Local radio delayed by planners
DEVONAIR has pulled out of negotiations for a broadcasting studio at the Tregantle Hotel, Torquay, because Torbay council is taking too long to deal with the application.
“We will have to look elsewhere,” Mr Norman Devonport, chairman of Devon Air’s mother company, Radio Haldon, said today.
“We cannot delay any longer. The people of Torbay want radio and it is up to us to give it to them — as quickly as we can.”
Torbay planning committee yesterday put off discussing proposals, by the commercial radio station, for the Tregantle Hotel, in Bampfylde Road, for a third time. They wanted to visit the site before deciding whether to grant planning permission.
“We are withdrawing from the Tregantle, but there is no possibility of us pulling out of Torbay altogether,” said Mr Devonport.
“There are alternative sites, although we may run into the same problems with the council.
“We were told we would not receive preferential treatment from the planners, but we could not accept that at first. Now we have to.”
The company warned the committee that any delay would prejudice the future of broadcasting in Torbay. Until premises have been agreed the Post Office will not discuss provision of radio services to Torbay with the Independent Broadcasting Authority.
Radio Haldon already has consent for an Exeter station. “The delay with Torbay will not prejudice our discussions about Exeter,” said Mr Devonport. “Transmissions in the Exeter area will go ahead as scheduled.
“It could be that Torbay will have local radio later than the city. But I think we will be all right eventually.”
The chairman of Torbay planning committee, Mr Len Blogg, today refused to comment on the delay.
