More 102 (Radio Pendragon Ltd) has announced its plans for Pembrokeshire's first full time local radio station. In its licence application to the Radio Authority, the group has outlined a full service station, which company director Steve Lloyd stated "will reflect the voices and rhythms of Pembrokeshire."
The comprehensive plans include a music policy which will feature the best in popular music of the past 40 years coupled with a comprehensive service of local news, sourced in part by a network of local correspondents.
"These will be local people who will tell us about their communities from the inside out," said Steve. "We are also delighted that Brian Charles from Penally will be our chairman and that Ian Hargreaves will chair our advisory panel."
More 102 are adopting a broad music policy that will be based on quality popular music of all types. As well as the latest chart hits, there will be soft rock, easy listening, country, folk, rhythm and blues and classical. This will be reflected in the station's daytime output and each evening there will be specialist music shows that will draw on the production and presentation expertise available to More 102.
More 102 will reflect the cultural and linguistic richness of Pembrokeshire with a significant amount of its output in Welsh. There will be a two-hour programme each evening and at least one of its main daytime programmes will be presented bilingually.
Steve Lloyd added: "We are absolutely determined to get this right and we have consulted widely. We plan to continue working closely with agencies such as Pembrokeshire's 'Welsh Language Initiative'".
Key to the station's plans said Steve is the development of new talent.
"During our RSL trial broadcasts, we were able to work with several Pembrokeshire broadcasters who had not worked in professional radio, but who developed quickly and will figure on More 102. We don't plan to stop there, though, and will work closely with schools and Pembrokeshire College, in order to spot radio talent and hopefully keep them in the county."
More 102 is a joint venture between Haverfordwest based More FM Ltd, North Wales Newspapers Ltd, the owners of Radio Ceredigion and Tindle Radio Ltd, whose parent group own both the County Echo and the Tenby Observer.
The Radio Authority is expected to make their decision later this year. Copies of the More 102 application document are available for public scrutiny at main libraries in the county.