Hospital lottery Resumes – But sales are slashed
by David Skentelbery
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THE money spinning lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital which was suspended because of claims it constituted a fire hazard, has resumed operations.
But it still has no permanent home – and sales are down by about a third.
The lottery was suspended four weeks ago after a fire inspection by Cheshire Fire Brigade which resulted in all sales in hospital corridors, etc., being declared in breach of fire safety regulations.
League of Friends chairman Alan Woodward said: “We have resumed the lottery operation, but things are not really satisfactory.
“We are selling tickets from a small stand in the outpatients department. But it is unlikely that we can sell as many tickets as previously from there because of the much smaller number of people who pass by.”
When the Fire Brigade inspection was carried out, the League of Friends team were not actually present.
But an independent trader who had rented space in the hospital entrance was present and his set-up breached new fire safety legislation.
Fire safety officers had no alternative other than to close down all sales in hospital corridors, etc – including the League of Friends lottery – which raises about ?40,000 a year for the hospital.
Mr Woodward said it was hoped to set up a meeting with the hospital management, the League of Friends and the Fire Brigade to find a solution to the problem.
He stressed that the ban had nothing to do with the hospital management who were anxious to help.
Winning numbers in this week’s lottery were 8, 9, 12 and 14 – but there was no winner of the ?200 jackpot. The ?25 consolation prize was won by someone signing themselves as “Sheelagh.”
Next week’s jackpot could be in the region of ?400.
Prehistoric man lived in Lymm!
by Gary Skentelbery
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A chance find while metal detecting in a farmer’s field has uncovered the existence of “Prehistoric man” in a localvillage.
Dating back more than 10,000 years flint tools show evidence of prehistoric human activity dating back to the Mesolithic and Neolithic period of British history at Heatley near Lymm.
Archaeologist James Balme, who discovered the ancient settlement of Warburton including Bronze age artefacts and a Roman fortlet, believes that his latest discoveries could be his most important yet.
He said: “Following on from my work at Warburton I decided that it was time to extend my search and look for any evidence that may point to prehistoric activity in the area.
“After researching the surrounding landscape I decided to concentrate on an area of land in Heatley that reflected all the needs required by prehistoric man. This has proved to be a great success and has led to my initial discovery of a flint tool known as a Busked Burin dating from the Mesolithic period circa 10,000BC- also sometimes referred to as the Stoneage.
“As well as the Burin several other flint tools have been recovered including a large hammer stone that even retains a thumb mark worn into the front by constant use during the Mesolithic period. The hammer stone was probably used for the pounding or grinding of roots, berries or herbs for use in food preparation.”
James chose the area of Heatley because of the surrounding features of the landscape that would almost certainly have been appealing to prehistoric man.
While clearing an area to do some metal detecting work he uncovered the prehistoric tools.
He added: “The contours and natural water courses that cross this prehistoric landscape would have attracted many wild animals during the Mesolithic period including horses, red deer and bison that were all native to Britain at that time.
” The Mesolithic people were known as the hunter gatherers and roamed the country according to the seasons in pursuit of these animals that would provide food, animal skins and bones. Nothing was wasted and the hunters would return on a regular basis in an attempt to catch more prey. The area is in excess of thirty acres and searching this is going to take a long time but it is hoped that much more evidence will be recovered.”
For anyone who is interested in the work and discoveries made by James in the Warburton area, his latest documentary ‘A History of Ancient Warburton’ is available priced at just ?9.99. It can be ordered directly from Historic Media Productions by forwarding payment to Brook House Studio, 185 Glazebrook Lane, Glazebrook, Cheshire WA3 5AY.
Business chiefs warned to check for asbestos
by staff reporter
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BUSINESS chiefs in Warrington are being asked to check their premises for a toxin responsible for 3,500 deaths across the country each year – a rate equal tothe number of road traffic deaths on the UK’s roads.
Each year, several thousand employees, countrywide, die from asbestos related lung disease. To help fight back, Warrington businesses are being urged by the borough council, with the help of a new ruling, to check out their premises and reduce the life-threatening risk to their workers.
The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 has now been amended to include a new duty on anyone responsible for the maintenance of commercial, industrial, public properties or the common areas of domestic properties to check for asbestos and properly manage the risk.
