A NEW radio group is bidding for the right to broadcast to West Kent. Absolute Radio UK has pledged a mix of adult rock music, news and sport if it wins the licence for Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks area.

The Kent Messenger Group recently acquired Mercury Tonbridge, based in East Street, Tonbridge, from the GWR Group and will be applying to the Radio Authority for renewal of the licence before it expires in July 2003. A Kent Messenger spokesman said the company had already made a number of important changes to the station's format to give it wider appeal to listeners and advertisers, and to pull programming back in line with the agreed licence structure.

He said: "This is only the beginning. There are many more exciting changes in the pipeline. We are working hard to convince the Radio Authority that our plans will create the best radio station for West Kent."

The new bidder is owned by Absolute Radio International, Ulster TV, and Eurocast. If its bid succeeds, the radio station will be called go-fm. Mark Briggs, previously involved in Neptune Radio, Folkestone, has been hired to manage the station and work with local shareholders.

Backers of go-fm say the station would target listeners of 30 and over, playing tracks by groups such as Queen, The Eagles, Texas, and REM. The new group is backed by Vibe Broadcasting, a division of the locally-owned DBB partnership, specialists in radio advertising, branding, audio design and imaging.