A new local radio service for Abergavenny?

We’re exploring the possibility of creating a new community radio service for Abergavenny and the surrounding area, including Llanfoist, Govilon and Gilwern.

We have submitted an Expression of Interest to Ofcom as part of its new process for considering additional FM community radio licences.

At this stage, there is no licence and no guarantee that Ofcom will invite a full application. Our aim is simply to make sure that Abergavenny is considered when Ofcom decides where new community radio licences could be advertised.

Interested in helping? Get in touch ↓

Why Abergavenny?

Abergavenny is a strong and distinctive local community, serving not only the town itself but a number of closely connected surrounding villages.

It has an active local life — community groups, charities, sport, arts, events, local businesses and organisations — but it does not currently have its own dedicated FM community radio station.

The area is also not served by a local small-scale DAB multiplex focused on Abergavenny.

That makes Abergavenny the kind of area we believe could benefit from a genuinely local radio service.

Our proposal is deliberately modest in scale. Rather than trying to cover the whole of Monmouthshire, the initial aim would be a service focused on Abergavenny, Llanfoist, Govilon and Gilwern, with additional nearby coverage where technically possible.

What could a community radio station for Abergavenny sound like?

The idea is to build a service that is useful, recognisably local and genuinely connected to the community.

• Local news and information
• Community organisations and voluntary groups
• Local events
• Arts, culture and music
• Local sport
• Interviews and discussion
• Travel and emergency information
• Opportunities for local people of all ages to make programmes, including practical experience and training in radio, audio production, journalism and digital media.
• Coverage of the issues that matter specifically to Abergavenny and the surrounding communities

The exact shape of the station would not be decided by one or two people. If the project progresses, we want it to be developed by a small core group of local people with different skills, interests and backgrounds.

What happens next?

Ofcom is currently considering Expressions of Interest from groups around the UK.

If Ofcom decides that Abergavenny is an area where an FM community radio licence could be offered, it would then invite formal applications.

That would be a much bigger step. A full application would require us to demonstrate a credible organisation, community support, programming plans, finances, technical arrangements and the social benefits the station would provide.

That is why we want to start building a group now.

Interested in getting involved?

We would like to hear from people who think a local radio service for Abergavenny is worth pursuing.

You do not need radio experience.

We would be interested in hearing from people with backgrounds or interests in:

• Local community organisations
• Journalism and local news
• Broadcasting or audio
• Music
• Technology and engineering
• Finance and fundraising
• Business
• Marketing and social media
• Governance and administration
• Local sport, culture and events

Or simply people who know the area well and would like to help shape what a genuinely local radio service could become.

For now, there is no major time commitment. The immediate goal is to bring together a small group of people who would be willing to explore the project further if Ofcom invites an application.

Interested in helping out? We’d be pleased to hear from you.

Email: pj@aberradio.com