April 26th 2006 - Town could be on air by Christmas (East Grinstead Observer)

EAST Grinstead could have its own radio station by Christmas. Grenestede Talking News boss Peter Furze is taking on the challenge and has signed up on a community radio course starting this June.

He will apply for a community radio licence from Ofcom after completing the course. "We have six anonymous financial supporters who want to stay in the background at the moment, but we are very serious about this," Dr Furze said. "We have been offered a couple of rooms in East Court, and also in Stone House in the High Street."

"We are still deciding where to go, although Stone House looks more likely as there is a playgroup above the rooms in East Court." He added: "I expect the biggest problem being planning approval for the aerial. I have submitted a planning application to Mid Sussex District Council to put an aerial on Stone House so we'll have to wait and see."

Peter Furze has been running the talking news for eight years, and has seen the service expand its remit under his leadership. He has also worked at ITN for more than 20 years, and so has the background to help launch a local radio station in the town.

"If there are no big snags we could be up and running by Christmas. "So we are looking for commercial backing and advertisers to get in touch."

He added: "We are not mucking about, but we need the town to get behind us."