A NEW online radio station ‘Heath Sound Vault’ has launched, bringing together Heath Radio and Sound Vault, a community podcast network based at the Farnham Maltings.

Initially the station will showcase content from the range of podcasts produced by volunteers at Sound Vault, together with news every hour and a mix of music, with the ultimate aim of securing a not-for-profit, FM community radio licence.

Shows include first-person storytelling, children’s programmes by the likes of Farnham Library storyteller Gilly Stewart, comedy, a travelogue, and specialist music. The Herald recently captured the sounds of the Farnham Castle by-elections for Sound Vault’s ‘Voices’ series.

The station is the first public access radio of its kind on the Surrey/Hampshire border and is the brainchild of two Pauls - both no stranger to radio.

Paul Wisdom is set to be station manager at Heath Radio, having previously worked at Wey Valley/Delta Radio, Mercury FM, Smooth Radio and with BFBS, both here and overseas. He was one of the launch directors for nearby community station, Wey Valley Radio, based in Alton.

Paul Simpson is the editor of the Sound Vault project, which launched in February 2017, where anyone in the local community can pitch an idea for a show, and if successful, come and get the skills to make them. He is a former head of PR at BBC Radio 1, and subsequently represented radio clients including Kiss FM, Nicky Campbell, and Wise Buddah.

Paul Simpson told the Herald: “Podcasts have become really popular in recent years, but there are lots of people out there prevented from doing it because they don’t have the technical facilities or the confidence.

“This project is all about enabling that, and finding a way to get more people’s voices heard.”

To hear a showcase of Heath Sound Vault’s podcasts and shows online, or to find out how to get involved, visit www.SoundVaultHQ.com and www.HeathRadio.co.uk, or subscribe via iTunes and other podcasting apps.