| Broadcast area | Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, England |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 87.7 MHz and online |
| First air date | April 2005 |
| Format | Talk, Music, Local Community interest |
| Website | www.radiowinchcombe.co.uk |
Radio Winchcombe is an English local community radio station which broadcasts to Winchcombe and the surrounding areas. The studio is currently located at the local youth and community centre in Winchcombe, but could have to move to a different location due to Gloucestershire County Council cutbacks, which could see the youth centre shut down.[1][2] The station has broadcast twice a year under Ofcom's Restricted Service Licence regime since its first broadcast in April 2005.[3] The first broadcast was partly inspired by the success of the now defunct Forest of Dean Radio, and was the first community service in Gloucestershire to launch after FOD Radio. Radio Winchcombe was also the first RSL station in the UK to acquire a special emergency broadcast licence from Ofcom during the Gloucestershire floods in 2007 to aid communication in the community.
Radio Winchcombe broadcasts twice a year in spring and autumn to Winchcombe and the surrounding areas on FM, and online. The station have increased their show schedule over the years from their first two day broadcast in 2005 to the current ten day schedule they have in 2011.[4] In January 2008, there was a trial three day event where the station was only broadcasting on the internet. This meant that the station went on air a total of three times in 2008.
The station broadcasts a mix of live and pre-recorded programming during the day, with mostly
On 31 August 2009, Radio Winchcombe was featured as part of a Community Radio Showcase programme on BBC Radio Gloucestershire. BBC Radio Gloucestershire also produced a programme which came live from Abbey Terrace in May 2011, and the chairman of Radio Winchcombe was invited to talk about the community station.
Radio Winchcombe was the first and only radio station in the UK to set up an emergency broadcast, when Gloucestershire experienced the worst flooding on record. The station received praise from the community for helping communication in a time of need, providing information such as the location of temporary water distribution sites. The idea of an emergency broadcast began with a petition started by the chairman of the station to allow for free broadcasting in emergencies.[5]
Radio Winchcombe is a member of the Community Media Association. The station has also inspired similar projects in neighbouring towns, including Cirencester's Corinium Radio and the internet based North Cotswold Community Radio which broadcasts from Chipping Campden.[6]