Diss-based Park Radio announces date for move from Diss Youth and Community Centre, in Shelfanger Road, to the Corn Hall, in St Nicholas Street.

A radio is set to move to its new town centre location in September, it has announced.

Park Radio station director, James Grint, announced the news this week and said he was “thrilled” the project was making progress..

The move, from Diss Youth and Community Centre, in Shelfanger Road, will see two new studios built at the Corn Hall venue, in St Nicholas Street.

The move follows a fund-raising campaign which was backed by the public and grants, which raised around £14,000.

The new studio will also be have glass surrounds and be viewable by the public, at the historic Grade II isted building, while the team is broadcasting live.

James said: “It’s taken longer than we expected because there are lots of people involved in such a move.

“The Corn Hall was refurbished thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, so we had to meet all of their terms and conditions, as well as make arrangements with the town council which owns the building.

‘That’s apart from all the plans for the construction of the new studios, and planning permissions in a listed building.

“The last nine months has been hard work, and so will the next nine months be, when we get round to moving all the equipment. But we are making progress and it’s very exciting. We are, of course, planning a launch event, with bubbly.”

James said it was a “dream come true” when he announced the move to the Corn Hall last October,

Park Radio, which covers Diss, Eye and Harleston, was forced to find a new HQ when the top floor of the Diss Youth and Community Centre in Shelfanger Road was found to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in the roof structure, raising questions over its future.

The mezzanine floor and office space at the Corn Hall will be converted for the two new studios.

Barclays Bank which currently has an office at the Corn Hall will also be retained as part of the plans.

Park Radio is run by a team of 27 volunteers.

James added: “A big thank you to everyone who has supported us and and keep listening to park radio.”

Lee Johnson, general manager at the Corn Hall, said: “This is a great opportunity for the Corn Hall and for Park Radio. The synergy of the two organisation is second to none and there is no other venue that is working in collaboration with radio for the for the community and the arts.”