Wey Valley Radio is back!

We are back on air following a seven-year break.

The brand new version of Wey Valley Radio has been set up as a not-for-profit company, run principally by volunteers.

It is now broadcasting on 101.1 FM to listeners living across the GU34 area.

Leading the revival is well-known broadcaster David Way, who has been the driving force in local radio for Alton and the surrounding areas over the past two-and-a-half decades.

Hitting the airwaves at 10.11am precisely, with David Way in the hotseat, town mayor Dean Phillips proclaimed “Hello Alton”, declaring the revitalised station “an asset to the town”.

It was an emotional moment when the first song ever broadcast by the original station at its first launch in 1992 – ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now’ by Starship was played once again.

Dean Phillips said:
“Community radio has a vital role to play in giving a voice to local people, groups and organisations. This is a local radio for the area and it is available to everyone.”

The Wey Valley Radio team first broadcast from the Herald office in Alton as part of the Radio Cracker RSL in 1991.

It launched on FM in November 1992 and was always very much a radio station at the heart of it’s community. The station broadcast from Alton until 2003 when, due in part to its success and the commercial environment at the time, it merged with Delta Radio in Haslemere. Delta went on to broadcast from Bordon until 2010 when its new owners decided to move production away from the area.

Following the closure of Delta Radio in 2010, members of the original team have worked together and broadcast online in preparation for the current licence application – one of six new licences granted by Ofcom last July to serve areas such as Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester and Alton.

David Way told supporters during the process of application: “There are currently no radio services targeted directly at the majority of Alton residents and dedicated to providing local news, information and entertainment for this community.

“As in the past, we hope to provide a service involving as many of the unique community of our town as possible.”

With a minimum of six hours per day to feature original, locally produced material broadcast live, the aim will be “to give voice to all residents of Alton and the surrounding areas” and to actively encourage listener participation.

At least half of the presenters, office and production staff will be volunteers or trainees from the community and the station is expected to act as a training centre.

“The intention is to run the station with the same mindset that prevailed at the beginning, with programming made by the community for the community to entertain, inform and enhance the lives of people in the ever-expanding market town of Alton,” said David.

He was joined for the launch by broadcaster Paul Le Feuvre, who has returned to take on his Sunday evening request show; David Seal, who will present Swing Easy; Brian Player with Folk and Acoustics; and former volunteer Mel Rhodes.