Broadcasting To The Peak

Following the high peak MP’s praise in parliament, Lissa Cook reports on life at high peak and ashbourne radio.

- Lissa Cook

‘THE name “High” and “Peak” tells you all you need to know: we have lots of hills, and signals are a problem. However, because of where we are, we do not really identify with the Radio Manchesters, the Radio Sheffields or the Radio Derbys of this world. So High Peak Radio provides us with a tailor-made station for our area.’ Our local MP, Andrew Bingham, sang High Peak Radio’s praises in a recent debate in the House of Commons on the future of broadcasting. We’re probably best summed up as a small, independent, commercial radio station with a big community heart. High Peak and our sister station, Ashbourne Radio, continue to fight our corner in an age when nearly all commercial stations are owned by media giants.

Community radio stations are owned and run by the local community and tend to be not-for-profit. We don’t fit that model. We depend on advertising from local companies. Our Sales Director (and presenter and company founder) Paul Jenner, Sales Manager, Andrew Quinn, and Production Manager (and Mid-Afternoon presenter), Trevor Thomas, liaise closely with our clients to tailor adverts to their business needs.