New DAB station for three local towns

Middlewich-based radio station Feel Good Throw Backs Radio launched its service on DAB on Sunday, when the town mayor Coun Simon Whittaker pressed the button at noon to officially launch the music.
The DAB signal can be picked up in Congleton, Sandbach Alsager, Middlewich and possibly as far away as Birmingham and Manchester, (ITALICS writes Stewart Green).
The station was started by Paul Bannister in his bedroom studio after he tired of travelling to play gigs and wanted something a little nearer to home.
While travelling back from London he stopped off at a service station and, on the back of the proverbial beer mat, jotted down some ideas – and within 24 hours was up and running with 15 hours of shows a week. The station launched on 23rd June.
He was joined by a friend and then put out an advert for help and ended up with about 18 DJs.
A proper studio was then needed and Mr Bannister arranged for one in Winsford.
This first set of broadcasts was available on-line and via apps but the aim was always to get onto DAB. Blueberry Care has helped with funding for the new DAB broadcasts.
While at Winsford they registered for the Welcome Warm Hub scheme during the winter, to allow people to come in for a drink and somewhere warm to stay.
As the studio was on the first floor it was difficult to access so they looked for a ground floor area – and Middlewich Town Hall had an office for rent.
The studio moved in with the same welcome hub, with access during the day by the front door and at other times via the back door of the building next to the Civic Hall.
The broadcasters are always after help and volunteers to prepare local news and travel bulletins.
Apart from the live studio programmes some are pre-recorded, such as “Cheshire Folk” by Dave Roberts, who has presented this Sunday show on Hospital Radio Leighton and other stations since 1992.
The drive-time show comes down the line from a presenter’s own studio in Biddulph and other programmes are sent in from Boston and Washington in the USA.
As the station is on the internet they have listeners from as far away as the British Virgin Islands and New Zealand.
Coun Whittaker said that he hoped the council would make use of the new station, especially as it was one of its tenants in the town hall.
They hope to use it to promote town events or current affairs to inform people about the working of the town council, including attending council meetings and either broadcasting parts of them or just reporting back to the listener what had happened.
To listen online search Feel Good Throw Back Radio or go to fgtb.co.uk or via app store FGTBUK. On DAB it is FGTB Cheshire.
(Photo: Stewart Green).