A new community radio station is coming to Thamesmead as a 'positive cultural force for the local community'.

The station is run by the newly established Thamesmead Arts and Culture Office (TACO!) and it will work with local people to help run the project and create radio content.

The project has been developed in collaboration with local artist Sam Skinner and it will be broadcast online at www.rtm.fm.

It will aim to give and eclectic range of programmes from music, spoken word, plays, local history and interviews with local talent.

As part of the project, TACO! has provided free skills training and creative workshops delivered by industry professionals and Ravensbourne College.

Mat Jenner from TACO! describes the project as “a unique and wonderful opportunity to showcase and invest in the local talent and creativity that undoubtedly resides in this area."

Thamesmead has a long cultural history of radio, in 1978 Radio Thamesmead (RTM) was launched, broadcasting on a localised cable radio system from a studio on Tavy Bridge.

By 1990 RTM was broadcasting on FM radio as (103.8FM) and in 1997 changed its name to Millennium 106.8 as a result of the station being taken into private ownership.

In 1999 the station became Time 106.8 but by April 2009 the station was forced to close.

Sam Skinner says “I’m excited to explore how diverse the programming of a community radio station can be, from local history to the latest urban music, and how it can function as a place for bringing different voices and cultures together.

I hope people will tune in on their computer and the latest smart phone and find something that maybe gets them talking or even gets them dancing!”