Scots radio station pulled off air over ‘unbearable' alarm noise

Glasgow Times

15-05-2025

George Coyle and the team at Clyde Coast Radio have been begging for help to track down the owner of the unit to get them to switch off the alarm at the building which houses their studio in Port Glasgow.
George, who is an army veteran and lives with post-traumatic stress disorder, told our sister title The Greenock Telegraph that the alarm had caused a volunteer to have an anxiety attack while inside the studio.
The station has been off-air for the last 19 days due to the loud and constant beeping noise from a unit next door to the Clyde Coast Radio studio on the Muirshiel Industrial Estate.
The noise can be heard outside the building, and just as prominently inside the studio – and George says the alarm has made it impossible for the team to do their usual live broadcasts.
He said: "I don't know where to turn. I feel like I am letting people down.
"We just want to get back to doing what we love."
George Coyle in the studio (Image: George Munro)
The alarm sound is coming from unit 44 on the estate, a self-contained unit within the building.
George says the sound has made it impossible for the team to concentrate – and has stopped them broadcasting live shows, as the sound is clearly audible to the station's listeners.
He continued: "As soon as we switch the mics on, they pick up the noise.
"Nothing can be done musically or on our system to get rid of it. You can't be in the studio for any length of time, it does your head in.
"I've driven past at three in the morning to find out if it's still going off.
"I have cried myself to sleep over it. I don't know why we're expected to go on like this."
Lead volunteer and Clyde Coast Radio presenter Robert Gilmour added: "I'm so fed up with it.
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"We're having to disappoint people and that is not what we're about.
"People who listen to my heavy rock show are from all over the world, as far afield as California and Texas. They love the interaction.
"It's awful going home and trying to sleep when you've got a constant beeping sound in your head."
George initially contacted the Inverclyde Community Development Trust, which owns most of the building, but was told they do not own the unit where the alarm sound is coming from.
He has also contacted police, Inverclyde Council and former MP Ronnie Cowan, who is also a volunteer presenter on the station.
Mr Cowan said: "It is a very frustrating situation.
"It should be something as simple as phoning someone and asking them to come and switch it off.
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George with lead volunteer Robert Gilmour (Image: George Munro)
"The problem is that it's within an industrial unit, so it can go off for days and days without anyone knowing.
"No one is taking responsibility."
An Inverclyde Council spokesperson added: "We provided help and advice, and our environmental health team is trying to assist further."
George says the alarm has forced the station to cancel training sessions with people who want to learn how to be a radio presenter – as well as losing the station hundreds of listeners.
He continued: "A teenager who is training with us lives with severe ADHD and we've have had to cancel his last three training sessions.
"Community radio saved my life. We set up this charity to help veterans like myself, and help people with their mental health.
"We all support each other.
"Some of our volunteers come in just for a cup of tea and a chat, but we've not even been able to do that due to the noise.
"We're here and we want to do what we should be doing but the noise is unbearable.'
George has sent a very simple message to the owners of the building.
He said: "Whoever owns it, please just come in and switch the alarm off.
"It will give us our music back and our lives back."
The reenock Telegraph managed to track down the owners of the unit, who said the continuing alarm sound was 'an oversight' and said it would be turned off as soon as possible.