IT’S a lovely sunny morning at the first, full day at the 50th Towersey Festival, and there’s something for everyone, including a film presented by Thame Cinema 4 All, In Search of Nic Jones, early this afternoon.
Tony Harrison (Thame Cinema 4 All) and Joe Heap (Towersey Festival) spreading the news at Tuesday’s Market Funday in Thame
Also featuring today is Songs from the Urban Past, in Association with Thame Arts and Literature Festival and later in the evening, there’s music from Jossiene Clarke and Ben Walker from 8.50 – 9.50pm, and The Melrose Quartet at 10.00 – 11.15pm.
You can download the whole programme from The Towersey Festival website here: LINK
THIS is part two of a report from notes taken at last Thursday’s public meeting at the Barns Centre, Thame, hosted by the ‘Save the Elms’ petition group. (LINK to part one HERE)
UKIP representatives (front row) at the Save the Elms meeting. Sam Juthani (Labour) strolls to his seat (far right)
AFTER a short break in the proceedings after a member of the audience was taken ill, those present at the public meeting held last Thursday (14/08) heard Save The Elms founder member, Richard Jeffries, mount a stout defence of leaving the park land at The Elms, undeveloped, calling it a ‘very special site’ that has been left alone for a very long time, ‘a remnant of ancient parkland’.
Richard, a former Wildlife Conservation worker, spoke of ”unique, open-form trees’ that were likely to be removed, trees that he said were over 150 years-old and unique to Thame, including an A1 condition, open-ground Horse Chestnut. There ecosystems, he said, would support everything from invertebrates all the way up the food chain and the trees serve as ‘an island’ for wildlife as does Tythrop and Rycote Parks.
“Those parks would never be built on,” he said. “So why The Elms? We are being asked to trade off all that just so that we can have access to part of an open space.” He went on to say that the Tree Removal Plan in the documents associated with the planning permission that are on display at Thame Town Hall, is ‘illegible’ and ‘ambiguous’ because the key to the trees is in red on the original document, but it has been photo-copied in black and white. It was though, he said, clear that the intention was to remove an entire tree belt from close to the boundary.
When a member of the public, recalled how, when he was young, the owner of The Elms, Leonard Purser, had a bird sanctuary there and a tree walk, Richard Jeffries responded that this was one more reason why The Elms is ‘an historical asset.’ He suggest that Thame should consider doing what Little Chalfont has done and purchase the site as a nature park. He then went on to remind those present of the cut-off dates for the consultation period on the planning applications, August 21 (today) for Elms Park (http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/ccm/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ApplicationDetails&REF=P14/S2310/O) and September 4, for the housing development. (See: http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/ccm/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ApplicationDetails&REF=P14/S2176/FUL)
NB – More information about submitted plans for associated work at The Elms, HERE https://www.thame.net/archives/16170ERE
Tom Marianczar urged those present to look at the plans and that if they wanted to comment and needed help, the Save The Elms group could help them understand the procedure if they would like help. He concluded: “This is a planning battle for Thame, not just for people living in the area. The question has to be asked, was submitting the planning applications during the school holidays, when many people are away, strategic on the part of the developer?”
He then went on to thank everyone for coming, including representatives from the local UKIP group and local Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Sam Juthani, as well as those town councillors who had come to the meeting, “…despite being advised by the Town Clerk not to,” he added. Thame’s MP John Howell was away on holiday. No one representing Rectory Homes was present at the meeting.
You can read part one of this report HERE. Please use the COMMENTS facility here to share your views whether or not you were at the meeting.
THE Head of Lord Williams’s School, Thame, has acknowledged the work of pupils, staff and parents in the achievements of the school’s GCSE Results 2014.
Lord Williams’s GCSE students celebrate
In a statement today, Mr David Wybron said: “At a time of great turbulence in education it is very pleasing to see that students at Lord Williams‟s School continue to work through those challenges and to achieve highly. The results for our GCSE students are excellent with 69% of students achieving five or more GCSE passes at A*-C grades, including English and Mathematics. “
Nationally, the proportion of students receiving A*-C grades in their GCSE exams has risen for the first time in three years with just over 68.8% of exam entries in this range – an increase of 0.7 percentage points over last summer’s results.
