A COMMUNITY radio’s bid for permanent transmission has been taken to Westminster.

Steve Webb, Northavon MP, has thrown his support behind Thornbury FM’s bid to broadcast all year round by writing directly to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

The radio station announced its plans to apply for a permanent broadcasting licence earlier this year. At the moment Thornbury FM broadcasts for two 28-day sessions per year but members want to extend this.

However, due to financial conditions on community radio stations the plans have suffered a setback. Under current rules stations like Thornbury FM can only cover half its costs through advertising, leaving a massive gap in funding.

Now Mr Webb has stepped in to support the station, asking Secretary of State Ben Bradshaw either to increase the funding for community radio stations or to allow the station more flexibility to raise additional funding through advertising.

Mr Webb said: "Many local people have enjoyed either listening to Thornbury FM or taking part in its broadcasts. "I admire the vision of the team of volunteers who make the station happen and who now want to turn it into a full-time community radio station. "To do this will require a step increase in funding, and present rules which place a cap on advertising revenue seem unfair. Either the government should increase the scale of grants available to community stations or should free them up to stand on their own two feet."

Thornbury FM is due for its next broadcast in November, when it hopes to attract even more listeners with its recently relocated aerial.

Rev David Primrose, chairman of Thornbury FM, said: "When Thornbury FM goes on air this November our aerial mast will be on high ground above Thornbury, enabling us to serve a much wider catchment area, from Bradley Stoke to Wotton, from Chepstow to Yate.

"The next step would be to apply for a full-time frequency when these become available. However, the financial conditions imposed by the regulators on community radio stations are very restrictive.

"We welcome the support of our MP, Steve Webb, in challenging these restrictions and would welcome the support of any person or group interested in working with us to bring full-time local radio to our communities."