School site reveals
ancient Roman treasures
by James Balme
THE controversial decision to demolish a Warrington primary school has allowed archaeologists to unearth some ancient Roman treasures.
Items of pottery and stone work which have remained undiscovered for centuries are carefully being removed from the land surrounding Stockton Heath Primary School.
www.warrington.tv was invited down to film the excavation works.
Part one of the filming includes interviews with those carrying out the painstaking work, while tomorrow, Thursday, part two will reveal some of the exciting finds, exclusively to warrington.tv
Specialists Earthworks have been contracted by the council to carry out an assessment of the Roman archaeological remains which lie several feet below current surface levels.
Site director Leigh Dodd is pleased with the progress but it soon became clear a series of at least six air raid shelters built during the second-world war had badly damaged parts of the archaeology.
Undeterred work has progressed at a steady pace and as Roman features have been exposed they have also been meticulously recorded for the archaeological record.
Finds include the remains of Roman timber buildings, a hearth or bread oven as well as ditches, pits and a Roman road in an excellent state of preservation.
Mark Leah, development control archaeologist for Cheshire County Council attends site regularly to oversee progress and he is more than pleased that everything is going to plan.
He said: “We are pleased the archaeological work is uncovering part of a major Roman Settlement. This is the first time the area has been properly excavated since work was carried out back in the later part of the 19th Century. What we are uncovering at the moment is another very important part of the Roman history in Warrington and in particular Stockton Heath.”
As well as the archaeological features there is a collection of important Roman finds coming to light. These will be studied and recorded before being deposited at Warrington Museum for future display.
Work still continues on site for the foreseeable future and new finds will be revealed as they happen.
The work follows a campaign led by former local councillor Patrick Mullee when more than 5,000 people signed a petition opposing demolition of the school. Mr Mullee even enlisted the support of a Roman re-enactment group in a bid to save the Victorian building.
Ironically archaeologists now believe the site of the main school building will eventually reveal even greater Roman treasures when it is eventually demolished.
Pupils are still being taught in the main building and can see the excavation works from their classrooms.
Facelift for town’s
eyesore station
by Lesley Wilkinson
WARRINGTON’S eyesore Bank Quay railway station is set to get a major facelift and residents are being given a chance to have their say on blueprints.
Warrington borough council and Virgin Trains are working together to develop improvements to the station building and forecourt.
The improvements will include a major upgrade of the booking and entrance areas and improved pedestrian and public transport access on the forecourt.
Work which will start to take shape during the next few months, is being funded by the council, Virgin Trains and North West Regional Development Agency.
To ensure the improvements meet users’ needs, an exhibition is being held to display the current proposals and take views and suggestions on board.
The exhibition is being held at the Gateway on Sankey Street next Wednesday (June 20) between 3pm and 8pm.
For those unable to attend the exhibition the plans will be available to view at the council offices at Palmyra House until the end of July.
It is expected that the improvements will be built in two phases. The first phase will see improvements to the booking office and frontage building carried out with the second phase involving improvement works to the station forecourt.
The current programme is to complete all works early next year.
Coun Brian Axcell, Executive Board Member for Environment Services, said: “This is good news for Bank Quay station and illustrates how we can work with partners to help deliver a user focused improvements. I hope that people do take an interest and take a look at the plans.”
Benefit cheat
fiddled ?18,000
by Gary Skentelbery
A WOMAN who fraudulently claimed almost ?18,000 in benefits has been ordered to do community service and pay the money back. Gwen Manley, 29, of Honister Avenue, Warrington, pleaded guilty to benefit fraud covering a three year period and was sentenced at Warrington Magistrates Court. Manley falsely claimed ?16,031 of income support and ?1,921 in council tax benefit as single person, when she was in fact living with her partner. She was sentenced to a 12 month Community Punishment Order, ?75 costs, and 150 hours unpaid work.
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’.”
Fraud Operations Manager for the Dept. of Work and Pensions Roy Paul added: “The public is fed up with cheats who steal money from the taxpayer when it should go to those in genuine need of help.”
People in Warrington can give information about alleged fraudsters free and in confidence on the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854440.
Union award
for college
by Lesley Wilkinson
A PRESTIGIOUS award for its work with learners from trade unions has been presented to Warrington Collegiate staff.
The college, in partnership with Riverside College, Halton, won a TUC unionlearn Quality Award.
Pat Kitto, assistant principal, services and business development at Warrington received the award from Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Alan Johnson MP.
The new award is given to colleges who are committed to working with trade unions. It was presented to the Warrington/Halton partnership for its Learndirect Programme.
Paul Hafren, principal and chief executive at Warrington said: “The partnership is proud to be one of the first to receive the unionlearn Quality Award. The award is welcome recognition of the advantages of partnership working and the high standards to which we work.”
Dave Eva, regional manager unionlearn with the North West TUC said: “Colleges like Riverside and Warrington Collegiate play a huge role in enabling those who have traditionally missed out on education to improve their lives and those of their families through learning.”
Students collect awards
by John Hendon
END of year awards were presented to students from Business, Law, Public Services and Travel at Priestley College, Warrington.
During the year tutors from the various courses nominated students for the prestigious title of “Employee of the Month,” and at the end of year celebration they were rewarded with certificates, gift vouchers and a free meal voucher.
Students were nominated for their commitment to their studies, the quality of their work, reliability and the contribution they had made towards the curriculum area.
The winning students were Neil Singleton, Luke Potter, Greg Inch, Jeni Harrison, Becky Green, Ian Drinkwater, Holly Tatlock, Melanie Catesby, Leanne Delooze and Natasha Lunt.
During the year students from the curriculum area have enjoyed a variety of college trips. Business students visited a conference for entrepreneurs in London and took part in the Salford University’s “Business Game.” Public Services students had hands on experience with the Army, Navy, Marines and Fire / Police services, and the Travel and Tourism group visite
d Bruges.
Business tutor Julie McDonald said: “For many our end of season awards were a fitting culmination to another very successful year. Our winners were leading lights in their classes and I wish them and the rest of our leavers all the very best for the future.”
Wheelchair course
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Disability Partnership is holding a wheelchair mobility course as part of Disability Awareness Week.
The mobility course is a great chance to meet other young wheelchair-users and learn new skill to help users become more independent.
Family members are welcome to get involved and extra chairs are provided. The course is free of charge and is at the Peace Centre on Saturday June 30 and Sunday July 1 (9:30am-3pm).
For more details Tel: AWC on 0870 121 0055 to reserve a place or email, [email protected]
