THE date for Thame Carnival 2016, has been revealed as June 11, and the theme in this special year, will be The Best of British, reflecting the celebrations that will be going on throughout the realm, for Her Magesty’s 90th birthday.
Image courtsey of jigsaw-puzzle-club.co.uk
The Carnival parade through the town will begin at 12’clock noon, finishing up at the Southern Road Recreation area with a fete and a A Great British Street Party. The organising committee are hoping for a flypast and Jason Best of Petcare has agreed to run the very popular dog show again this year.
Sue Martin-Downhill, who is once again Chairing the Carnival Committee, said: “We decided on a theme of ‘Best of British’ in order to encompass the main suggestions of Space and Royalty, and of course there’s lots of scope for floats and dresssing up ideas around our history, customs, food, tourist attractions, great British TV series, films, transport, culture etc. So let’s all get behind Carnival 2016 and make this year’s the best ever!”
The main charity to benefit from this year’s Carnival, will be the ‘Megan’s Bench Project’. Some information about the project is at https://www.thame.net/archives/23271
AFTER months of delay, plans for a large supermarket on the edge of Thame are expected to be considered by the district council’s Planning Committee, either in February or March, following new, supportive material submitted by Tesco.
Image courtesy of Elisabeth Winkler
Tesco’s agents are contesting the disputed parts of the supermarket’s plans which Thame Town Council and other opposers say are not in compliance with the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.
In a letter to the Planning Officer dealing with the Tesco application, Tesco’s Agent states: “It is incorrect to suggest that the Neighbourhood Plan prevents out of centre retail proposals. Although the Plan encourages retail proposals in the town centre, it does not, by implication, prevent those in out of centre locations which meet relevant policy tests. Indeed, an attempt to place an embargo on out of centre proposals in the draft Neighbourhood Plan was specifically resisted by the Examiner who confirmed that this would be inconsistent with national policy requirements. Accordingly, this provision was removed from the adopted Plan.”
Ed. (LINK to the Inspector’s report on the draft NP here – page 23 for relevance)
Impact of plan on Thame Town Centre
Tesco also questions the relevance of the Carter Jonas report, Thame Retail Capacity and Impact Study‘commissioned by Thame Town Council, to Tesco’s plans for the DAF site at Howland Road. The criticism is that the study was commissioned by Thame Town Council to help them come up with a retail strategy for the town, rather than to assess specific retail proposals. Because of this ‘limitation’ – one accepted by the Carter Jonas report, maintains the letter, “any weight to be applied to its findings need to be given very careful consideration when determining the Tesco application. ”
ED. The full Agent’s letter can be read here: LINK and all the additional material recently submitted to SODC by Tesco, can be read here: LINK
‘Importance of linked shopping trips’
In response to these latest responses on behalf of Tesco, Duncan Nickless, spokesperson for the lobbying group, Thame Centre First, told Thame.Net: “Tesco’s assessment clearly underestimates the impact the proposed store would have on our town centre and has not addressed the impact of lost linked trips on our small and independent stores. Given 80% of us visit other town centre shops and facilities when food shopping in Thame, you can see the huge importance of linked trips to these businesses and the vitality of our High Street.
“It’s also disappointing that a key part of Tesco’s response is to undermine Thame’s Neighbourhood plan which clearly states that new retail development should be located within the town centre.”
The pro Tesco group, TNT (Thame Needs Tesco) stated back in June 2015: “We strongly believe that Thame needs another supermarket that can offer what is currently unavailable, or unaffordable, in the town centre.
‘Thame needs another supermarket’
“Many of us shop in big supermarkets in Aylesbury, Wheatley, Princes Risborough, Oxford or Bicester. But we’d prefer to spend our time and money in Tesco, in Thame. Wanting Tesco does not mean we do not support the town centre shops. We will continue to use them as we do at present if Tesco is built.”
Background: You can read all previous news reports regarding Tesco’s application, HERE
USING CCTV footage to identify and name and shame litter-bugs, and appealing to shopkeepers to do more to keep their frontages free of litter, are just two of the ideas from the town council for tackling littering in the town.
Thame District Councillor, Jeannette Matelot Green sets a good example posting her litter
At a meeting of the town council on Tuesday (19/01),Cllr Peter Lambert said that he had noticed that the drivers that race up and down the high street causing a noise nuisance have started dumping rubbish out of their car windows. “These people should be named and shamed,” he said. But he thought a more ‘fun’ approach could be made to primary school pupils, perhaps using a cartoon version of Thame’s Street Cleaner, Alan Tipping (described as ‘a local hero’ by Cllr Linda Emery), to encourage them not to drop litter.
Cllr Lambert went on to say: “This council is paying £14,000 a year for CCTV. We should be able to ask the camera controllers to take stills of offenders which can use to ‘name and shame’.”
