With a live stream that reaches more than 30,000 people each month, the broadcaster now has two FM transmitters, at Bidborough and Mount Ephraim, covering Tunbridge Wells, Southborough, Tonbridge, parts of Sevenoaks, and extends toward Edenbridge and Paddock Wood on 95.5 FM and 106.7 FM.
“Since we started [Thursday, October 28], 113,000 people have started a webstream, the equivalent of 113,000 separate visits,” presenter and founder Nigel Peacock told the Times.
He said that while the FM audience will not be known until the station commissions listening figures after a year’s operation, government estimates suggest 117,859 live in the transmission area, 48 per cent of which – 54,036 people – fell into the 45 years and over age group targeted by the station.
Although the music style is aimed at that demographic, Nigel stressed that the station welcomes everyone.
“We don’t have a typical listener; we just like to talk to you. When we talk to radio, we don’t say ‘hello, listeners’, we say hello to you. It’s a subtle difference.”
“The last two years have also helped to underline the importance of ‘local’,” station trustee Claire Backhurst added.
“There are more people around and about on the streets. People do stop and look at our shopfront [on Camden Road], and recognise us from people talking about it,” she said, referring to the station’s growing reputation.
And the station has already made a difference to a number of local organisations and artists.
Country music singer and musician Anna Howie who was recently profiled on Phil Mills’ ‘Pure Unsigned’ programme, told the Times: “It is hard for independent artists to get national radio play, but the road to that all begins with presenters like Phil and organisations like West Kent Radio,” she said.
Although she has played locally at venues such as The Forum, Trinity Theatre, The Royal Oak, Local and Live in Calverley, and the Grey Lady (where she is headlining on May 1), she told the Times that a dedicated community station made a crucial difference.
“I am in the process of releasing new music (my album ‘The Friday Night Club’ is out on March 25), and local radio is vital for artists like me in getting the music out to wider audiences. Phil Mills is an avid music lover. I see him out at gigs all the time. He sees artists live and then spreads the word and the music by playing them on his show.”
Chris Murphy, of the Tunbridge Wells Repair Café (TWRC), said the publicity given by West Kent Radio as well as coverage in the Times of Tunbridge Wells, helped the organisation record its highest ever number of visitors in November.
“I think we have an amazing range of local media that is so passionate about promoting local people and events,” he said.
“One thing I know is that without the support of all of these we wouldn’t have the amazing Repair Cafe we do, and as such I will continue to engage and support all of them. Together, we are stronger.”
From Health in Hospital to Wellbeing in the Community
West Kent Radio started life as a hospital station, but when the chance of an FM licence came up, the team of volunteers got a chance to take care of the community, too.
Turning its health experience into what presenter Nigel Peacock called ‘a broader commitment to health and wellbeing’, the station now offers news, weather, traffic, community initiatives, local music, sport and more.
Around 8.3 per cent of the population in the station’s transmission area has a long-term health problem or disability that limited their day-to-day activity to some degree, according to government estimates for 2020, quoted in the station’s application to broadcast.
Recent guests have included an eye surgeon, interviewed about eye health for Glaucoma Awareness Month in January, and a health and fitness coach helping to support Age UK and Involve Kent.
Nigel said: “We have a long contact list of people we would like to come in, but there are also people who get in touch with us,” he added. “We haven’t done everything we want to, yet.”