David Wybron continued: “This is a time for celebration and recognition of the hard work of our students and their achievements across the full range of GCSE courses. They also know that they could not have achieved so much without high quality teaching and guidance from their teachers and support staff, and support from home.
“Last year I commented on the ‘strangeness’ of results in Mathematics. This year our Mathematics results have moved from 62% A* – C to 80%.”
The following students gained at least seven passes at grade A* or A: May Allen, Megan Baillet, Jennifer Bernstein, Charlie Bignell, Jack Cheung, William Curtis, Zoe Denham, Jordan Finlay, Honor Freeman, Joseph Gilbert, Thomas Goetz, Eliza Goode, Phoebe Groves, Isabella Hanson, Luke Harvey, Sophie Haxworth, Rhiannon Hayward, Cosette Jackson, Izzy Lambert Russell, Jack Lawlor, Josh Lilley, Jeremy Lowen, Jamie Morgan-Wormald, Luke Morley, Christopher Mullins,Peter Murphy, Natascha Ng, Maisy Niedzielski, Daniel Patey, Alexander Payne, Holly Revill, Suzanna Scowen, Sam Shannon, Abigail Spokes, Imogen Stephenson, Alistair Stewart, Harry Tanner, Milos Tasic, Georgia Thompson and Emily Wignall.
In English, 76.9% of Lord Williams’s students who took the exam passed at grades A* – C. Of these eight gained A* grades and 46 gained an A grade. This result is higher than the national average.
PEOPLE living in southern Oxfordshire will get a rare chance to see some of the world’s best cyclists, including Sir Bradley Wiggins, on their doorstep when the Friends Life Tour of Britain passes through the area.
Wiggins and Cavendish pictured during this year’s Tour of California – Image courtesy of cyclingweekly.co.uk
On September 12, the sixth stage of the tour will enter Oxfordshire near Wantage and head through Blewbury, where there will be a mid-stage YodelDirect Sprint, and then on to a category two, King of the Mountains climb at Chinnor Hill.
Due to take part in the tour this year are Team Sky, being led by Wiggins as the former Tour de France winner aims to retain his crown, and the Great Britain National Team alongside many of the world’s top teams including BMC Racing and the world No.1 squad Movistar Team.
Also confirmed, just this Monday, is World-class sprinter, Mark Cavendish who will ride in this year’s Tour of Britain for the Omega Pharma-QuickStep team. He is making a comeback after crashing out of the Tour de France back in July on the opening stage, resulting in surgery for a shoulder injury.
Communities along the route are being to encouraged to come out and see the event, and come up with their own ideas to mark the occasion.
The race will be covered live by ITV4 and British Eurosport, with three hours of live coverage daily, plus a one-hour highlights programme each evening.
The stage goes from Bath to Hemel Hempstead, will see riders enter the county at lunchtime via Chain Hill, skirting Wantage at around 1pm then on via the A417 passing West Hendred, Harwell, and Blewbury.
They will continue along the A329 past the edge of Cholsey up to Crowmarsh Gifford, then via the A4130 to Nettlebed before moving on to the B481, via Christmas Common up to Chinnor, and leaving Oxfordshire shortly after 2pm.
County Councillor David Nimmo Smith, Cabinet member for transport, said: “We are delighted that the tour will be visiting Oxfordshire, having spent many months working in collaboration with the organisers to decide the route, in what promises to be a wonderful day. We are proud to be supporting cycling in south Oxfordshire, having invested a great deal in the local area, improving the cycling network and increasing the opportunity for people to gain access to bicycles.”
Cllr Elaine Ware, Cabinet Member for Economy, Leisure and Property at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “We have a great cycling community across southern Oxfordshire so it will be a real treat for us to see this race first hand. With big investments being made to the cycling infrastructure around Science Vale this event will really help to highlight the role cycling can play both as an exciting international sport and as part of our day to day lives.”
Cllr Bill Service, Cabinet Member for Leisure at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We are delighted that this international event will be visiting southern Oxfordshire. Not only will it be a great chance for us to see world class cycling on our door step but it will also be a great chance to show the area off to a large audience. We encourage as many people as possible to get out and see the race and mark the occasion in their own communities.”
