The frequencies have been allocated, 90.2 for the Chester area and 103.7 for the East of the county. it's just a question of when will the BBC get around to it.
Cheshire, Durham, and Surrey are the black holes of BBC local radio, although Cheshire has never had its own BBC local radio station, unlike the other two counties which lost theirs.
Incidentally, BBC Radio Stoke On Trent tends to provide more coverage for Cheshire than BBC Radio Murkyside, though of course this tends to be weighted to the southern parts of the county.
Cheshire, Durham, and Surrey are the black holes of BBC local radio, although Cheshire has never had its own BBC local radio station, unlike the other two counties which lost theirs.
Southern Counties covers Surrey quite well, probably better than it does Sussex despite Sussex having a station longer
Southern Counties covers Surrey quite well, probably better than it does Sussex despite Sussex having a station longer
Possibly because the station is based in Guildford? But when most BBC Local Radio stations serve one county each there is really no excuse for Surrey and Sussex still having to share a single station.
Cheshire is one of those counties, like Durham and North Yorkshire which is covered by several BBC local stations. The Wirral/Chester area is covered by Radio Merseyside, the central/eastern areas (e.g. Northwich, Nantwich, Macclesfield) by Radio Stoke and the northern areas by GMR. I admit it's not ideal and is a more complicated split than the simple north/south divide of County Durham, the north going to Radio Newcastle and the south to Radio Cleveland, with both stations seeming to cover Durham City! There was actually a BBC Radio Durham in the past but it was closed sometime in the 70's probably because with the other two north east BBC locals it was reckoned to be surplus to requirements.
As for North Yorkshire it's impinged upon by several BBC locals (R Cleveland, R York, R Humberside, R Leeds) as it's such a large county and although it's easy to think that Radio York is its station it doesn't actually cover the whole county.
Cheshire is one of those counties, like Durham and North Yorkshire which is covered by several BBC local stations. The Wirral/Chester area is covered by Radio Merseyside, the central/eastern areas (e.g. Northwich, Nantwich, Macclesfield) by Radio Stoke and the northern areas by GMR. I admit it's not ideal and is a more complicated split than the simple north/south divide of County Durham, the north going to Radio Newcastle and the south to Radio Cleveland, with both stations seeming to cover Durham City! <snip>
That's similar to Warrington where both GMR and Radio Merseyside do commentary on the local rugby side! I wonder if they are paying two sets of commentary rights?
Personally I don't see the point of a BBC Radio Cheshire. The way it works currently seems to match the city that people look to. IMHO I don't really think there's a central point in Cheshire for people to look towards.
That's similar to Warrington where both GMR and Radio Merseyside do commentary on the local rugby side! I wonder if they are paying two sets of commentary rights?
Personally I don't see the point of a BBC Radio Cheshire. The way it works currently seems to match the city that people look to. IMHO I don't really think there's a central point in Cheshire for people to look towards.
I agree, to a point.
Folk in Crewe and South Cheshire tend to identify themselves as the 'upper-middle class' cousins of Stoke on Trent, and are as far removed from Mancunians and Scousers as it gets.
Those in the North and East of Cheshire tend to be on the Manchester commuter belt, many are ex-mancunians living out in the countryside. GMR is well suited here.
West Cheshire tends to have a degree of Liverpudlian influence, Radio Merseyside serves this area, both in coverage and reception, pretty well.
Warrington, being mid way between Liverpool and Manchester, has a mix of people. It is also the largest population area of any of Cheshire's towns.
I believe that the likely choices of frequencies would mean that 103.7 would come from Sutton Common (Silk FM's transmitter), and would serve East and Mid Cheshire. 90.2 would be Chester and West Cheshire.
Warrington would be left in a reception black hole and would need an additional frequency (are there any left?).
The county is too big and too diverse to be able to sustain a BBC county station.
My preference would be to see a local station aimed at Northwich, Winsford, Middlewich, Holmes Chapel, Sandbach and/or Crewe, Nantwich areas of mid and South Cheshire, currently unserved by any of the bordering stations.
GMR barely covers Manchester city. The reception on 95.1 is a standing joke around these parts.
This is no doubt due to the relatively low powered signal from Holme Moss being in 'shadow' over much of the eastern side of the conurbation. I would imagine the western side (Salford, say) fares better. It's certainly strong on 95.1 on the Wirral peninsula, but then you can get Radio Leeds (92.4) there aswell!
