Directors of Bristol independent radio station Ujima are confident they will be back on the airwaves soon following widespread support for its plight after its electricity was cut off.
A demonstration this morning outside its studio in Wilder Street, St Paul’s, showed the level of backing for the urban music station while Bristol Mayor George Ferguson said he was “pulling out all the stops” to get the power reconnected to the council-owned building. 
The electricity was disconnected on Tuesday after the landlords failed to pay the bills.
Leaseholders Ceed Ltd claim Ujima’s rent does not cover the station’s electricity usage, which comes from Utility Warehouse. However, the station’s bosses say they have paid all their bills and have been left at the mercy of the landlord.
The building is owned by Bristol City Council and Ujima managers have called on the mayor to personally intervene and help to restore power to their studios.
Ujima bosses say Ceed have not been paying the utility bills, despite the fact that Ujima Radio is fully up to date with all rent and rate payments.
“Ujima Radio have been paying rent and rates to the landlords, but, according to the court warden, the utility bills have not been paid for a long time,” they said in a statement posted on the station’s website.
“We are calling on Bristol City Council, as owners of Ujima House, to intervene and ensure that power is reinstated to the building so that Ujima Radio, and the other community organisations that rent space in the building, can operate again.”
Scores of supporters, listeners, staff and volunteers demonstrated outside the building this morning.
Station manager Roger Griffith told them: “We are a vital community service that has been taken away.
"We are the only way those in authority can connect with our communities. But we are also an organisation that develops skills and gives a voice to our community.”
Joseph Gomwalk of Ceed told BBC Radio Bristol last night: “We are in contact with Utility Warehouse to sort out payment and we hope the power will be back on by Monday.”
Utility Warehouse said: “Unfortunately, the landlord has not paid for any of the electricity used in his entire building for a considerable time.
“We sympathise wholeheartedly with Ujima Radio and their listeners, but their dispute is with the landlord, not ourselves.”
