Category: Thame news

THAME’S local Neighbourhood Policing team is asking that all members of the local community consider the manner in which they park their vehicles along narrow residential roads, for fear of obstructing emergency vehicles.

In their latest Neighbourhood update, the team asks: ” When parking your vehicle, consider these scenarios; If there was a fire, would a fire engine be able to easily travel along the residential road to get the people in need of help?

“If there was an incident and the police were called, would the police be able to easy access the roads? If an ambulance is called to save a life, can they get to the property at the bottom of your road? For everyone’s safety, please consider this when parking your vehicle on the residential roads in your towns and villages.”

The next ‘Have your say’ meeting, where you can meet the Neighbourhood team, is on October 19, at the CO-OP Café, High Street, Thame, between 10.30am-11.30am with PCSO James HOPKIN.

SO much is going on in Thame these days, apart from the big headlines, like Tesco’s officially backing away from proposals for a large supermarket on the DAF site, and the launch of Thame’s prestigious Art and Literature Festival (TAL) this week, but there are also lower level, but nonetheless significant snippets we think you will want to know about. So here goes:

Road Safety – There have been a lot of complaints about safety on the Aylesbory Road Round-about recently, including reports of two cyclists being knocked off their bikes and last week, a serious incident involving a motorcyclist. As a result, Oxford County Council is currently monitoring the situation.

A Thame Wine Fare, to raise funds for Thame Citizens Advice Bureau, will be held at Thame Town Hall on Saturday, November 12, between mid-day and 6pm. Entry is £6 for the opportunity to taste and buy a wide range of fine quality wines from around the world, shown by members of the Association of Small Direct Wine Merchants. (Visit the fair without tasting for a £3.00 charity donation) Contact Sandra Davison 01844 214498 for further information.

New Housing in Thame – Thame Town Council has decided that whilst the Local Plan consultation was underway, the council would decline to meet with any potential developers, so as not to give any sign that it might tolerate further housing in the town beyond that defined in the adopted Neighbourhood Plan. Persimmon Homes is currently seeking to increase the number of houses on its development site, on land West of Thame Park Road, from the 175 already approved, to 195. But Thame Town Councillors are not happy and have resolved not to “entertain developers about extra houses or extra sites as these would be in breach of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.”

SOUTH Oxfordshire District Plan has received 8,500 responses to its consultation on the latest Local Plan which includes a proposal for 600 more houses to be built in Thame, on top of the 700 plus allocated for in the Neighbourhood Plan – an unpresidented response!

At a recent meeting of Oxfordshire County Council, the leader of SODC, Mr John Cotton, refused to sign up to what he called “flawed” plans which would see 14,300 homes shared out across the county. The other five district council leaders voted for the plan. “This could be seen as good news in that the District Council is listening to the comments received and prepared to confront the issue,” remarked Town Cllr Mike Dyer at a recent TTC meeting.

Thame Carnival – The carnival this year will take place on June 10, 2017. The theme will centre around World War Two and the 1940s. The organisers are looking for volunteers to join them and anyone who would like to help is invited to contact Sue Martin Downhill via suedownhill@gmail.com

Emergency Services Day – On September 25, Thames Valley Police’s Thame Neighbourhood Policing Team, South Central Ambulance Service, Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue and the Search & Rescue team held a family fun Emergency Services Day at Southern Road recreation ground in Thame. Everyone who went said it was great fun and there was a great turn out despite the wet weather with around 300 people attending. A spokesperson for the team said: “It was a good opportunity for the community and children to learn about the different roles. The ambulance service were able to educate people on CPR, Thames Valley Police were on hand with crime prevention advice and leaflets, and the fire service educated people on fire hazards and information on what to do in case of a fire breaking out.

“We are planning to do some more Community Crime Prevention days, going out into the villages with crime prevention advice and leaflets. More details will be released when the locations and dates are finalised.”

New Post to Co-ordinate Thame projects –  The town council and SODC between them have funded a new post, that of Market Town Co-ordinator for Thame. Thame.Net would like to welcome Becky Reid who lives in Thame, and who will begin work, based at the town hall, on November 1, 2016.

‘Greening’ Thame – The 21st Century Thame partnership is looking for more volunteers to join its Environment Working Group, to support work on the Thame Green Living Plan, which came out of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan. A Key topic for discussion at its next meeting will be how to raise awareness with the general public of green issues around consumerism, thinking for instance about repairing a washing machine rather than throwing away and buying a new one. 21st Century Thame is also looking for someone to administer the Thame Community Equipment Bank.

Anyone who wants to learn more about these positions is invited to check out the website: LINK HERE or contact Sue Martin Downhill, the Chair of 21st Century Thame.

