WARMINSTER Community Radio will be kept on the airwaves for at least another five years after the town council approved funding of £50,000 at a meeting on Monday (June 13).

The station, which has been broadcasting live and pre-recorded shows to Warminster’s residents for over 20 years, will receive annual instalments of £10,000 from Warminster Town Council for the next five years, covering its running costs and keeping it afloat.

Barry Mole, chairman of the station, said: “I am very relieved and delighted that members of the town council have recognised the service we have developed over the years and the need to maintain it.

“We have worked for over 20 years to become the envy of the south west. We are an extraordinary service.

“People who have no need for radio might not understand why we need such money, but if they saw the amount of hard work we put in I’m sure that would change.

“We are involved in almost everything in the community and this support secures our future for the next five years.

“We are being paid by the town council for the services we provide to the town, this is not simply a grant.”

Representatives from the Athenaeum, Royal British Legion, Wessex MS Therapy Centre and a former doctor from the Avenue Surgery who hosts a ‘DocSpot’ show on the station all showed their support at the Civic Centre before the Finance and Assets Committee made its decision.

Five councillors on the committee voted in favour of the financial support, while Cllr Paul Batchelor abstained and Cllr Steve Dancey was not in favour.

He said: “The radio station has considered merits and has done great work over the years but when I speak to people about the support we give it they are astonished, and I’m sure that will rise to incredulity if we approve this.

“There is a particular demographic that listens to the station more than others but we have to admit our finances are becoming increasingly stretched.

“If we choose to accept this, we are choosing to spend money for future councillors, which is not fair."