Park Radio saved as £5,000 fundraising target for move is hit

A radio station has taken a huge step towards securing its long-term future after hitting a £5,000 fundraising target to find a new home.

Park Radio, which is based at Diss Youth and Community Centre in Shelfanger Road, must relocate to a new broadcasting HQ after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was discovered in the building’s roof.

After starting an appeal on August 6 to help fund its switch, director James Grint said the response from listeners had been overwhelming.

“To be able to say we have done it, and in such a quick space of time, is amazing,” he told the Diss Express yesterday. “I am just blown away.

“In my career, there have not been many times when I have been lost for words, but this is one of them. I just cannot believe it.”

Mr Grint said the station was currently exploring other sources of funding, including grants, in order to facilitate the move.

But it is the community response to the appeal that has delighted staff and volunteers at the broadcaster.

“They are so on board with what we are trying to do as a station and it speaks volumes of how we are not only loved, but also needed in the Waveney Valley,” he said.

“It is a sign that we are not just there as people like tuning into music, but also that we are part of people’s everyday routines to catch up on local traffic, news and stories.”

On the hunt for a new HQ, Mr Grint said they had found two possible sites and hope to make an announcement in the coming weeks.

He added: “I feel very excited about the move now. I just want to get on with it, sign on the dotted line and complete it.”

He said that he hopes Park Radio could be broadcasting from its new location by the new year.

Diss Town Council, which owns and manages the community centre, has been considering options for the site, including shelling out £400,000 on repairs or even demolishing the venue.