ISLAND RADIO STATION AFFECTED BY CONNECTED COMMUNITIES CESSATION

Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP Alasdair Allan has taken up concerns expressed by Isles FM after meeting with directors of the organisation about the future arrangements for transmitting their programmes.

The communications link between the island station’s Seaforth Road studio and broadcast site at Eitshal is currently served via the Connected Communities network. When that ceases at the end of March the station will need to find an alternative link.

The local MSP recently met with Isles FM directors and has raised this issue with HIE to ask what can be done to allow the station to continue to broadcast.

Isles FM has been broadcasting since March 1998 and is operated entirely by a volunteer staff working out of Seaforth Road, Stornoway.

Alasdair Allan MSP commented:

“Isles FM has an important place in the community and provides a valuable public service. It is vitally important that a solution is found which allows them to continue to broadcast and I have raised this issue with HIE, who I know have been seeking solutions to this issue.

“At a time when local radio stations across the country are being squeezed, the volunteers at Isles FM have done a great job keeping the station on-air and providing listeners with music, news and other content. I know HIE and the Comhairle have also given significant help and assistance to Isles FM, without which the station simply could not continue.”