Mearns FM is a community run radio station based in the North East of Scotland. There are transmitters in Laurencekirk

Laurencekirk

Laurencekirk is a small town in the ancient county of Kincardineshire, modern county of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, just off the A90 Dundee to Aberdeen main road. It is the largest settlement in the Howe o' the Mearns area and houses the local secondary school; Mearns Academy, which was awarded the...

, Inverbervie

Inverbervie

Inverbervie is a small town on the north-east coast of Scotland, south of Stonehaven, in the Aberdeenshire council area.The Inverbervie name derives from Inbhir Beirbhe, meaning Mouth of the River Bervie in Scottish Gaelic.-History:...

 and Stonehaven

Stonehaven

Stonehaven is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It lies on Scotland's northeast coast and had a population of 9,577 in 2001 census.Stonehaven, county town of Kincardineshire, grew around an Iron Age fishing village, now the "Auld Toon" , and expanded inland from the seaside...

 leading to a coverage area stretching from St Cyrus

St Cyrus

St Cyrus is a village located in the extreme south of Aberdeenshire, Scotland.-General information:...

 to Portlethen

Portlethen

Portlethen is a town located approximately 7 miles south of Aberdeen, Scotland along the A90. The estimated population is currently 7,327.To the east of Portlethen lie three fishing villages: Findon, Downies and Portlethen Village .Although Portlethen has been granted official town status, it...

. The studio is located in Stonehaven Town Hall.

History

The station began as Stonehaven Community Radio well over a decade ago. After a break the group reformed as Mearns FM which started broadcasting in the summer of 2009.

Community Radio in the Mearns began in 1993 following a visit to North East Community Radio by some members of the Stonehaven Community Centre Management Committee. A steering group was formed and Stonehaven Community Radio was formed. It transmitted for the first time during July 1994 from the old primary school toilet block in Stonehaven Community Centre. At that time community stations could only operate for 28 days at a time.

In 2004 five year community radio licences were introduced and a few enthusiasts decided to call a meeting. Around 30 people turned and up and a small group was formed to take the project forward.

A draft constitution was adopted at the first AGM which was held in the late Summer of 2005. The project was delayed because a round of broadcasting applications had just closed and Ofcom, the regulating authority, did not invite new applications until the late autumn of 2006. It was necessary for the organisation to become a Company Limited by Guarantee and a registered charity.

The committee originally planned the station to be named Stonehaven Community Radio but it was decided to become Mearns wide and be called Mearns FM. Because of the large geographical area of the Mearns the station applied for three transmitters which Ofcom subsequently agreed to and a licence was issued in early July 2007.

June 6. 2009 was chosen for the station's launch as it coincided with the annual Stonehaven Feein' Market. At 11am the station was officially opened by the local MP, Sir Robert Smith.

Programmes

Mearns FM broadcast a wide variety of music from the 1960s to the 2010s.

• Anything Goes
• The Alt Vault
• Beat The Drum
• The Connor & Alex Show
• Coffee Time
• Drivetime
• Mearns Magazine

• Mearns Memories
• Pop Heaven
• Hunky Dory
• Escape
• Dance & Remix Saturday
• Memories

• popFUTURE
• 20th Century Rock Show
• Stovies & Salsa
• The Metal Hour
• Not From Concentrate
• Sunday Brunch In The Mearns