Ofcom, the radio regulator, has advertised for applications to run a new FM local community radio station to cover the three towns and surrounding villages.
A new group, West Kent Radio, including those at Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells, which has been broadcasting to the local hospitals since the early 1960s, has been formed to make an application before the closing date at the end of March next year.
Over 280 small local community radio stations are on-air on FM, AM and DAB across the country, but Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells have never had such a service.
Nigel Peacock of West Kent Radio, who is co-ordinating the application, said: “A locally based radio station for our towns and their villages is well overdue. We will be able to cover local news, travel and events, focusing on Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Southborough, which other radio stations are simply not able to do.”
