Ade Stickley, the founder and engineer of Calne's own independent radio station - Eartunes Radio, has resigned with immediate effect, citing a "major snub" by Calne Town Council event organisers.
Eartunes have long since been responsible for the soundtrack to all our town events, from providing music and commentary at the Duck Race to being the Main Stage entertainment at the winter and summer festivals - they provide their time and services for free to keep the buzz alive during the events.
However, a decision taken by Calne Town Council event organisers in more recent years, has led to the station being substituted for Chippenham Hospital Radio Station.
When concerns were raised, Eartunes bosses were told the usual Events Officer at the council was on maternity leave and there had been a misunderstanding with her temporary replacement, but they were assured they would be back on the main stage following her return.
With days to go to the Calne Summer Carnival, Eartunes reached out to the council to confirm their place, only to be told that they were not required as Chippenham Hospital Radio had been booked instead.
Ade Stickley, who founded Eartunes Radio over 13 years ago, told us: "Ever since I founded Eartunes Radio, 13 plus years ago, my aim was to build it into a valued asset for the community of Calne.
"To find out that the Town Council has chosen a radio station from outside the town to appear at a major town event is a major snub, and if I sound bitter it is because I, as the founder of Eartunes Radio, have taken it very personally.
"Despite all the time, effort, passion - and wads of my own cash! - being put into it, this most recent snub from Calne Town Council, arguably the mouthpiece for the town, just shows that I have wasted the last 13 years.
"If you get kicked in the teeth often enough, you learn to move your head out of the way.
Eartunes were recently the recipient of a Certificate of Achievement at the town's Civic Awards, however Ade added: "It clearly meant nothing and was probably just awarded as some kind of box-ticking exercise."
As a result of breakdown between the station and the town council an Eartunes Radio spokesperson told us that the station would no longer be supporting any Calne Town Council-run events and had withdrawn its free CCTV advertising and revoked the council's administrative access to the Shout Out Calne Noticeboard.
The spokesperson highlighted the station's reach, with over 4,500 TuneIn subscribers and over 200,000 listener hours per month.
While disappointed with the council's decision, Eartunes Radio assures listeners that the station will continue to operate, with a new drive-time show launching in July and a refresh of programming planned for the coming months.
The station's spokesperson expressed gratitude to Ade Stickley for his dedication, saying, "All the presenters at Eartunes Radio are equally disappointed at the Council's decision not to support the Local Radio Station which Ade set up 13 years ago to promote and serve our lovely town, and we thank him from the bottom of our hearts for all his hard work, sweat, tears and dedication over the years."
*Update*
Calne Town Council have responded to Eartunes Radio today, 20th June. Calne Town Council said that the decision stemmed from a desire to "refresh the look and feel" of town events, aiming to keep them "vibrant and engaging." They cited the changing High Street layout and a shift away from a central main stage as reasons for opting for a different approach this year.
Instead of Eartunes Radio, the council has invited Chippenham Hospital Radio, which has volunteers from the Calne area, to participate, albeit without live broadcasting or additional stage activities.
"We collaborate with many local groups and businesses to create events that people enjoy and return to year after year," stated a council spokesperson.
"This includes changes involving food vendors, acts, entertainment, performers, and layout of the event within the constraints of a town centre location."
The council emphasised that it has contacted Eartunes Radio to offer further discussions regarding future events and proposed their involvement in the upcoming Christmas Festival of Lights, citing the suitability of live broadcasting for the traditional event. They also offered Eartunes Radio the opportunity to participate in the Calneval through a stall or parade entry.
However, Eartunes Radio Station Manager, Chris Wilson-Ash expressed disappointment and feeling "pushed aside" by the decision. He underlined the station's commitment to Calne, its investment in outside broadcasting equipment tailored to town events, and the free contribution of volunteers' time.
"Whereas I accept that you have to refresh and adapt the look and feel of the town centre event to keep them vibrant and engaging, it doesn’t explain why Eartunes Radio which is the town's Community Radio Station has been replaced with Chippenham Hospital Radio. This is what truly hurts."
He further criticised the lack of communication and the late notice given regarding the change, adding that the station only discovered the decision two weeks before the event through informal channels.
"In our opinion it is so unprofessional to promise us that we will be at all events, then drop us, and not even tell us we had been dropped," he added.
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