Similarly silly things happen with my local station, BBC R Cleveland, which uses Bilsdale as its transmitter site. This is in shadow over parts of Middlesbrough and East Cleveland (their core transmission area) yet it's dead easy to get in the northern suburbs of Leeds!
- Either GMR should just move 95.1 to Saddleworth at the same power as Key and relinquish 104.6.
- Have a low powered (100/200watts) relay in the city centre (say from City Tower/Sunley Building)
Thinking about the way Cheshire lies as a county, a more radical solution would be to have a new BBC local station that crosses the border into Wales as well and covers the areas that MFM is aiming for, this I think would be a better fit.
Chester in West Cheshire is the unserved place that doesn't fit with Liverpool that well, so Radio Merseyside seems out of area.
However if a new BBC local station were to launch that encompassed Wrexham, Denbighshire & Flintshire with Chester as the principal city also covering some of the outlying cheshire countryside up to say Kelsall Hill this could solve that.
The station could potentially be called BBC Chester & Wrexham.
For the eastern part of the county, Cheshire Robski's idea of covering the smaller cheshire towns like Sandbach, Crewe & Nantwich which don't fit Stoke's identity with another station would be a good idea, Warrington might be fine as it is.
Can't wait for the RDS to read BBC Ches
& BBCEChes.
Call 90.2 BBC Chester & Wrexham
and 103.7 in the east BBC Radio Cheshire.
But are there any plans for a FM frequency for Radio Wales in Flintshire & Denbighshire as the nearest is either 95.4 from Wrexham or 94.8 from Anglesey (Llandonna).
Warrington, being mid way between Liverpool and Manchester, has a mix of people. It is also the largest population area of any of Cheshire's towns.
Warrington would be left in a reception black hole and would need an additional frequency (are there any left?).
Although it is in the administrative county of Cheshire, Warrington actually never left the historical county of Lancashire, so it is much better suited to one of Lancashire's 3 BBC locals.
Surely 92.5 would be an ok' ish frequency for Warrington/Runcorn, using the same site and power as Wire FM?
Along with 1kw from Chester on 90.2 beamed south east and 1kw on 103.7 from Sutton Common beamed south west I would think that should give good coverage.
Surely 92.5 would be an ok' ish frequency for Warrington/Runcorn, using the same site and power as Wire FM?
Along with 1kw from Chester on 90.2 beamed south east and 1kw on 103.7 from Sutton Common beamed south west I would think that should give good coverage.
Radio Leeds 92.4 would mess with it too much, as that kicks out quite a signal across the whole North West.
I thought about 94.3 or 94.4, but then Radio 4's from Haslingden and Morecambe Bay are on those frequencies.
Although it is in the administrative county of Cheshire, Warrington actually never left the historical county of Lancashire, so it is much better suited to one of Lancashire's 3 BBC locals.
Staffordshire as a whole is also poorly covered by BBC Local Radio, with Radio Stoke being totally biased towards Stoke on Trent, at the expense of Stafford, the county town.
I know it is a big county to cover with one station, but Stafford, Cannock Chase, and down to the borders with the West Midlands are also poorly served by independent radio. It's a bit frustrating if you are living in the middle or south of the county.
Staffordshire as a whole is also poorly covered by BBC Local Radio, with Radio Stoke being totally biased towards Stoke on Trent, at the expense of Stafford, the county town.
I know it is a big county to cover with one station, but Stafford, Cannock Chase, and down to the borders with the West Midlands are also poorly served by independent radio. It's a bit frustrating if you are living in the middle or south of the county.
Signal 1's Stafford breakfast show is alright. (on 96.9fm)
BBC Radio Stoke is quite good for local news here in Stone and has a bit of Stafford stuff. BBC WM is supposed to be for South Staffordshire and BBC Radio Derby has quite good East Staffordshire coverage (especially Burton).
Comments
Incidentally, BBC Radio Stoke On Trent tends to provide more coverage for Cheshire than BBC Radio Murkyside, though of course this tends to be weighted to the southern parts of the county.
Southern Counties covers Surrey quite well, probably better than it does Sussex despite Sussex having a station longer
As for North Yorkshire it's impinged upon by several BBC locals (R Cleveland, R York, R Humberside, R Leeds) as it's such a large county and although it's easy to think that Radio York is its station it doesn't actually cover the whole county.
That's similar to Warrington where both GMR and Radio Merseyside do commentary on the local rugby side! I wonder if they are paying two sets of commentary rights?
