Big month coming up...
I'm informed that this month will see the launch of a new free newspaper called the "Cheshire Independent".
We've suffered a bit for local news round here of late. Yes, we've got the express - but with the closure of their shopfront in town and completely unproven rumours that they might look to be reducing their operation further who knows how long they'll be around?
Then we had the Community News which is now closed.
TV is a joke, frankly. We receive channel "M", but they're only interesting in Manchester stories. We then have local reporting on the BBC news and Granada, but whilst they admit to covering this area it's very infrequently that we see them and it's usually a bad news story when we do.
Finally there's SilkFM - but although they're quite small compared to other ILR's they're still a bit commercial to be useful. I've only ever once had success in getting something on the news, and I had to put a lot of work into that.
But things are changing....
Canalside has been a revelation, and has provided a true local hub for information even if they are in the snowy depths of Bolly which is only accessible by horse-drawn sled.
We have the superb Loop, and publications like Park lane people are going from strength to strength.
And now we are to have the Cheshire Independent. Lets hope this one ups the anti and gives the 'express a run for it's money, because a little bit of competition will only be good for quality.
Friday 6 February 2009
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1 comment:
Thank you for recognising Canalside Radio in your blog.
I'm a volunteer at the station, presenting a 'local affairs' programme every Monday afternoon, & I'm hungry for local news to discuss on my show simply because I think the people of North East Cheshire deserve good quality, well-researched information, about the area where they live, and to be given the opportunity to discuss issues, and ask questions using the 'immediate' medium of radio.
Canalside has only been up & running for three months and already we've investigated the reduction of rail services from local stations into Manchester at peak travel times, the proposed changes by Cheshire Fire & Rescue to the service at Wilmslow Fire Station, and perhaps most contentiously - missed bin collections!
We've debated the outline planning application to redevelop Macclesfield Town Centre. We've interviewed Cabinet members from the new Council about their areas of responsibility and put community groups in direct contact with the relevant Cllr.
We asked Cllr Keegan if he would challenge central government over business rates, and if he can understand why the local populus are pained by large pay-outs for redundant Borough Council Executives.
We made Cllr Brickhill aware of the discrepancies between Congleton's waste collections and Macclesfield's, and discovered, much to our listeners surprise, that their is funding available for extra dog bins for any town council that requests it!
We've highlighted controversial planning applications, community events, local news, campaigns and initiatives, and given a voice to countless volunteer groups on their local radio.
We have endeavoured to get our listeners questions answered, and encouraged them to use their local community radio as a means of finding out about issues that affect them, as well as taking the chance to request their favourite tune!
I sincerely hope the station goes from strength to strength, providing good quality information, debate, a means for Cheshire East Council and Town Council's to communicate with those they represent - and for those they represent to communicate with them, and a valuable opportunity for the volunteers who get involved to benefit from learning new skills.
I would be delighted to hear from you Cllr Beckford if you ever have an issue you would like raised or discussed, if you have any feed-back you would like to share regarding parking fees, or if you just want to pop into the studio to have an 'on-air' chat to let our listeners know who you are and what you do.
I can be contacted via www.ccr-fm.co.uk
All the best,
Heidi Reid
Canalside Community Radio 102.8 FM
www.ccr-fm.co.uk
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