This new duty came in to force on the May 21 and enhances the protection of building and maintenance workers from fatal diseases caused by exposure to asbestos.
Known as the “Duty to Manage Asbestos at Non-domestic Premises”, the regulation concentrates on the dangers associated with working at older properties and how to avoid endangering the lives of your employees.
The clause stipulates that ‘duty holders’ of businesses must find out if their premises have any asbestos-containing material, assess the risk and make a plan to manage the risk. The regulation is at the core of the Government’s continuing strategy to reduce asbestos-related disease.
Across the UK, more than half a million commercial, industrial and public buildings are likely to house asbestos materials. Unless this material is properly managed, building and maintenance workers may breathe in this harmful substance as they go about their day-to-day duties.
Asbestos was used extensively in buildings during 1950s to mid 1980s for its insulating and fire proofing qualities. Although some of this material has been removed over the years, there are still many thousands of tonnes of asbestos present in buildings across the UK.
Peter Astley, Trading Standards/Health and Safety Manager for council, said: “The maintenance section now constitutes the largest group at risk.
“Building and maintenance workers must now be warned in advance about the presence of asbestos containing materials if they are to avoid having their health put in jeopardy.
“With this in mind, the regulation has been brought in to ensure businesses get their premises checked out. This is a step in the right direction to help reduce the life-threatening problem of asbestos.
“We have issued two guides to give all the advice you will need to check out your business and the safety of your employees.”
Two free guides are available to businesses from the council’s environment and regeneration team on 01925 444400.
Fun day will promote disability issues
by John Hendon
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A DAY of fun and information to raise awareness of issues involved with learning disabilities will be held in Warrington’s Golden Square Shopping Centre on Wednesday next week
(June 23).
The Warrington branch of Mencap has organised the event that will feature almost 30 stands in the Old Market Place.
All the key organisations involved in learning disability issues will be featured in the event that will run in the Centre from 9am until 5pm.
Information will be given out and people will be available to chat and give advice from groups like Social Services, health organisations and local colleges.
The Walton Gardens Zoo will be bringing some of its furry residents to the Centre and will give children the opportunity to have a cuddle with these animals. There will also be the chance to support Mencap by buying a ticket for a fundraising tombola.
Local Mencap branch secretary Dorothy Pritchard said: “Following the success of last year’s event, everyone involved wanted to be included again this year. Therefore we felt it was important to keep the momentum going and to continue to raise awareness of the many issues involved with learning disabilities. We hope as many people will come along and take advantage of the free advice and help as did last year.”
National Mencap will be launching “Treat me right”, a campaign to highlight the fact that people with learning difficulties often find it impossible to get access to health care in the same way as others.
Andrew Ward, Centre Manager at Golden Square Shopping Centre said: “Anything we can do to raise awareness of the issues faced by those with learning disabilities and therefore help enable them to lead as normal a life as possible can only be a positive thing.”
Storage building hit by blaze
by staff reporter
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VANDALS are believed to have been responsible for a fire which completely wrecked a storage building at the Sankey Valley Sports Club, off Sankey Way, Warrington.
The shell of the building was left standing but the contents – soccer and rugby posts and other sports equipment – were totally destroyed.
A Fire Service spokesman said it was believed the fire had been started deliberately. It appeared the building had been left insecure.
In a separate incident, a fire broke out under a portable building in Dallam Lane, Warrington. Fire crews extinguished the outbreak.
Volunteers in canal clean-up
by staff reporter
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A MAJOR clean-up operation was mounted in Sankey Valley Park, Warrington with rubbish and vegetation being cleared from two sections of the Sankey Canal.
Warrington Rangers and members of the Sankey Canal Restoration Society (Scars) were involved in the initiative.
Teams of volunteers removed large quantities of overgrown vegetation from the canal and its banks at Sankey Bridges and later moved to Bewsey Locks where trees were coppiced and vegetation cleared from around the lock structure.
SCARS – formed in 1985 – regularly promotes the Sankey Canal, particularly in Warrington, Halton and St Helens, and gives support to the three borough councils in work to maintain the waterway.
