Radio station is to leave Wolverhampton after 37 years

The station, formerly Beacon Radio, is expected to start presenting its shows from new premises – probably in Oldbury – later this year.

Its base in a converted orphanage on the Tettenhall Road will be put up for sale as a result of the move. Bosses today said the move had not been finalised but was essential because the current building was not fit for purpose. Station owner Orion Media chief executive Phil Riley said: "We have not signed a lease on the new offices but we are looking in the Oldbury area.

"The current building is really old, and it is just not suitable. Eery year we have to spend money fixing things like the roof, and in the end we thought it is just not the right building to operate from. We want to go close to the motorway for ease of access for staff and getting out and about to do things. Clearly we need to do the deal but we are committed to moving."

Free Radio, which was known as Beacon before it was rebranded last year, first began broadcasting on April 12, 1976. Initially it was on the airwaves for 19 hours a day but in March 1978 started broadcasting 24 hours a day.

One of its key figures in its early days was one of its founder members and "larger-than-life" character, Jay Oliver, who worked as both managing director and station manager alongside programme controller Alan Mackenzie.

Mr Oliver, who died in 2008, was described as a pioneer and inspirational character for the station. One of the station's best-known former DJs was Dale Winton, who went on to present the television game show Supermarket Sweep in the 1990s. He joined the station as a DJ in 1988, where he remained for three years. As part of the office move, 15 back office staff will be transferring to the company's base in Birmingham, although the broadcasting will be carried out at the new Oldbury premises.

Two senior management posts will also go, although it is not yet known whether the staff will be made redundant or redeployed.

Bosses say they expect the move to take place later this year, perhaps in the summer or early autumn.

Mr Riley added: "We own the building, and at some point, we will put it on the market and sell it. We will be sad to leave these premises as they were so suited to the station when it first launched but we will carry on broadcasting in Wolverhampton and being part of the community. We are just moving from one part of the patch to another."