Misplaced dog bins
On the subject of dog bins in Elms Park, he told councillors that dog-walkers have to walk across an often muddy field to get to them, and suggested that the bins could be relocated to the entrances and exits of the park.
Messy bin men
Cllr Mike Deacock said that a strongly-worded letter should be sent to the bin lorry contractor about bin collectors who drop rubbish all over the road in some areas and don’t clean it up, causing the litter to then be blown into hedges.
Civic Pride
Cllr Helena Fickling said that there needed to be a public awareness campaign to encourage people not to drop litter in the first place, and to pick it up if they see some. “It should be a matter of civic pride,” she said.
Businesses need to clean up their act
Councillors praised the owner of the Kebab van in the Upper High Street, who goes round every night and picks up every single piece of litter, whether or not it could have come from his customers. But Costa came in for particular criticism. The Mayor, Nichola Dixon, said: “It’s always a mess outside there with cardboard coffee cups and cigarette ends strewn around the pavement area. Businesses need to take more responsibility for keeping their own frontages clean and tidy.”
Make law-breakers clean up
Other ideas put forward by councillors included using the ‘Community Pay Back Scheme’ which uses offenders sentenced to Community Service to clean up litter, and asking the PCSOs to have friendly chats with local people about being litter-aware, as they go on their rounds.
Cllr Bob Austin said that he thought an efficient way of dealing with the problem would be to focus efforts in particular areas, which might then spread the word to other parts of the town.
What next?
All the various suggestion made will be forwarded to the Open Spaces Working Group, which includes members of the public as well as some councillors.
..BUT if you’re a lapsed choir boy – or a lapsed grown up singer of any sort, or you just love to sing and fancy a new challenge for 2016 that’s fun too, Thame Choral Society would love you to go along to one of their rehearsals and give it a go!
You don’t necessarily have to be able to read music – though a smattering of ability to following the ups and downs of musical notation would help; a good ear and enthusiasm is more important – and there’s no auditioning.
So, why not pop along to one of TCC’s Wednesday evening rehearsals at The Methodist Church in Haddenham, meet the choir and just have a go. Everyone is very welcome – and that includes ladies too! (Tea and biscuits – and sometimes cake, at half time)
Full address of the rehearsal venue: High Street, Haddenham HP17 8ES. The group is currently working on Beethoven’s Mass in C major and Mendelssohn’s Hear my Prayer, in preparation for the next concert in May.
Thame Choral Society’s Musical Director, Helen Swift
For more details, see www.thamechoralsociety.co.uk Some information about TCC’s very talented MD, Helen Swift, who among other hats she wears, is also the MD for Towcester Choral Society: SEE LINK
And/or if quizzes are your thing, Thame Choral Society’s Annual Quiz Night is on January 23, at the Youth and Community Centre in Woodways, Haddenham. Come as a table of eight or just make up a table on the night—ALL WELCOME! Don’t forget to bring some refreshments. Doors open at 7.15 pm for 7.45 pm.
SINCE he retired as Manager of The Barns Centre in Thame, John Thomas has been diagnosed with an aggressive and progressive lung condition called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, for which there is currently no known cure.
Gareth Thomas (left) with his dad, John
Now, John’s son, Gareth is planning to run the Virgin London Marathon on April 24, as part of ‘Team Breathe supporting The British Lung Foundation’ and John is urging everyone who can to support Gareth who wants to raise £2,000 to support research into Idiopathic Pulminory Fibrosism and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
THAME and Moreton residents are be asked to pay more in their next Council Tax bills, towards the services provided by Thame Town Council.
This increase in the ‘precept’ (the portion of the Council Tax that goes to Thame Town Council) will amount to an increase of £12.34p per annum for the average Band D household, which amounts to 24p per week. The council has said that it has looked hard at where it can make savings, both in terms of cuts and further efficiencies, while at the same time: “providing the projects, functions and services that the community of Thame expect to be delivered.”
At last night’s council meeting to agree the budget for 2016-17, Cllr Mike Dyer said: “The increase in the precept is 80% a result of what is being done to us, not what we are doing! The increase is totally defencible; there is no alternative.”
Cllr David Bretherton added: “If we didn’t put the precept up, we would have to reduce services.”
Cllr Nigel Champken Woods said that the town council had absorbed increases before, only to find itself having to ‘wack up’ the charge a couple of years later. “It’s better to go through the pain now,” he said, “than to be ‘bitten in the rear end’ in a couple of year’s time.”