Personally I don't see the point of a BBC Radio Cheshire. The way it works currently seems to match the city that people look to. IMHO I don't really think there's a central point in Cheshire for people to look towards.
Folk in Crewe and South Cheshire tend to identify themselves as the 'upper-middle class' cousins of Stoke on Trent, and are as far removed from Mancunians and Scousers as it gets.
Those in the North and East of Cheshire tend to be on the Manchester commuter belt, many are ex-mancunians living out in the countryside. GMR is well suited here.
West Cheshire tends to have a degree of Liverpudlian influence, Radio Merseyside serves this area, both in coverage and reception, pretty well.
Warrington, being mid way between Liverpool and Manchester, has a mix of people. It is also the largest population area of any of Cheshire's towns.
I believe that the likely choices of frequencies would mean that 103.7 would come from Sutton Common (Silk FM's transmitter), and would serve East and Mid Cheshire. 90.2 would be Chester and West Cheshire.
Warrington would be left in a reception black hole and would need an additional frequency (are there any left?).
The county is too big and too diverse to be able to sustain a BBC county station.
My preference would be to see a local station aimed at Northwich, Winsford, Middlewich, Holmes Chapel, Sandbach and/or Crewe, Nantwich areas of mid and South Cheshire, currently unserved by any of the bordering stations.
GMR barely covers Manchester city. The reception on 95.1 is a standing joke around these parts.
This is no doubt due to the relatively low powered signal from Holme Moss being in 'shadow' over much of the eastern side of the conurbation. I would imagine the western side (Salford, say) fares better. It's certainly strong on 95.1 on the Wirral peninsula, but then you can get Radio Leeds (92.4) there aswell!
Similarly silly things happen with my local station, BBC R Cleveland, which uses Bilsdale as its transmitter site. This is in shadow over parts of Middlesbrough and East Cleveland (their core transmission area) yet it's dead easy to get in the northern suburbs of Leeds!
I think there's two solutions:
- Either GMR should just move 95.1 to Saddleworth at the same power as Key and relinquish 104.6.
- Have a low powered (100/200watts) relay in the city centre (say from City Tower/Sunley Building)
Chester in West Cheshire is the unserved place that doesn't fit with Liverpool that well, so Radio Merseyside seems out of area.
However if a new BBC local station were to launch that encompassed Wrexham, Denbighshire & Flintshire with Chester as the principal city also covering some of the outlying cheshire countryside up to say Kelsall Hill this could solve that.
The station could potentially be called BBC Chester & Wrexham.
For the eastern part of the county, Cheshire Robski's idea of covering the smaller cheshire towns like Sandbach, Crewe & Nantwich which don't fit Stoke's identity with another station would be a good idea, Warrington might be fine as it is.
Can't wait for the RDS to read BBC Ches
& BBCEChes.
Call 90.2 BBC Chester & Wrexham
and 103.7 in the east BBC Radio Cheshire.
But are there any plans for a FM frequency for Radio Wales in Flintshire & Denbighshire as the nearest is either 95.4 from Wrexham or 94.8 from Anglesey (Llandonna).
I thought that a rather accurate description (I'm from Crewe originally)
Must be right in 'the hole' then!
Although it is in the administrative county of Cheshire, Warrington actually never left the historical county of Lancashire, so it is much better suited to one of Lancashire's 3 BBC locals.
www.forl.co.uk
Along with 1kw from Chester on 90.2 beamed south east and 1kw on 103.7 from Sutton Common beamed south west I would think that should give good coverage.
I thought about 94.3 or 94.4, but then Radio 4's from Haslingden and Morecambe Bay are on those frequencies.
Debate on this in the Warrington Guardian this week:
http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/cheshire/warrington/news/WARRINGTON_NEWS14.html
I know it is a big county to cover with one station, but Stafford, Cannock Chase, and down to the borders with the West Midlands are also poorly served by independent radio. It's a bit frustrating if you are living in the middle or south of the county.
Signal 1's Stafford breakfast show is alright. (on 96.9fm)
BBC Radio Stoke is quite good for local news here in Stone and has a bit of Stafford stuff. BBC WM is supposed to be for South Staffordshire and BBC Radio Derby has quite good East Staffordshire coverage (especially Burton).
I also notice that if you go to the BBC Where I live website and put in a Chester Postcode it takes you to BBC Liverpool.