Hotelier claims Roman site is a ‘disgrace’

May 30 2008 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

Hotelier claims Roman site is a ‘disgrace’

THE MANAGER of a city centre hotel has questioned why Chester’s amphitheatre has been filled in after complaints from guests about its condition.

Damon Yoxall, general manager of the Westminster Hotel, City Road, has stopped recommending the ancient site because of the number of complaints he has received from tourists staying at the hotel.

He said: “I would like to know what plans there are for the amphitheatre – I have had many complaints about the state of the site and would not recommend a visit for any of my guests or myself as a local.

“A quarter has been filled in and I want to know why it was not grassed over to match in with the other quarter, and what is happening with the derelict building? It remains because it is the only Georgian building in Chester but it is being left to crumble.”

As the hotel relies on tourism for its survival, Damon has also questioned the development of other areas of the city which he says have a detrimental effect on business.

“Why spend money on Chester Gateway outside the train station and not on the other end of City Road?

“The city should be attracting the same clients as Harrogate or York – after all we charge the same prices to stay here and charge the same prices for the local attractions.”

Chris Brown, chief executive of Visit Chester and Cheshire, said: “We cannot take our eye off the ball and move Chester forward. People who visit Chester are our customers and we cannot afford for them to go away having had a poor experience.”

Chester city council say the amphitheatre was backfilled with sand and limestone chips to conserve the findings whilst the long-term conservation and development of the site is considered.

Spokesman Kathryn McGiveron said: “Protecting our city’s heritage and boosting Chester’s position as an international tourist attraction are both important priorities and the council is looking forward to exploring options of how it can make the most of this internationally important site.”

Roman soldiers appeal to clean up amphitheatre (From the Chester Chronicle)

CHESTER’S Roman Tours say the Amphitheatre is becoming too dangerous to take children – because it is littered with broken glass and syringes.

Lance Prince, known as Caius, one of five full-time soldiers at Chester Roman Tours says that, along with rival armoured guides Dewa Roman Experience, the centurions bring in more than 100,000 visitors to the city each year.

However the centrepiece of their tour, a visit to the city’s famous amphitheatre, may have to be struck off the trail.

Lance explained: “There’s going to come a point when we say we can’t go in there because it’s too dangerous.

“We have to do a safety check every day. We always find bricks and broken glass and we’ve got to take kids down there.”

Lance regularly informs the council when more litter is strewn across the historic site but says they often take days to clear the mess.

“Four weeks ago somebody emptied a needles box which could have been used by heroin users,” he added.

“Recently somebody broke a bottle and stuck all the shards in the grass.

“We have to say to the kids ‘stand still, don’t stamp your feet down’. We stand them in the middle in a safe zone away from all the areas I know are dangerous.

“It’s time consuming. We have to get gloves, a pick-up stick and a glass box and if I get injured, the council would say you’re not supposed to do that.”

Lance says that while more than the existing one bin would help, litter is not the only problem.

“Somebody threw stones towards us when we had kids down there last weekend,” he added.

“A couple of weeks ago I saw people dealing drugs in the Amphitheatre and smoking cannabis.

Mike McGivern, Chester City Council spokesman, insisted: “When the public reports incidents of needles, broken glass, blood, urine and dog mess our cleansing teams deal with them as priority tasks.

“People responsible for such litter are putting the public at risk and we find this selfish behaviour totally unacceptable.”

Hotel manager slams state of Roman amphitheatre

A very interesting article from todays Chester Chronicle……

May 29 2008 by Allison Dickinson, Chester Chronicle

THE MANAGER at a city centre hotel has questioned why Chester’s Roman amphitheatre has been filled in after complaints from guests about its condition.

Damon Yoxall, general manager of the Westminster Hotel, City Road, has stopped recommending the ancient site because of the number of complaints he has received from tourists staying at the hotel.

He said: “I would like to know what plans there are for the amphitheatre – I have had many complaints about the state of the site and would not recommend a visit for any of my guests or myself as a local.”

Full Story in Friday’s Chronicle

The Wii scores are now up!!!

