Local MP for Hertford and Stortford, Bowen-Wells, recently met the local team bidding for the Hertford radio licence.

The MP met up with members of the HertBeat group at the Glaxo Family Funday in Ware last year. The HertBeat team was broadcasting from the Hertfordshire Mercury Bus, providing information and entertainment for the several thousand employees and family members.

Mr Wells discussed the coverage of matters including local healthcare, education and transport with the radio team. The MP said "In a democracy it is vital that members of the public know as much as possible about key issues. Local radio has a central role to play in communicating such information and in instigating debates about how to do things better". Mr Wells also said that local radio should celebrate local achievement, in particular the high skills levels of young people in the area.

HertBeat FM leader Robert Owen said "It is our policy to add to the local skills base by training local people in the many aspects of radio, and Mr Wells' long-standing support for our application is very helpful".

HertBeat is a locally based, locally run, and locally owned group seeking the licence to operate a radio station serving Hertford, Ware, Welwyn Hatfield and Stevenage.

Submissions to The Radio Authority, including comments by the public, will be accepted up until October, with a decision being announced on 10th February 2000.

You can visit the HertBeat Website and see The Radio Authorities' announcement here.

You can also visit the rival Stag FM website here.