Wrexham’s community radio station to cease broadcasting this week after over 13 years on air

Wrexham’s community radio station is to cease broadcasting this week after more than 13 years on air.

Calon FM, which has been based in Wrexham Glyndwr University’s Centre for the Creative Industries for five years, will air its final show on January 20th.

Its closure was announced just before Christmas after it was confirmed that the university was withdrawing support for the station.

Since its launch in 2008 Calon FM’s community programming has ranged from music and arts shows to Welsh and Polish language shows, broadcasting to a diverse range of people across the community.

It also has won the Radio Academy Award in 2013 and the Community Radio Award in 2016, with many of the volunteer broadcasters have gone on to work in the media industry.

Up to 2019, Calon Communications Limited (CCL) were working with the university on a five year plan, with Calon working towards the radio station covering its own costs as far as possible.

However speaking before Christmas a representative from the board told Wrexham.com that “unfortunately, due to financial constraints at the university, the plan had to be laid aside and the radio station was faced with the challenging task of covering its costs faster than anticipated.”

A campaign to save the radio station has since been launched with the station saying it is “working hard to find a solution”.

Tony Pugh, who is chair of the Calon FM board, detailed, “We are hugely saddened to see Calon FM close. We felt that the station was thriving, despite the many challenges that the past year has brought.

“We do, however, respect the decision of the university, which has left us in an untenable position, with no alternative but to close the station and to hand the licence back to Ofcom.

“We know that the loss of Calon FM will be a great sadness to its listeners both in the UK and beyond. The CCL Board would like to thank Amy Hughes and her former colleague Katherine Wade for their untiring effort and hard work that has made Calon FM the excellent community radio station that it now is.

“We would also like to thank the hundreds of volunteers, listeners and supporters over the years, without whom the radio station would not exist.

“We hope in the future that a new community radio station in Wrexham may rise from the ashes.

“We are incredibly proud of what Calon FM has achieved through the years, supplying a vital service to the community of Wrexham and reaching across the globe through its online presence.

“Calon has undoubtedly changed lives through helping people with career opportunities and increasing their confidence.

“Although the radio station has continued to remain successful and broadcast excellent content throughout this challenging time and, in addition, has started to raise additional income through advertising and sponsorship, the university and the CCL board have had to recognise that the ongoing financial position of the company is untenable in the long term.”