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Radio station's bid for Pavilion base is back on

The Pavilion, Sheerness
The Pavilion, Sheerness

Plans to move the Island's radio station into a town-centre base are back on.

Last month we reported how ambitious proposals to relocate BRFM into the Pavilion in Sheerness had been scrapped.

It followed a contractual dispute between the station and Pavilion Ltd, a company set up by BRFM's former development manager Julie Nicholls and volunteer Ken Pugh obtain funding and grants.

BRFM Bridge holds the station's licence to broadcast.

Refurbishment work started in April last year and around £15,000 has been spent on the building, which is the former Coast Study Centre off Beachfields Park, to bring it up to scratch.

Ken Pugh, county councillor for Sheerness
Ken Pugh, county councillor for Sheerness

Although it seemed there was no hope of a reconciliation between the two parties, it has now been announced that there will be a meeting early next week to discuss if there is any way to resolve the matter.

Mr Pugh said he has redrafted the agreement which was causing problems and will be sending it to BRFM directors ahead of the meeting.

He is hopeful they will be able to reach an agreement and the planned move will go ahead as soon as possible.

However, if a compromise cannot be reached, Mr Pugh has vowed the building will still be used for the community.

He says the dispute is only over the studio side and he hopes the training suite can be utilised very soon.

Mr Pugh has been in talks with the Isle of Sheppey Academy and young person's charity Catch 22 about getting children in for training.

He said: "We have regenerated the Pavilion to a superb state and if [BRFM] agree there is a chance.

"But the aim is still to have it open by the end of this month. It will be open whether or not we can come to an agreement."

  • A planning application to lift a condition that a radio mast and broadcasting unit were only allowed temporarily at BRFM's current base at Oak Lane, Minster, has been withdrawn. Station bosses are to submit a new application because planners felt the site had changed considerably since the initial approach.
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