Warminster Community Radio (WCR) has recently received a £9,000 grant from the town council so that the station can expand its coverage and improve its signal.
They have been awarded a Digital Audio Broadcast Licence (DAB) to serve Warminster and the surrounding area.
The better signal will be available to the 18,000+ residents in Warminster, and potentially up to 200,000 people in West Wiltshire and East Somerset.
The grant will be used to pay for a new transmission site and transmission equipment. The new service should be up and running before March 2026.
WCR will still be available on 105.5 FM, but listeners will now have the option of the DAB signal, which is useful in cars and areas where the FM signal is weaker.
“I am delighted that the town council has supported WCR,” said Councillor Andrew Davis. “Covid demonstrated what a valuable asset it is to the town, and it continues to keep the community informed with important updates about blocked roads and power lines during weather events. The extra coverage will raise the profile of Warminster and events in Warminster, which can only help our local economy and community spirit.”
WCR have around 60 volunteers who contribute over 106 hours per week (5,512 hours per year) to the station, with many more friends of WCR helping with outside events such as Remembrance Day, Christmas Lights Switch-On, Spring in the Park, fairs, town council events and the carnival. The financial value of their volunteer hours equates to over £80,000 a year.
