A COMMUNITY radio station could be silenced because it cannot afford to pay its bills.

WCR has been ordered to pay £3,500 a year to broadcast from state-of-the-art studios in Warminster Assembly Hall.

The town council, who owns the building, made the decision after refusing to renew WCR's peppercorn lease, which covered all its running costs.

Barry Mole, the station's director, said: "All of the councillors support us, but they are obliged to get value for money and act in the best interests of the ratepayers.

"WCR is a jewel in the crown of the community, if it is taken away it will deprive the area."

Since its formation in 1996, the station has spent thousands of pounds on new equipment. Mr Mole said that after pumping all their financial resources into the building for the last four-and-a-half years, he could not afford to start from scratch again.

Before agreeing to the new terms he is hoping to come to a compromise to protect the long-term interests of the station.

If this fails he will have to look at other ways of saving money, which could force him to tear out one of WCR's three broadcasting studios.

Mr Mole said: "We were just one week away from ripping out the first of our studios.

"Although we are far from happy with many aspects of the lease, we may be in a position to sign if grants from the council and other sources, cover the rent of £3,500 they are still asking for.

"It is just a question of reaching a practical and sensible compromise.

"It seems now like our immediate future is as secure as we expect, long term may now be very different."

Warminster town councillor Chris March, who sits on the assembly hall subcommittee, hopes a solution can be found.

He said: "We have to give WCR some security because £3,500 is too high.

"The grants committee is meeting in July and hopefully it will make secure the station with a substantial grant.

"Obviously WCR is a community asset and we don't want to be seen to be forcing it out."

Despite failing in its bid for a fulltime licence, which was awarded to 3TR fm in the spring, WCR still broadcasts to hospitals, residential homes and homes in Warminster, Westbury and Frome.

It also hires out its PA system, runs training courses for budding DJs and radio journalists, record CDs and work with the Nunney Jazz Caf.