The full statement, explaining where the money goes and why the increase is thought necessary, can be found on Thame Town Council’s website: http://www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/
Her Royal Highness, The Queen – image courtesy of royalgov.uk
THAME’S celebrations for Her Royal Highness, The Queen’s 90th birthday, were up for discussion at tonight’s Thame Town Council meeting and among the suggestions were a street dance in the Upper High Street, an open air, multi- faith Service with a giant tea party afterwards in either Elms Park or Southern Road Recreation Ground, and the lighting of a beacon on a high point somewhere in the town.
Beacons will be lit on the night of her birthday, April 21, across the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and the United Kingdom Overseas Territories, marking this unique moment in history
Earlier this evening, councillors decided to explore the possibility of purchasing a gas-lit beacon and coloured bunting to decorate the town hall, and will be encouraging businesses and shops in the town to decorate their facades and windows in patriotic red, white and blue around the celebrations. Generally, the councillors want the birthday celebrations to be community-lead but with the council facilitating where it can, with aspects such as road-closures.
A meeting later this week of the Thame Carnival Committee, which includes some councillors, will be considering whether the Carnival on June 11, could be linked in someway to The Queen’s official birthday celebrations (The Queen celebrates two birthdays each year: her actual birthday on April 21, and her official birthday on a Saturday in June).
During that same weekend of June 11-12, National celebrations will include a service of thanksgiving in St Paul’s Cathedral and a massive street party in The Mall, organised by The Queen’s grandson, Peter Phillips, for representatives of all the voluntary sector organisations of which The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are patrons. Councils and parishes all over the country are being encouraged to support their own celebrations, particularly street parties, as happened for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee three years ago.
Watch this space for more information as Thame’s celebrations for Her Majesty’s birthdays take shape.
THE Chilterns Conservation Board is offering the opportunity to learn the ancient skill of hedge-laying with one of the country’s foremost experts on traditional rural skills. Nigel Adams, named by Prince Charles as one of his top ten Champions of the Countryside, has over 30 years’ experience of hedge-laying. He will be leading the two-day course at Britwell Hill, near Watlington in south Oxfordshire, on 13th – 14th February 2016.
Nigel Adams
The course is suitable for novices and also those with some experience of hedge-laying who want to develop their skills further. It’s taking place in the lovely surroundings of Britwell Hill which has wonderful views over the Vale of Oxford. All tools and equipment are provided.
Laying a hedge in the traditional way is very effective for maintaining the life and health of a hedge and making it a valuable home for wildlife. The traditional art of hedge-laying was once common across the English countryside and many Chilterns hedges still show evidence of previous laying. Originally hedges were laid to create an impenetrable barrier to keep stock in fields and the skill of laying a hedge was once common practice. However, with modern fencing and mechanical hedge trimming, this traditional form of hedge management is now much rarer.
Anyone can attend the course, no previous experience is required. To find out more and book a place contact the Chilterns Conservation Board on 01844 355500 or email office@chilternsaonb.org
START the New Year as you mean to go on and try a new activity at Thame Leisure Centre. The management there has teamed up with Sport Relief to promote free table tennis sessions, though any donations made will be given to Sport Relief, helping good causes in the UK and abroad.
Image courtesy of ritemail.blogspot.com
“The taster session is all about having fun and socialising,” said Megan Horwood, the Community Sports Manager for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse’s Sport & Olympic Legacy Unit. “So don’t be worried if you’ve not moved for a while! If you’re interested in becoming more active and improving your health and wellbeing then this is the event for you.”
The session is on Monday, February 29, 10:15 – 12:15, and you can continue the challenge by taking part in the centre’s Better Club Games, a social sports competition taking place in May.
There will be more information coming up on weekly sessions and social competitions at Thame Leisure Centre that you can attend regularly throughout the year. For more information, e-mail Richard at thame@gll.org or call on 01844 215607.
If you would like to get started earlier, Table Tennis runs every Monday 10:15 – 12:15 and Wednesday 10:30 – 12:30 for just £1.85
All equipment is provided, please wear loose clothing and trainers.
Local people gather at the Phoenix Trail to take part in Thame Tidy Day in April last year
THAME Town Council, spurred on by a letter from a resident, is to consider additional ways of reducing and clearing litter from the town, including a ‘Clean for the Queen’ campaign, as part of commemorations for the Queen’s 90th birthday this year.
In response to recent evidence that ‘prevention is better than cure’ and that ‘positive’ calls to action rather than ‘Don’t…’ signage and notices are more effective in tackling littering, the council will discuss its strategy at Tuesday’s meeting of the full council.
You can read the full report that will be discussed here: LINK
How else should Thame celebrate the Queen’s birthday in June?
If you have an ideas about how the town can celebrate Her Majesty’s 91st year in style, then the town council wants to hear from you! Send your ideas via email: info@thametowncouncil.gov.uk, pop in to the Information Centre at the town hall or send them a tweet! https://twitter.com/ThameTC
