Torbay Weekly editor to chair radio group

Jim Parker becomes chair of 'TorDab'

One of Torbay’s most well-known figures is to chair the organisation applying to create a digital radio network in South Devon. 

Jim Parker is founder and editor of the Torbay Weekly, the newspaper launched three years ago with an aim to celebrate everything good about the area.

He is now overseeing a consortium called TorDab that hopes to be selected by the regulator, Ofcom, to provide the new network transmitting up to 25 new radio stations for South Devon.

Jim was a long-standing editor and columnist of the Herald Express, before leaving to start the Torbay Weekly. That paper is now part of Clear Sky Publishing - which also owns the Moorlander, North Devon Gazette and Mid Devon Weekly – and which is an investor in TorDab.

Additionally Jim is chair of the Torbay Together Partnership, chair of Sport Torbay and Barton Cricket Club, a trustee of Torbay Community Development Trust, a member of the executive of Torbay Business Forum, Torbay Destination Management Group and Torquay Town Deal Board. And that is just part of an impressive list of his community interests.

Jim said: “Over the years, South Devon has lost just about all its local radio stations. DevonAir, Gemini, Palm, even the Breeze which at least broadcast some programmes from Torquay, have all gone national – or simply gone. We want to keep local radio local, with Devon people in control of this new network, which has a firm commitment to the community. We’ll have at least six slots for local community stations, and possibly more too if enough groups want to take part.

“I’ve agreed to chair TorDab because I can see the passion that the partners in the group thus far, South Devon Radio, and Radio Exe, bring to the idea of opening up the airwaves to other stations that want to broadcast to South Devon.”

Anyone interested in launching a radio station for South Devon should get in touch by emailing enquiries@tordab.com  More information is at: www.tordab.com