Plug pulled on local radio presenters

1:20pm Monday 13th October 2008

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By Ben Perrin »

FIVE Brunel FM radio DJs have been given their marching orders.

Laser Broadcasting has terminated the contracts of a handful of weekend presenters at the Wootton Bassett-based station and will continue its operation with a skeleton workforce.

The news comes just 24 hours before the parent company appears in the High Court in Leeds to face a winding-up order.

Its creditors issued a petition to place the company into liquidation last week.

Staff at radio stations owned by Laser Broadcasting have gone unpaid in recent weeks, with the company facing mounting costs.

Ian Timms is one of the presenters who was told he was losing his job.

“I worked in the same building for GWR about 16 years ago so it’s sad to leave,” said 38-year-old Ian, from Cheltenham.

“Staff are absolutely gutted, we were given no choice but to go.

“I was called up on Friday and told I wouldn’t be needed any more. It seems we had to go to cut costs.

“I was on a full-time contract. I’m not sure if I’ll get redundancy pay. A skeleton staff will work until a new buyer is found.

“I have no ill will against Brunel, I hope that a new company can come in. If that happened and they wanted me, I would go back.”

Staff say they have not received wages for the last month.

The Adver reported how former breakfast DJ Dan Chisholm resigned after he was owed more than £3,000 in wages and expenses.

He has since been paid two-thirds of that amount but is still waiting for £900 as a final pay off.

Dan, who has 30 years’ experience in the industry, said there had been payment problems and delays since Laser Broadcasting took over the running of Brunel FM on July 1.

“It is disappointing to see staff let go,” said the 50-year-old, from Faringdon.

“I understand a company called Triple Media in Bristol will be acting in a supervising role for Brunel FM in the near future.”

No one from Laser Broadcasting was available for comment following the announcement of the redundancies.