by Hayley Robinson

A purely local radio station for Sittingbourne has finally hit the airwaves.

It went live on 106.9FM at noon today (Thursday) when it was officially launched by the Mayor of Swale Cllr Pat Sandle and Gordon Henderson MP.

It took Sfm founder Pete Flynn nine years of campaigning before he was given a frequency by Ofcom to broadcast the station.

The volunteer-run station will broadcast live 24/7, 365 days a year from its new purpose built studios at Crescent Hall, Central Avenue, Sittingbourne. The Latimer Room, on the first floor, was recently transformed after a planning application submitted by Mr Flynn was approved by Swale council last month.

It boasts an on-air studio, news booth, production studio, a main office and reception area plus a new entrance. Permission was also granted to erect a six-metre high transmitting aerial on the roof.

Presenters on air will include Caesar The Boogieman, Nick Berry on the weekday breakfast show and Pete Flynn on drivetime.

Over the years Mr Flynn has broadcast a number of trial programmes as well as taking Sfm on the road.

community radio licence to the station.
Then in February, 2010, he received the news that Ofcom had awarded a five-year

The 46-year-old radio veteran, who has worked for Capital Gold, Talk Radio and Heart, says he is excited to finally get the non-profit making project off the ground. He said: "Years and years of hard work have finally paid off.

"We now have our own local radio service which will enable us to promote our town and all that is happening here - there is a very exciting future ahead.

"We would like to thank local businesses and people throughout the Sittingbourne area for all the help and assistance received so far. However, the work doesn’t end here as we now need everybody’s help to run the full-time station."

Sfm is still looking for volunteers who want to help run the service and they can be contacted via their website at www.sfmradio.com, or via Facebook at www.facebook.com/106.9SFM or Twitter at www.twitter.com/SFMRadio.