Check our Roman Wii Fit page to see the latest high score lists

The Roman Wii Fit Challenge

3 Members of the Roman Tours / Deva Victrix, are now in possesion of the fabulous Wii Fit system, and are now opening the doors to all of the schools we have and will be taking on tours, and everyone one else who we have had the pleasure of having the company of, and all other visitor’s to this blog. After using the system since it came out, we have come to the conclusion that if the Wii Fit was available in the 1st Century, the Roman Army WOULD have used this to maintain their enjoyment of fitness and fun.

it also reminds us that although he are hard, fit agressive Roman Soldiers we also need to have a sense of humour, and this is how we as Romans have found to be the best way to wind down, and also have a great laugh at the Centurio attempting to hula hoop. (pictures/video to follow), and we advise caution once the videos are up, that death may occur when watching the Centurio either Snowboarding or doing Step aerobics…

So watch this space

Romans at Rockingham Castle, near Corby

I’ve just about unpacked everything from our Bank Holiday visit to Rockingham Castle History Fair II

It was almost as hot as it was in Rome – and there I was in my “winter woolies” as worn in Lorrach, Germany!

Luckily I managed to avoid wearing my armour for most of the time. This is just as well, since I didn’t have my friend Marcus there to pour water down my neck to keep cool!

I managed to get a couple of pairs of new boots made.

There were plenty of native traders there too. I bought enough woollen cloth to make lots of new cloaks for the Legion. It won’t always be this warm.

Sqvamatvs

Post Rome

Well, we have been back 2 weeks now, and the whole coach trip to Rome and back seems a distant memory.  But what a memory.  As much as I enjoyed Rome, I have done that a couple of times now, so Lorrach, Germany, was my highlight of the tour.  The Mayor and her office of people were lovely and put on such a reception for us.  The German people in general were very welcoming.  Going through Switzerland was also fantastic.  A big thank you to the coach company Jones’ of Macclesfield for putting up with our tight schedules and becoming a part of us, it has been great travelling with them.  I also hope that we have all managed to raise alot of money for ‘When you wish upon a star’.

I did think that I might have been able to see my husband, Paul, since we got back, no chance.  He is still organising loads of things as well as working for the company.  I have also been too busy with the company and teaching the kids.

Our next event is the Minerva Festival on 25th and 26th of May.  I am too weary to be thrilled about this, but I hope all goes well.  Let’s hope the weather holds nice for it.  I’m a bit brain dead at the moment, nothing new there, so I’ll write again when I can think straight.

Good night,

Curatia, (Charlene)

Duty in the West

Salve Frater,

Directly upon our triumphant return from Rome I recieved my posting to one of our auxilliary detatchments to the west of Deva in the lands of the Decengali.

From the heat of Rome to a land of a thousand different levels of wet.

Have been given the task of upgradeing this facility, major construction. Hard work only brightened by the unusual good weather recently.

I’m due back at Deva for the celebrations for the Festival of the Goddess Minerva (my personal deity) on the 25th and 26th of this month and I’m really looking forward to it, a pleasant afternoon in the bathouse in particular. A bath, a massage, wine, women and some games of dice. That reminds me Marcus Nepos you still owe me my winnings from the game in Rome. I’ll collect  at the celebrations.

Beataius Minerva Frater,

Gaius Flavius Longinus

Triple Patrol 02-05-08

On Patrol with Brookside Community School from Liverpool, they were a great bunch to take. Especially one little Numptie who I feel my not be alive any more after giving the wrong answer to a question. When the Recruits were asked, “If you have not been to school, you can’t read, write or do maths, what job are you going to do?” The correct answer should have been Join the Army, but this one Numptie as quick as a flash (and definitely not thinking) shouted out “BE A TEACHER!” He has earned himself or class 10 points for his shear bravery in giving such an answer.

Patrol with Christchurch Primary School for Stoke on Trent. They started out as a very quiet Patrol who were listening and answering their questions very well (with a bit of prompting from the teachers), but by the end of the tour showed me that for little Recruits, they had very loud voices and were the loudest of the day. Saying that, the 15 boys were drowned out by the 8 girls (Boys you let the Men of the Roman Army down today, as you should not have been beaten by the girls)

Final patrol with All Saints Catholic Primary from Sefton. this Patrol of recruits were definitely the best at answering questions with hardly any silly answers, this tour was cut short courtesy of the gods who decided to pull the plug of the great bath in the sky. The decision was made to return to the museum and I have to say, I have not had a Patrol move so quickly and in excellent formation. despite the speed we were marching back through Chester they remained in almost perfect straight lines, and in twos.

Marcus Aurelius Nepos

Roman Day at Altbridge School

Altbridge School yet again provided a great day, Mrs Layhe had the kids dressed in Roman clothes ,

and had Roman food laid on.

I must say the school kit was great, and they had a lot of Q & A for me

Thank you for a great day.

Ferronius