Siren Radio end date confirmed as University of Lincoln scraps much-loved community station

A much-loved community radio station based at the University of Lincoln will cease broadcasting on Sunday, June 30. The university's decision to scrap Siren Radio, which was first established in 1997, sparked outrage among staff, students and volunteers past and present.

Formerly known as Siren FM, the station began broadcasting to the city of Lincoln in 2007, one year after the University of Lincoln became the first English university to be awarded a full-time Ofcom radio licence. The station has strong links with various teaching departments as students are given the opportunity to present for both coursework purposes and to refine their skills.

The decision to terminate Siren Radio's Ofcom licence came "like a bolt from the blue" to the staff, students and volunteers who run the station. The university made the decision because it wanted to create a new broadcast provision that "reflects national developments in traditional radio broadcasting". It held a consultation titled 'The Sound of the Future'.

Read more: Siren Radio closure plan 'like a bolt from the blue' University of Lincoln staff and students say

A petition was signed by more than 1,600 people to try and keep Siren going. Many former students and volunteers publicly voiced their disapproval of the plans, with some saying they wouldn't be where they are today without the experience they gained at the station.

In a statement on Friday, May 17, Siren Radio's station manager Ryan Jones confirmed that the university had notified Ofcom that Siren's licence is to be surrendered as of Sunday, June 30. Following this date, Siren will no longer be broadcasting on 107.3FM and its online stream will also be turned off.

The station will put together a "special week of programming" for its final week on air. Mr Jones said: "On behalf of the whole Siren team I'd like to say a huge thanks to our families, our friends, and to you, our listener for the support and encouragement you have shown to Siren since it began broadcasting to the city of Lincoln and beyond.

"I’d also like to thank the Siren Team, both current and previous members, for their dedication to the station, for sharing their passion for music, and for helping to build a community radio station that has always put teamwork at the heart of what we do."

A university spokesperson said they "acknowledge the affection that many people feel for Siren" but want to create a new platform to "simulate more traditional, Ofcom-regulated audio forms". The university claims a new platform would go "above and beyond what Siren can offer currently".