Q97.2 moves to Ballymena

Q97.2's slogan may be 'The Causeway Coast's best music', but the popular station no longer transmits from the Causeway Coast.

For the station has decided to move from their Cloyfin Road base to Ballymena. The former Coleraine studio is currently on the market.

The station is owned by Northern Media Group, who also run 5, 6 and 7FM and Q102, which covers Londonderry.

Local DUP councillor Maurice Bradley says that moving the broadcasting to Ballymena will have a huge affect on the local community and the tourist market.

"The loss of Q97.2 is a major blow to this area.

"This is a massive tourist area, there is also a vibrant student population in the Triangle, not to mention the Northern Ireland Milk Cup, the International Airshow, the International North-West 200, and the Auld Lammas Fair.

"It makes no sense, for the station to 'up sticks' and move to Ballymena to become part of 7FM.

"It is my understanding that shows being broadcast under the banner of Causeway Coast Radio, will be coming from some 30 miles away in Ballymena."

Councillor Bradley added: "This station once employed around 15 people in the Coleraine area. Now the station building is up for sale and the people of the borough need to be aware that they are about to lose the word 'local' from their local radio."

In a statement, Northern Media Group CEO, Robert Walshe said: " Q97 is part of the six station, local radio business, Northern Media Group(NMG) which also operates Q102 in Derry, Q101 in Omagh and Enniskillen, Six FM in Cookstown, Seven FM in Ballymena and Five FM in Newry.

"NMG is in the process of finalising a major plan for the development of services in all six of its stations, including enhanced local news and sports services as well as more frequent traffic, travel and local entertainment news.

"The plan will also involve a major investment in new transmission and studio facilities. This will involve moving some older studios, such as the Cloyfin Road studios. The group will announce further details in the coming weeks."