TWO fire engines were mobilised on Friday morning, October 7, after a quick thinking postman and a neighbour responded to calls of ‘Help’ from a plumber who had been working at a house in Thame. They became aware of smoke billowing out of windows and through roof tiles of the property in Onslow Drive, Thame, and immediately dialled 999.

A spokesperson for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue said: “The attending firefighters were faced with smoke coming from the upstairs windows of the property and after quickly establishing that no one was in the property, two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were committed to the landing area to locate and extinguish the fire using high pressured hose jets. Ventilation fans were subsequently used to remove any remaining smoke from the building.

“At the time of the incident the occupiers were away from the property, however a plumber working at the property and was able to raise the alarm immediately and met crews on arrival.

“Due to the swift actions of the crews following the prompt emergency calls, a fire inside an airing cupboard was extinguished and fire escalation and smoke damage to other parts of the building were prevented.

“Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service would like to remind the public of the importance of having working smoke alarms on every level of their homes. ”

Visit www.365alive.co.uk for fire safety advice. If you have a fire safety question please call the free phone community safety helpline on 08000 325 999 or email: community.safety@oxfordshire.gov.uk

OVER the next few years several large housing development sites will be built in Thame. As part of the deal with the developers, opportunities will arise for people who would otherwise struggle to fund a full mortgage to buy a home through shared ownership. This is where the householder can part-buy and part-rent their home, but with the option of buying more of it over time until they own it outright.

In order to be considered for these homes, an applicant has to be registered with South Oxfordshire District Council. It is they who administer the initial part of the scheme. It is hoped that by encouraging people to register early they will be in the best position for when the qualifying houses are built.

Councillor Bob Austin, the Chair of Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Committee, explains the scheme further in the following statement:

“Over the next few years in Thame, 78 homes will become available under a shared ownership scheme. This number represents 10% of the total of homes to be built within the scope of the current Thame Neighbourhood Plan. Unlike social rented housing, which has 20% of its number reserved for qualifying applicants with a close connection to Thame, shared ownership housing does not. Thame Town Council has taken the view that it should publicise the progressive availability of shared ownership houses and encourage Thame residents to apply for them as and when they become available. Shared ownership is not suitable for everybody but it can provide the first step on the housing ladder.

How does it work?

“Applicants can start by buying from 25% to 75% of the value of a property by using a mortgage. The remainder is paid for by a low cost rent which is charged by a Housing Association. By a process called ‘stair casing’ residents can, in the future, buy further shares of the property until they own it all. To start the purchase, you will need to pay relatively modest fees and a deposit, typically set at 5% of the share you are buying. There are certain qualifications required that applicants have to meet but these are now quite generous. For example, applicants can now be considered who have a household income up to £80,000 per annum.

“To start the process, to fully understand it and to ensure a head start, it is important to register your interest early so that when a suitable property is available you are not delayed by form filling – it is already done! Registration can be done online on the South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) website: LINK HERE
or by telephone on 01235 422422. It is SODC’s responsibility to approve applicants for this scheme but thereafter, the administration is carried by an agent (Help to Buy South) and the Housing Association that administers the property.”

Thame Town Council will be encouraging registration by interested Thame residents via:

Print and electronic media including the Thame Town Council weekly newsletter
Posters at multiple sites giving contact details and registration information
A workshop style event in the Town Hall for Thame residents

This event will include exhibitors such as SODC, Housing Associations, Financial advisors, mortgage providers and solicitors. Target date- spring 2017.

Thame Town Council will also be campaigning for local qualification on a percentage of shared ownership properties.

In the meantime a ‘Help to Buy Homes Show’ is being held at The Kassam Stadium from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, October 22, giving free advice. It will include information on shared ownership and there is no need to book in advance.

LOVERS of local wildlife and history have a treat in store next month as the distinguished academic and TV presenter, Professor Richard Fortey, is giving a talk about the ancient woodland he owns in the Chilterns.

Richard Fortey is best known as an eminent palaeontologist, author and TV presenter who has worked with David Attenborough and presented programmes on BBC4 about ancient life, evolution on islands and other topics. He is also a keen naturalist and a few years ago took the opportunity to buy a few acres of ancient woodland near his home in Henley-on-Thames. His detailed observations of the changing wildlife through the seasons, along with the joys and pitfalls of being a woodland owner, are contained in a book published last May called The Wood for the Trees – a long view of nature from a small wood.

Richard Fortey’s wood is part of Lambridge Wood between Henley and Nettlebed, a classic Chilterns beech and bluebell wood which lies on a section of the prehistoric earthwork Grim’s Ditch. His account of the natural life of the wood month-by-month, paints a vivid picture of one of the best-known and loved natural features of the Chilterns.

The talk is being organised by the Chiltern Woodlands Project and is taking place on November 3, at 7.30pm in Lewknor Village Hall, Lewknor, near Watlington (next to jct. 6 of the M40). To book tickets visit www.chilternsaonb.org/events or call 01844 355503