Station dispute leads to petition

Tuesday 06 December 2022

A petition which was started to "save Quay FM" is calling for the resignation of the radio station's board of directors.

It follows the recent resignation of Station Manager Dougal Bohan and Deputy Station Manager Nic West over a dispute about the future of the Alderney station and the appointment of its directors.

The petition was started three days ago by Quay FM presenter Ian Taylor. It states: "Arising from the unjustified treatment of Dougal Bohan and Nic West that led to their resignation from Quay FM, we are calling for the immediate resignation of the board of directors of Quay FM and the appointment of a new board nominated by Quay FM volunteers."

Pictured: The dispute at Quay FM has led to the resignation of the man known by some in Alderney as 'Mr Quay FM', Dougal Bohan.

Promoting the petition, Mr Taylor said: "Please use your voices...to ensure the current directors of Quay FM fully understand they need to resign and allow a new board to be appointed with the immediate reinstatement of Dougal Bohan and Nic West.

"This is the only way to save Alderney's radio station."

Signatures were being gathered around Alderney over the weekend. The petition is available in various outlets as well as online.

Numbers mentioned online indicate that the petition may already have been signed by hundreds of people. Mr Taylor said "we now have over 20% of the adult population supporting us - thanks a million".

Pictured: The petition is rapidly gaining signatures online and in various outlets in Alderney.

Mr Taylor circulated a statement from Rob Bohan, the son of Dougal Bohan, which he said was a "fact-based true version of events".

"Let it be clear - no resignation has been offered on the grounds of unknown regulatory breaches whatsoever. All regulatory compliance is critical and my father has been on board with any and all such needs," said the statement.

"This smokescreen aside, let's clarify the crux of all this. My father's reasons reluctantly to resign are very simple."

The statement cited "the meeting, manner and process of how new directors/members were brought in by certain directors/board members", which it said "raises questions on many fronts", and "the relationship of those new and existing directors/members".

In the statement, Mr Bohan, Jr. added that his father "refused to be party to such activity" and stated that the dispute was "nothing personal at all".

Pictured: Quay FM has a history in Alderney dating back more than 20 years.

Quay FM is operated by Alderney Broadcasting, a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. 

Quay FM issued a statement on Monday morning in which it said: "This is a factual statement. Any WhatsApp, Messenger or other media communication received from Alderney Broadcasting Co. since 1 December is not from Station Manager Dougal, Deputy Manager Nic or others resigning."

Petition to 'SAVE QUAY FM'- Alderney

Local radio stations are such an important broadcast for the community. Really hoping matters can be resolved swiftly.

THANK YOU to all the team & volunteers who make Quay FM a vital radio show- essential updates,quizzes, island life & fun⬇️ pic.twitter.com/CdXDOzHdjr

— Alex Snowdon (@AlexSnowdon5) December 3, 2022

Pictured: Alderney Representative Alex Snowdon is a fan of the broadcasts of Quay FM.

Alderney States' member Alex Snowdon, who also represents his island in the States in Guernsey, said the public were "deeply concerned for the future of their local radio station".

"Matters must be resolved at the station for the community the radio serves," said Mr Snowdon.

"Local radio stations are such an important broadcast for the community."

Pictured: Alderney Representative Alex Snowdon appealed for the future of Quay FM days after appearing on the station to speak about next week's debate on his island's runway in the States' Assembly in Guernsey. 

Quay FM broadcasts from Alderney on 107.1 FM. 

It first went on air in 2000 under a restricted service licence over the summer and at Christmas. It went off air in 2012, but returned three years later as a year-round community radio station with an unrestricted licence.

Quay FM has stated that it is staffed and supported almost entirely by unpaid volunteers.

Express invited comment from Quay FM on Monday afternoon.