Public File
West FM, like each local commercial station in the UK has obligations with regard to its programmes, including its music and local content. These obligations are set out in the station Format which forms part of our Public File.
The Public File is just one indicator of our output. Just ask us if you’d like a hard copy. If you have any comments on it, let us know or, if necessary, contact our regulator, Ofcom.
News
Except in special or exceptional circumstances (which may include some public holiday periods,) the station broadcasts news bulletins hourly with Local and Regional bulletins from 0600 until 2100 (Friday, 19:00), with additional headlines in weekday breakfast and evening drive periods. Bulletins contain a mix of local/regional, national and world stories, along with sport, weather and entertainment news.
At the weekend, bulletins containing local/regional, national and world news, along with sport, weather and entertainment news, are broadcast between 0700 and 1300 and regional/national and world news from 14:00 to 18:00.
Additionally, at other times, bulletins containing national and world news, prepared by Sky News, may be broadcast in some hours.
Our news reporting team is based in Ayrshire, while our readers are based at our studios in Clydebank for the most part and during peak times. From time to time, some content is prepared from other Bauer Radio Limited newsrooms across our network of stations in Scotland.
The news team is managed by the Head of News and Sport, Lorraine Herbison Lorraine.herbison@bauermedia.co.uk
You can also contact the news team on news@westfm.co.uk
Recent Programme and/or News Highlights:
Our website covers much of the programming we’re proud of (general and, where appropriate, news).
Check our news pages to see the latest stories we are covering.
Recent News stories covered on air
Programmes
The station broadcasts twenty four hours a day, with programmes as listed on our schedule here:
Programme Production
West FM shows are generally live and there is no automation during weekday daytime hours or daytimes at the weekend, apart from significant public holidays. However, these shows may be live in times of adverse weather, major news stories or other relevant circumstances.
Local Programming:
West FM programmes are generally broadcast live from our studios in Clydebank, Edinburgh, Aberdeen or Inverness – with occasional off peak programmes like overnights broadcast from our studios in Manchester.
The amount of programming per day locally produced in our approved Ofcom region:
Monday to Friday - 16 Hours
Saturday - 19 Hours
Sunday - 13 Hours
Local Programming:
Monday to Friday - 4 hours
Guidelines:
Guidelines on localness have been published by our regulator OFCOM, and are available here:
Our Clydebank studios are at:
West FM
3.South Avenue
Clydebank Industrial Estate
Clydebank
G81 2RX
Contact:
To contact the radio station generally, use our ‘contact us’ page and we’ll make every effort to reply to any emails which raise substantive issues. Should you prefer to speak to programme management, please contact David Robertson, Regional Content Director. You can also contact the station during office hours on 01292 270500. Any complaints or comments may also be lodged via the website (click ‘contact us‘ at the bottom of this page).
Events/Charities support or coverage
The station stages several events and charity initiatives through the year supporting it’s charity ‘West FM Cash for Kids’ such as Cash For Kids Day and Mission Christmas – raising thousands for causes across Ayrshire.
Our Cash For Kids Charity Initiatives
Music
West FM plays all the biggest hits from today and throwbacks from the past 23 years.
Format
As outlined at the head of this document, the station is governed by a Format, which forms part of our licence. Our Format is available here:
Localness
We aim that our radio stations belong to the areas they serve. Any suggestions or thoughts on our output are always much valued.
How to complain
Live, entertaining radio always carries some risk. We try to get things right, and not all programmes will be to everyone’s taste. Where we do make mistakes, we’ll try to take appropriate action as quickly as we can. Please do get in touch with any comments – praise or complaints and we’ll consider them carefully. Contact us here
To speak to us directly, our weekday office hours phone numbers are above. Should you have any difficulties, please speak to our Regional Content Director, David Robertson.
If you feel we have not taken the right action regarding a broadcast after contacting us, you may refer the matter to our regulator, Ofcom.