Category: Thame news

THAME Town Council is to increase its part of the council tax for the coming year (the precept) by up to 1.99%, which will provide it with just under £12,000 extra to meet its budget, and cost each household on average an extra 16p per week.

This amounts to an average total contribution of £2.80 to Thame Town Council. To put TTC’s  contribution into context, around an average of £30 per household per week is paid to Oxfordshire County Council, the police and South Oxfordshire District Council.

In a statement today, the council said: “In preparing its budget for 2017-18, Thame Town Council has again looked hard at where it can make savings (both in terms of cuts and further efficiences) while at the same time providing the projects, functions and services that the community of Thame expect to be delivered.

Two new Thame projects are to be given funds, £5,000 of seed money to a new community led, music festival and £5,000 towards flood prevention measures for the Cuttle Brook.

The Town Council has also decided to step in to fill gaps where Government austerity measures have led to direct cuts being made by Oxfordshire County Council. £10,000 each is allocated to the Red Kite Children’s Centre and the Thame and District Day Centre. £5,000 is allocated to help find a potential new ‘around town’ bus service. “This is in effect a partial devolution of services as part of the localism initiative,” explained the council.

The Town council’s Budget statement can be read in full HERE and if you would like to comment, the Town Clerk, Graham Hunt, has said that he would be pleased to talk through the current budget with anyone who has an interest, or has any comments or suggestions as to whether the proposed average £2.80 per household per week (based on a Band D house) is a reasonable amount, or where the council should spend more, or less, or the same, to help it set the right budget for the community of Thame in the future.

COMPLAINTS about Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) outside Co-op and Costa in the High Street, Thame, are being tackled by local Community Police officers.

After receiving numerous complaints, the police now say that they have put in place a Section 35 notice. This is a notice to leave the area for up to 48 hours, given to anyone seen causing ASB. Failure to comply with the notice is an arrestable offence.

In its latest monthly report on Neighbourhood Policing in the area, the team states that a meeting was arranged with Costa management to discuss the issues and put measures in place to tackle the anti-social behaviour.

Parking blocking emergency service vehicles

The same report, which can be read in full HERE, states: “There have been reports of vehicles parking close to junctions and parking on each side of the road making it difficult or impossible for emergency vehicles to get through.

“We appreciate that every household has limited parking and more than one vehicle. Please park considerately and be mindful of other drivers’ visibility and access when parking your vehicle. An operation will be running shortly with the Fire Service looking at access routes, and could possibly mean offending vehicles could receive a Fixed Penalty Notice for £30 should the Emergency vehicle not be able to gain access through.”

Have Your Say Meetings
You can go along and speak to your local PCSOs about any local concerns or issues on:

• Saturday 22nd January, 2pm -3pm Wheatley Police Office.
• Friday 27th January, midday -1pm, Co-Op, High Street, Thame.
• Friday 27th January, 3pm-4pm at Thame Library.

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following numerous shed breaks at the Thame & District Allotment site in Kingsey Road, Thame.

Since the start of the new year, unknown offenders gained access to the allotments and broken into sheds, vandalised and spread petrol across the site.

If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message please call the Police via the 24 hour non-emergency telephone number 101.

Alternatively, if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

SOURCE: TVP Alert

FIRE FIGHTERS were called to a house in Thame on Wednesday, January 11, to reports of a kitchen fire.

On arrival at the property in Ormond Road, Oxfordshire County Council Fire & Rescue Service crews were faced with smoke issuing from the kitchen to the rear of the property.

Positive Pressure Ventilation fans were subsequently used to remove any remaining smoke from the building. Luckily at the time of the fire the residents were inside the property and so were able to raise the alarm immediately.

Incident Commander, Watch Manager Andy Ford said: “Due to the swift actions of the occupier covering the dishwasher door with damp tea towels and a prompt emergency call to the Fire and Rescue Service, fire escalation and smoke damage to other parts of the building was prevented.

“Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service would like to remind the public of the potential dangers of leaving any electrical appliance, such as dishwashers, washing machines and tumble driers turned on, when going out or overnight, even if it’s only for a short period of time. We would also like to remind people of the importance of having working smoke alarms on every level of their homes.”

NOMINATIONS open today (13/1) for this year’s Thames Valley Police Community Policing Awards. The Awards are an opportunity for members of the public to recognise the work of community officers, staff and volunteers.

It’s very easy to nominate someone who you know has gone above and beyond in their role. Should they be recognised for their hard work and effort over the last year?

Do you have an example of how they have exceeded what is expected of them?

In its 16th year, the award ceremony will be held at Eynsham Hall in May.

Go to website for more information: LINK HERE

CHINNOR Parish Council has voted unanimously to endorse the village’s emerging Submission Version of the Chinnor Neighbourhood Plan, subject to some minor amendments.

The next step is for the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group to finalise the three Submission Version documents, the Neighbourhood Plan itself, the Consultation Statement and the Basic Conditions Statement, needed for submission to South Oxfordshire District Council.

Peter Brook, Secretary of the Chinnor Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group said: “Meeting this milestone successfully is a major step forward. The Submission version of the Neighbourhood Plan sets out policies and actions on a whole range of matters including the environment, open spaces, infrastructure, community facilities, transport, parking, employment, shopping, education and young people. It will allow future planning decisions to be based on a robust vision for Chinnor and help the community to work positively towards Chinnor’s future.

“I would earnestly encourage all Chinnor residents to take part in the forthcoming consultation, look at the Plan in its entirety and use the opportunity to give their opinions, both positive and negative on what the Plan says. Their responses will be viewed by the independent Examiner alongside the Plan when he examines the Plan after the end of the six-week Consultation period.”

Once it has the documents, SODC will do a compliance check on them before publishing both the Plan and its supporting documents on the SODC website for consultation. These documents will appear on the SODC web site as soon as compliance has been confirmed. Chinnor residents will be informed how they can access copies of the Plan and the other documents once they have been published on the SODC website.

Chinnor Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group can be contacted via:
Website: www.chinnorneighbourplan.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinnorNeighbourhoodPlan
Email: Chinnorneighbourplan@outlook.com

THE death has been announced of ex Thame Town Cllr and former Mayor, Mike Le Mesurier, who passed away on Monday, January 9, 2017.

Southern African-born Mike, was the Mayor of Thame between 1998 and 2000, and was a driving force behind the later campaign and implementation of the provision of a swimming pool for Thame and was involved in the early stages of raising the need for a new library. Mike was also a former teacher at Lord Williams’s School between 1978 and 1991 and was later a Chair of the governors at John Hampden School, in Thame.

Although a stauch member of the town council, Mike was not averse to finding himself at odds with fellow councillors or officers, getting himself into hot water once when he was critisised for asking a friend to investigate the cost of heating the new pool with solar heating, without the rest of the council’s say-so. On another occassion, he criticised SODC for, as he saw it, wasting public money on a questionaire about where the Cattle Market should be relocated, after part of a previous community consultation had clearly indicated that people thought it should go to the Thame show ground.

Cllr Ann Midwinter described his passing as ‘a peaceful end to an energetic life’, adding that he would be sadly missed by all who knew him.