Hucknall man hoping to bring local radio back to the town

A Hucknall resident is hoping to bring back local radio to the town by starting his own station.

Ashley Bettridge, who is currently a part-time DJ as well as being a home carer for his partner, had the idea after seeing a lot of his work dry up due to Coronavirus related lockdown restrictions preventing parties and gatherings.

Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News, he said: "I've always been interested in music, I've always wanted to start my own radio station and I know Hucknall is wanting something more for the community. It helps the community as well by advertising local businesses and being somewhere to find out news. It's a different platform other than social media.

"Hucknall used to have local radio and I think it would be a really good thing for the town (to have it again)."

Hucknall's history of local commercial radio dates back to the mid 1990s with WHAM (Wonderful Hucknall AM) radio.

Founded by Hucknall brothers Paul and Steve Jenner the station was run for 28 day periods on a Restricted Service License and was broadcast initially from the cellar of Paul's end terrace house on Linby Grove.

The brothers found a supportive community of listeners in the town and were "absolutely inundated" when they advertised for presenters.

They swapped Hucknall for the Peak District when it became obvious that a permanent license was never going to be made available for the town.

They bid for the license in the Hope Valley area and were successful, launching High Peak Radio in 2003 before selling up in 2019. Last year they launched an online only station covering the same area, called Peak Sound Radio.

Asked by Hucknall Nub News if they could see a Hucknall radio station working, Steve Jenner said: "If it was on a community basis, yes I could. I think the situation's different now. The broadcasting environment has changed completely compared to when we were running WHAM in Hucknall. Best of luck to him."

Mr Bettridge admits that his tentative plans are very much in their infancy as he tries to work out the best and most affordable way of making his dream a reality.

This has involved meticulous research into the town's history something he has relished.

He is also keen to find out if there is a genuine appetite from the people of Hucknall to have a radio station back in the town. If there is a network of support for the idea, here is also open to suggestions, including an appealing and catchy name for the station, something which so far alludes him.

Asked about the type of music he likes to play, and what he envisaged the station playing, he said: "I like 70s and 80s music but I'll be playing songs from the 60s right up to the present day including from local artists, just starting out in the industry.

"I've got a massive broad love for different genres of music."

Would you like to see local radio return to Hucknall? What are your memories of WHAM radio? Give us your thoughts on our social media platforms or by emailing us on [email protected].