In October 2021, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport’s Digital Radio and Audio Review highlighted a number of areas across the country with poor radio coverage – including the Hope Valley.
Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) signal in the Hope Valley is limited for a number of reasons. These include the landscape, with natural features like hills, valleys, and rivers disrupting the signal.
In addition, the Hope Valley is on the very edge of the South Yorkshire licensed commercial radio region. Broadcast signals are therefore often not strong enough to cover the Hope Valley.
The Media Department’s Review included a series of recommendations to address these deficiencies. In Parliament, local MP Robert Largan pushed ministers to state what progress has been made to address poor radio signal in the Hope Valley.
Robert Largan, MP for High Peak, asked:
“An important part of public broadcasting is radio. Last October, the Government’s review into digital, audio and radio found that the Hope Valley in my constituency has very poor DAB—digital audio broadcasting—service. What are the Government doing to improve digital radio access for rural communities such as the Hope Valley?”
Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure, Julia Lopez, responded:
“I thank my hon. Friend for raising the needs of the Hope Valley, which he is right to do. We have conducted a review of this area, and we have been working with commercial radio and the BBC on this issue for a number of years. We do not expect them to be doing a great deal of extra work on DAB roll-out, but I am happy to continue looking into the matter and to consider the issues he highlights in his own patch.”
Robert Largan, MP for High Peak, commented:
“Radio remains an important part of public service broadcasting. Unfortunately, for many in the Hope Valley, it remains out of reach.
“I am pleased that the Government have committed to improving digital radio access in rural regions like the High Peak. I am determined to keep up the fight to improve DAB service in the Hope Valley.”