IPSWICH is to have a new radio station within the next two years.Town FM has been awarded Ipswich's newest commercial radio licence and is expected to begin broadcasting as soon as possible.

IPSWICH is to have a new radio station within the next two years.

Town FM has been awarded Ipswich's newest commercial radio licence and is expected to begin broadcasting as soon as possible.

The station, owned by Provincial Radio Limited, a subsidiary of Tindle Radio Ltd, claims it will “provide a distinctive speech and music led radio station for Ipswich, with independent local news and information.”

Kevin Stewart, chief executive, of Town FM said the company would now move its headquarters from Colchester to Ipswich, creating about 20 jobs in the town.

He said: “Our head office will be in Ipswich and it is a bit of a homecoming for me as I went to college in Ipswich and was on Radio Orwell for eight years.”

“It will fill a gap in the market in Ipswich where the feel of the station will be slightly younger than Radio 2 but something that if you live in Ipswich will be essential listening.”

Town FM beat seven other bids to win the licence and the judging was based on four criteria: the stations ability to maintain a service for the 12 year licence period, the extent to which the proposed service would cater for the tastes and interests of people living in the area, the extent to which the proposed service would broaden listener choice and the extent to which there is demand or support for the service in the area.

Town beat competition from Switch FM in which Evening Star owner's Archant had a 25 per cent stake.

There was also competition from HR 102 FM, Ipswich 102, Lite FM Ipswich, Orwell FM, Silver 102 FM and Today FM 102 .