BOSSES of Radio Bolton have denied the station is in serious debt.

Directors admit to debts of more than £5,000 but deny claims from some members that the amount owing could run into five figures.

Station members met recently and expressed their dissatisfaction at how the business is being run.

They say they are still waiting for directors to give a full account of how cash has been spent.

Two £6,000 entries in the company accounts for 1995 are causing particular consternation. One is labelled as promotion costs and the other petty cash and sundry items.

Members are demanding that these items should be broken down into much more detail. The debts mounted during trial broadcasting in which the station was on air for three month-long periods.

Directors expressed their desire for the company to remain in business and trade their way out of debt.

But members say that the station has only been on the air for one month since last September and they are not confident that enough money has been generated to keep the station going.

Radio Bolton chairman Simon Young said: "The station has a number of outstanding debts from previous broadcasts but they are nothing like five figures.

"In any case the creditors are very understanding and realise that 12 months work cannot be paid for from the one month that we are on air.

"They are not putting any pressure on us and one had even written a debt off."

One concerned volunteer, who did not want to be named, said the directors had refused to show members detailed accounts. He added: "There is a lack of leadership and direction from the directors and a lack of communication throughout the business.

"The company has been split into various different sections but we have not been told who is in charge of them."

The station is bidding to obtain a permanent licence to start full-time broadcasting by Christmas 1998.

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