A ROW over the direction taken by a much-loved local radio station has spilled over into a vitriolic and potentiality litigious war of words following a mass walk-out of long-time presenters.

Station stalwarts have told of their dismay at discovering the studios empty after broadcasting equipment with a value estimated at £20,000 was removed by new bosses and shipped to a secret location allegedly in the Tredegar area.

NH Sound, the radio station for Nevill Hall Hospital and the surrounding community, was set up in 1979 to serve patients, staff and visitors but is currently only available via an internet link.

Originally formed as Pen-y-Fal Hospital Radio Society and based at the old Pen-y-Fal Hospital, the station has become a stalwart of local broadcasting after almost 40 years of round the clock shows.

But now, many of NH Sound’s former presenters are claiming that new bosses have taken over the station, changed the output and brought in a culture that made it impossible for them to continue - much to the consternation of listeners and supporters, many of whom have contacted the Chronicle to complain.

There has also been an ongoing and increasingly bitter war of words online between new station boss, Nathan Edwards and a number former presenters who accuse him of ‘Hijacking the station and treating people in a mean-spirited and underhanded manner.’

The situation allegedly began when former station boss and long-time presenter, Pam Parry, was injured in a fall in January 2018, resulting in lengthly surgery and a three-month stay in hospital.

While she was away it is alleged that Edwards edged members of the old team out in favour of new people who subsequently changed the output of the station with Edwards becoming first vice chairman and subsequently chairman after Pam Parry’s successor, John Price, also left.

When asked the reason for leaving the Hospital studio by the Chronicle, Edwards responded by stating, ‘There were a number of factors that contributed to the decision to relocate the station. The condition of the building was a consideration but was not the key issue.

‘The relocation has provided us with a premises more suitable for our needs and has also freed up valuable space for use by hospital services. It is hoped that the relocation will assist us to attract more sponsors across a broader area therefore allowing us to better support hospital services. With more sponsorship we aim to fund transmission by DAB which will also expand the reach of the station.’

He also denied any link between NH Sound and another local station, Up Beat Radio, stating, ‘As you are aware, Up Beat Radio has had its name dropped into this conversation.  They are completely separate companies and not involved with NH Sound in any way at this stage.’

In October, 2018, Nathan Edwards was awarded Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisation’s Trustee Volunteer Award for his outstanding commitment and dedication to the Nevill Hall Hospital radio station.

On accepting the award he stated, ‘I may have won this award but it’s not just me who won, it’s everyone at NH Sound. It is a team effort to keep the station alive and running I accept this award on behalf of everyone at NH Sound, thank you for your continuous support, we have a fantastic team here at NH Sound.’

However, complaints about the station’s new output have come from local politicians and former listeners.

Councillor Sam Dodd told the Chronicle, ‘The current committee is sending the station into the gutter, which is a shame as the previous committee worked tirelessly to provide a professional organisation and raised a lot of money in the process.’

Mayor of Abergavenny, Councillor Teslin Davies, told the Chronicle, ‘We are devastated to hear what seems to be going on at NH Sound. The council hopes the mystery will be solved soon so that people can once again listen to the station they have come to love over several decades.’

AM for Monmouthshire, Nick Ramsey, who has been instrumental in supporting the station over number of years has expressed his concern at the current situation, stating, ‘We would really like to know what is going on at NH Sound.’

Listener, Craig Titchener, who hosts the Facebook Page, Abergavenny Voice, said, ‘All the presenters who left are the ones who made NH Sound, this is not just my personal opinion, this is shared by a huge following on Abergavenny Voice.’

Karen Newman, communications officer for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board told the Chronicle, ‘We have a professional relationship with them; we are not the overall administrative body. They are a separate charity with their own organisational arrangements.’

A statement from Nathan Edwards in response to complaints says, ‘NH Sound is a much loved organisation that has undergone some recent changes. The station itself has now relocated in order to assist in expanding the stations reach. This decision was not taken lightly and was agreed by NH Sound trustees as part of an ongoing plan to revitalise the station.

‘In addition to the move it was also agreed to rebrand the station to bring it into modern times. Services will still be readily available to the hospital via the internet. currently this is the only method of broadcasting to the hospital wards as there are no remaining hospedia units at Nevill Hall. Trustees have also taken the decision to switch off our radio transmitter due to a recent loss of sponsorship.

‘We are aware of a number of posts circulating on social media raising concerns about theft of NH Sound equipment. We can confirm that this is not the case and all equipment has been relocated as part of the station move.

“Gwent Police are aware of this situation and have provided support in this matter.

‘We request that individuals refrain from commenting on social media, in particular the naming of individuals, and that any concerns be raised directly with current trustees of NH Sound.’

However, former NH Sound DJ Dave Holman told the Chronicle, ‘There is a great need for the kind of station we all knew and loved and we are determined to bring good local radio back to Abergavenny.’