Ofcom is to offer Harrogate and Wetherby a DAB radio licence.

The communications regulator said today organisations would be able to bid for the licence, which will enable listeners to tune in on digital radio, in the coming months.

Harrogate and Wetherby is one of 25 licence areas included in the latest round of Ofcom’s roll-out of small-scale digital licences.

At the end of last year, in a previous phase of the rollout, five organisations bid for the digital licence in Leeds.

Currently only Greatest Hits Radio in the Harrogate district has an FM licence.

Other stations such as Harrogate Community Radio, Your Harrogate and Harrogate Hospital Radio are available online, via an app and or smart speakers.

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Harrogate Community Radio said it would look into the financial situation before deciding whether to bid but it was excited about the opportunity. Board member Charley Christopher said:

“It’s definitely something we’re looking into but we would need support from others. There may be grants available that we could look into. It is exciting for us and potentially another platform to expand into.”

Your Harrogate presenter Nick Hancock said it intended to bid for the licence. He added:

“It’s great that all our efforts, as well as those of many others, for this to come to Harrogate and Wetherby, have been rewarded.”