Articles from May 2008

At last it is official, after a period of uncertainty regarding DCR’s aerial mast, permission has been granted by Argyll and Bute Council to keep the present location for a five year period which will satisfy Ofcom aerial location site regulations. Permission was granted to use the present site two years ago and was used to broadcast live radio from the Royal National Mod in 2006 (extracts to be heard here shortly). Since that time as DCR went through the procedure of application for the Ofcom broadcast licence the aerial location has not been used. It wasn’t until the beginning of this year whilst preparing for broadcast the site was revisited to discover that it was now part of a listed building which could have meant having to re-apply for permission. Thank you to Council Leader Dick Walsh, the Education Department, the Senior Planner for Bute and Cowal and the staff involved for this result.

You may recall that in February we were all very excited here at DCR having been offered premises in which we could build a studio. As you know we have been looking for premises from practically day one, and have already explained previously (see below WHAT`S HAPPENING NOW) some of the restrictions that we have to overcome to find a suitable premises. We have always felt the need for premises not only to make and broadcast radio programmes, but as a gathering place for members and a point of identification, a home!

WATCHING THE BUDGET

Unfortunately one of the restrictions is that of finance and at this time finance is very low. Although we are working very hard to secure future funding, the process and application for grants does take time with no guarantees of success (Ofcom say running cost must be sourced with 50% grants & 50% sponsorship, donations and advertising). With the financial situation being such we have had to look very carefully at our monthly outgoings which mainly consist of costs for the Ferry Brae studio.

WITH REGRET

With no future funding in sight at the moment and with a decreasing bank balance, we have made with regret, the decision to leave the Ferry Brae studio. Having searched for so long to find a studio this decision has not been easy but was necessary to ensure the future of DCR. We must say a big thank you to Annette at Headcases for renting us the studio.

THE SHOW GOES ON

Without premises it does not mean that we will come to a grinding halt, we have been making programmes for some time and of course lets not forget what we did up to and during the Mod (extracts here very soon). It may, as one of the “older” members recalled, be very reminiscent of the pirate radio days when moving equipment about to any vacant room was par for the course. But maybe the least said about that the better and rest assured everything we do is legal and as per Ofcom regulations. Well we won’t need the big tea pot for the moment but we will be holding meetings and putting all our efforts into the Website which still has some way to go. With the next step being the addition of sound! Keep coming back to watch are progress or better still let us have your ideas, join in, there are no restrictions or qualification required . Sign the guest book (a little comment would be nice) and we will contact you.

Communal initiative

Last October several Scotland based community radio stations including DCR got together and requested Scotland`s Learning Partnership if they would co-ordinate a support network for local radio stations in Scotland. Scotland’s Learning Partnership arranged an inaugural meeting bringing together representatives of Scotland’s local community radio stations. After much discussion surrounding the purpose of such a network it was agreed that there was a need and a willingness amongst those in attendance to take it further.

Awareness Event At a follow up meeting it was suggested that as well as sharing knowledge and expertise the network could highlight a common problem, that of funding. It was suggested that the network could support all of the local community radio stations to come together and lobby the Scottish Government for funding. This could take the form of a sharing event with each station represented. So it was decided that an awareness event held at the Scottish Parliament with MSPs and partner providers such as the Lottery and Ofcom invited would be a good start. Scotland’s Learning Partnership agreed to help facilitate this process and to support the network.

DCR at Scottish Parliament A date has now been arranged for the awareness event to take place on Tuesday 3^rd June at 5pm in the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh. This will take the form of a reception to celebrate the success of community radio and also launch the network. The First minister has been as asked to attend if available and Dunoon community radio is hopeful of several local councilors and MPs attending to support and give their endorsement.