Time Team
in town!
by Gary Skentelbery
CULT archaeological television series ‘Time Team’ have opened up a local farmer’s field following a number exciting Roman finds by Warrington archaeologist James Balme.
Over a three-day period Tony Robinson, Phil Harding, John Gater and the rest of team joined James on site in Warburton near Lymm to carry out an investigation to try and discover why the area is so rich in evidence of a Prehistoric and Roman past.
The team was led by Dr Francis Pryor famous for his BBC documentaries ‘Britain BC & Britain AD’. Dr Pryor is also President of the Council for British Archaeology of which James is a member.
Excavation work involved JCB’s digging huge trenches in search of a Roman fortlet – with their finds to be revealed early in the New Year.
James who has been investigating the site for more than a decade, has also recovered evidence from the Prehistoric, Bronze Age and Iron Age periods of history and many of his finds will be highlighted in the programme.
The artefacts highlight the ancient past of the village helping to re-write what was previously known about the quiet backwater of Warburton. The programme will feature a classic reconstruction of an artefact recovered during his investigations.
“The village of Warburton will now get the recognition that it richly deserves whilst at the same time my archaeological work will be given national coverage. What is really exciting is the fact that this programme will be shown in other countries as well,” said James.
As well as appearing with ‘Time Team’ he has now been approached by the BBC who are very interested in working with him on future archaeological programmes about his work.
” It seems that from what started out as a hobby has now generated a great interest in television circles and it seems that more television work is just around the corner.”
From January 2007 the new series of Time Team will broadcast across the nation on Channel 4 and will feature the programme filmed in Warburton.
Mayor joins
early birds
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON’s Mayor Coun Lindi Dirir and her consort husband Allin were “early birds” when they visited Warrington’s BNI breakfast club at the Paddington House Hotel.
They met local business leaders who network each week to help generate business referrals.
The Mayor used the occasion to promote a special business green award award she is launching in November, to reward local businesses who have introduced new recycling initiatives.
The Mayor and consort are pictured with Warrington Chapter Director Bill Headley from the Phone Shop in Stockton Heath and BNI Executive Director Ewan Sturman.
BNI Warrington meets each Friday morning starting at 7am!
Coun Dirir said it was by far the earliest Mayoral engagement to date!
Benefit cheat sentenced
to community service
by staff reporter
A BENEFIT cheat who falsely claimed nearly ?2,000 in benefits from the Council has been sentenced to 100 hours Community Service and ordered to pay back the overpayment.
Joanne Graham, 22, of Vulcan Close was sentenced at Warrington Magistrates’ Court to four charges of benefit fraud relating to failing to declare a change in circumstances. She was claiming benefits when there was in fact another adult living in her household.
Adrian Webster, the Council’s Benefits Manager, said: “Benefit cheats are not just defrauding the government, but their own tax paying neighbours and communities. With the new methods of data matching we are using, the obvious message to benefit cheats is – ‘you will be caught’.”
People can give information about alleged fraudsters free and in confidence on the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854440.
Parents’ say
thank you
by Lesley Wilkinson
THE parents of a tiny, premature baby raised ?6,000 for Warrington Hospital Children’s Ward to thank staff for caring for their daughter.
Simone and Frank O’Rourke, of Warrington, are pictured presenting the cheque on Friday in the Children’s Ward (B11).
Their 13-months-old daughter, Tilly, was born two-months early, weighing just three pounds with a rare respiratory condition.
Simone said: “We were massively impressed with the professionalism, dedication and high level of care provided by everyone on the Children’s Ward.
“They provided valuable support and assurance at what was obviously a difficult time for both of us. We thought it was important to do something to reward these high standards.?
The money will be used to buy a Dash Monitor for the Children’s Ward High Dependency Unit. The equipment, costing ?6,500, monitors levels of oxygen in the blood, respiration rates and blood pressure and is specially designed for children.
Simone said: “Tilly now weighs a healthy 15 pounds, but she has a long way to go to catch up with her brother. We are excited about her future and over the moon that we can now cuddle and play with her and do the things that parents want to be able to do with their children.”
Simone, an infant school teacher and Frank, who works for the Royal Navy, raised the money with support from family and friends. Events included a talent show, sponsored cycle and donations from businesses and organisations.
Million pound make
over for leisure centres
by staff reporter
THREE leisure centres in Warrington are getting a combined million pound make-over.
The leisure centres at Broomfields, Great Sankey and Woolston are being given a much needed facelift with the introduction of exciting new facilities for health and fitness. This is all part of the Council’s renewed drive to promote its leisure centres services to the public.
The project, which ties into the Council’s Transforming Warrington programme, also aims to raise awareness about the importance of people taking exercise to stay fit and healthy.
When the transformation is complete, the Council’s leisure facility service is being relaunched under a new banner ‘Select Leisure’ within the Council.
Users can look forward to a range of new and improved facilities including a newly refurbished all weather pitch at Broomfields, new gyms at all three centres all kitted out with the latest, state-of-the-art cardiovascular and resistance equipment and plasma screen TVs showing digital TV and improved changing facilities Great Sankey and Woolston.
There will be improved parking at Broomfields and a new reception at Great Sankey.
Finally, funds are also being spent on improving the computer booking equipment and till systems at all five of the Council’s leisure centres, with the long-term aim of introducing online booking.
Cllr Roy Smith, Executive Board Member for Community Services, said: “We are looking to build upon the 1.7 million visits that already take place to our Leisure Centres by providing high quality facilities that people want to use again and again. It is all about helping to get Warrington active and healthy and proving high levels of customer satisfaction at the time.”
Warning over
invoice scam
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON businesses are being warned to be on the alert for an invoice scam.
The Council’s Trading Standards is warning local businesses about invoices from a firm called World Web Page Directory for entry of business details into the “United Telecom Business Directory”.
The invoices have been received by a number of businesses in the Warrington area, including Warrington Trading Standards themselves, demanding payment of an “Annual Registration Fee” of ?398.20 in respect of an entry in an international trade directory.
The company sending out the invoices is based in the Czech Republic. The success of the scam depends on businesses not noticing these invoices and allowing them to slip through for payment.
Advice from Trading Standards is that businesses should check all invoices
very carefully and be wary of unsolicited telephone calls or e-mails, as this is just the latest in a series of International Business Directory scams that target businesses.
Most complaints concern unsolicited approaches by email or telephone or fax that appear to invite businesses to a free listing in a business directory, but by replying it is then alleged that the business has agreed to a contract obliging them to pay for an entry into the guide.
Other names to look out for on invoices, e-mails and unsolicited telephone calls and faxes are: – European City Guide; Construct Data; United Media and Infotel.
Councillor Roy Smith, Executive Board Member for Community Services, said: “Businesses could so easily be tricked into paying these bogus invoices or to agreeing to entry of their details into a directory. I would advise that business owners and managers should check all invoices very carefully and beware of unsolicited e-mails and ‘phone calls offering “free” listing in a directory. It is also very important that staff are instructed to do the same”.
For further information or advice contact Warrington Trading Standards on 01925 442678.
