Community radio station wins new licence.

WIRRAL'S community radio station has been granted a licence to broadcast round-the-clock.

Wirral's 7 Waves will start broadcasting full time on March 1, and will move into a new multi-media centre in the summer.

The station began in 2003, when 92.1 7 Waves Community Radio Station delivered its first broadcast on a "restricted service licence".

That meant it could only broadcast for 28 days, twice a year.

Now a five-year, full-time community licence has been granted to broadcast across Wirral, making the schemes and training provided by 7Waves accessible to the whole community.

A £1.3m European Regional Development Fund grant to build the new multi-media centre was awarded to Wirral Council, with Arena Housing Group contributing a further £800,000.

The grant and the financial support of Arena, which includes revenue support costs for the first three years, enables us to build this amazing media centre and to provide the community with access to professional training leading to qualifications and the chance to be on radio.

David Prior, chairman of 7 Waves, said: "The launch of 7 Waves with a full broadcasting licence will bring to realisation an exciting vision for community radio for the region.

"The station is run by the community for the community, and with the support of our key partners, it will offer far more to Wirral that just entertainment.

"We want everyone on the Wirral to feel a part of 7Waves and to work with us to make it THE community radio station."

Brian Cronin, group chief executive of Arena, said: "Arena is delighted to be involved with 7 Waves and it is heart-warming to see all the hard work and enthusiasm that has been devoted to the project over the last few years finally rewarded.

"The community should be very proud of what it has achieved and I am in no doubt that 7 Waves will be a huge success."

To contact the station, telephone 0151 639 3094, text the word waves then your message to 80480, or write to 7 Waves Community Radio, Leasowe Community Centre, Twickenham Drive, Leasowe, Wirral, CH46 1PF.