In Digital Switchover Year

Don't Fall Victim to Door to Door Rogues. In the year when Warwickshire residents will see their television signals switched over to digital, Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service are warning residents not to be taken in by rogue traders who may take advantage of the switchover to sell consumers over priced or unnecessary equipment, door to door.

In the Central Television Region, covering Warwickshire and many surrounding counties, switchover from an analogue signal to a digital signal is due to begin on 30th March 2011. Over the course of the year, the existing analogue television signal will be switched off and viewers will need to convert or upgrade their TV equipment to receive digital signals and a TV service.

Trading Standards Officers have begun to visit elderly people living in sheltered accommodation to talk to them about the digital switchover process and have established a website with more information and advice, visit: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/digitaltvswitch . Not only are Trading Standards Officers concerned that rogue traders may attempt to sell residents unnecessary digital TV equipment but that some may use the opportunity to falsely claim their property requires other work doing, for example roofing or guttering work, something a rogue trader may point out if they are 'installing' a new aerial. Warwickshire Trading Standards Service is advising consumers to check before they buy:

Will I need a new TV set? Probably not - most TV's can be converted with the use of a set top digital box. Trading Standards say: "Don't be conned in to buying a brand new TV. A set top box costing around £20 - £30 should enable most televisions to receive digital signals."

Will I need a new TV aerial? Most rooftop and some set top boxes will continue to work after digital switchover, so you may not need to upgrade your aerial or buy a digital aerial. Trading Standards say: "Installation of a standard new rooftop aerial can cost from £60 to £180. Check the strength of your aerial before you make any decisions. You can do this by visiting teletext page p284. If you do need to upgrade ensure that the trader you choose is a Registered Digital Installer. Only they are permitted to use the digital tick."

Will my video/dvd recorder still work? Yes. You will still be able to record and play back. However, most won't be able to record one channel while you are watching another. To do this you will need a digital TV recorder. Look out for the digital TV click (showing they work with digital TV).
Trading Standards say: “If you do wish to buy a digital TV recorder, shop around and look for products with the digital TV tick.”

It can be difficult telling a good trader from a bad one on the doorstep, so our best advice is shop around and go on recommendation where ever possible – don't buy from the first person who comes to your door. Comprehensive information on digital switchover, including details of local events is available from www.digitaluk.co.uk or by phoning 08456 505050.
There is a special help scheme for people aged over 75, for those registered blind or partially sighted and for those in receipt of certain disability benefits. For more information about the help scheme, call 0800 40 85 900 or visit www.helpscheme.co.uk .

Important switchover dates for Warwickshire
Lark Stoke Transmitter covering the Stratford upon Avon Area: 6th April 2011; Sutton Coldfield covering much of the West Midlands: 7^th September 2011.
Some Warwickshire residents may also receive their signals from other surrounding transmitters. A transmitter map and further dates are available at: www.digitaluk.co.uk .

WALTON NEWS

It was a strange build up to Christmas this year with just a couple of days respite from the wintry weather to get in supplies before the second snowfall which made the roads more dangerous than ever. The cold inevitably affected attendance at the Walton Ensemble's delightful concert on 11 December, but those who were brave enough to venture out on that cold night were rewarded with the usual pleasing variety of music - from Bach's A Minor Violin Concerto to a Gershwin selection. The familiar tunes sounded magnificent in Paul Sudlow's arrangement, played with such verve and enthusiasm, and once again the intimacy of the performance 'in the round' was much appreciated.

The snow caused one Sunday morning service to be cancelled and the Church was not quite so packed as usual for the Christmas Eve Carol Service, but a surprising number of people did brave the hazardous journey down the Walton lane. For the first time we were not able to muster enough children to stage a Nativity Scene, but when the Rector suggested that anyone under twenty should join together to sing a verse of 'Away in Manger', the sound was not at all bad! The words of Good King Wenceslas were more apt than usual with the snow all around deep and crisp and even, but in spite of the difficulties most families were able to reach their destination and it was a relief when Christmas Day came and miraculously there was plenty of bread and wine and pine logs and we could enjoy the good food and the blazing fire, giving thanks that everybody had arrived safely.

It was not only human beings who were finding it hard to keep upright, and it was amusing to see the ducks coming in to land on the lake when the snow had gone but the ice was still thick. They touched down and skidded along for several yards before they came to a halt, joining the loquacious gathering around the area of clear water under the bridge. They were as close packed there as sunbathers on a Mediterranean beach, occasionally taking off for a swim in the well populated but very icy pool.

Now as I write this, after two days of beautiful sunshine, the wind has switched to the west and grey clouds are being driven across the sky above the Wellingtonia trees which stand like dark sentinels up the Smatchley Drive. Heavy rain is forecast which is perhaps as well, as the powers that be are already talking of a drought and a hosepipe ban. So another year has come with its unpredictable weather patterns, and as we give thanks to all those, clergy, parishioners, visitors and organists, who have supported the Churches week after week, let us pray that 2011 will prove happy and successful for all the inhabitants of the two villages.

EH