elizabeth's secondary school and their partner primary schools, as well as their families.

At Queen Elizabeth's the former canteen building at the Western Road site was transformed into a business/media education facility complete with a radio studio from which college news, sports results, details of local events and popular music are broadcast.

While starting in this small way, it was announced at the launch of the radio station in January 2011 that the ultimate aim was to apply for the necessary licences to allow it to broadcast to the whole of Crediton.

At the station launch, college principal, Richard Newton Chance, said that students had played a major role developing QE's Q-mmunity radio station and also play a major role by being presenters and DJ's.

FOR FULL STORY PLEASE SEE ISSUE 899 OR SUBSCRIBE TO THE FULL ISSUE.