OXFORDSHIRE southbound following an earlier overturned vehicle between Junction 6, B4009 (Watlington) and Junction 5, A40 (Stokenchurch). All lanes have been re-opened. In the roadworks area. Congestion to J8, M40 for Oxford.
Currently delays of 40 mins caused by congestion due to an earlier overturned vehicle. Normal traffic conditions expected from 4:30 pm.
THE family of a young Thame man, killed in a road traffic collision, said tonight that they have been ‘let down’ by the law, after the man convicted of killing their son, by dangerous driving in 2009, escaped prison despite breaking the conditions of his early release licence.
The late Greg Stiles of Thame
Sammy Edwards, was originally sent to prison for the offence in September 2010, but released last March after serving two and a half years of a five-year sentence. In June he was caught driving on the A41 while banned from driving for eight years, and recalled to prison. He was released after the statutory 28 days to await a decision on his prosecution.
Today, Milton Keynes Magistrates court fined Edwards £145 and ordered him to carry out 100 hours of community service.
Sammy Edwards
Talking to Thame.Net tonight, Maggie Stiles, the mother of the late Greg Stiles, who was 18 at the time of his death, said: “The sentence of just 100 hours community service and a £145 fine given to Sam Edwards today, makes a complete mockery of the whole judicial system.
“We as a family are disapppointed and angry but not surprised to be honest. If they are just going to give him a slap on the wrist and tell him he’s a naughty boy, that’s an insult to us and we feel that the system today has let Greg down.
“We fear that this man now thinks he is above the law and that it is only a matter of time before he causes another accident. We do not want another family to suffer as we have done.
“However, we will carry on and keep as dignified as we can. He has taken Greg’s life but still seems to be in denial. But, we will never let him take our soul; We will continue to hold up our heads. He will never win.”
AT 15:23 today (20/08), the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to a report of a smoke alarm going off and a smell of smoke at Horton Close, Thame. The call had been made by a neighbour who, when hearing the alarm, went to make sure it was not a false alarm and smelling the smoke, she called 999.
Smoke Alarm Alerts Neighbour to Kitchen Fire
Crews from Thame and Watlington Fire Station were quickly on the scene where they found an unattended frying pan that had been left on an electric hob. Firefighters dealt with the situation swiftly before ventilating the property.
CM Steve Lockwood from Thame, said: “The occupant was very fortunate that his smoke alarm alerted his neighbor. This situation could have been far more serious had a working smoke alarm not been installed.”
He went on: “I would also use this opportunity to remind everyone to take care whilst cooking and to ensure everything is switched off when finished.”
More tips on fire safety in the kitchen include:
• Consider using a thermostatically controlled deep fat fryer rather than a frying pan to cook your food.
• Never leave your cooking unattended. Even if the phone or doorbell rings.
If you do have a chip pan fire or a fire involving oil:
• call the Fire and Rescue Service on 999 immediately
• don’t take risks
• have a clear escape route
• never move the pan
• only turn off the heat (if it’s safe to do so)
• never use water on chip pan fires, as this will cause the oil to boil over and burn you.
THAME’S Tuesday market yesterday (19/08) was a hub of activity as the regular market traders once again held their annual Market Fun Day to celebrate all that is good about local markets.
As well as street entertainers, including a big, hairy, friendly lion, children could have their face painted, or have a go at one of the side-show games, whilst the grown-ups could discover more about local organisations and charities from Thame and around the villages promoting their activities.
The community stalls included the Long Crendon Day Centre, Thame’s Citizens Advice Bureau, Thame Players Theatre, Rethink Mental Illness and the Thame Museum.
Chris Hurdman, who runs the Biscuit and Sweets stall, said: “Several of the local organisations have contacted me to say that they had a fantastic day. Not only did they raise a lot of money for their causes, but they raised the profile of their organisations.”
Did you know that Thame market was originally a medieval cattle market and has been held here since 1227?
THAMES Valley Police has received reports recently of some people posing as planning or building control officers to gain access to people’s properties under the pretence they’re looking into enforcement issues etc. When challenged, they’ve said they were from “planning” and left immediately.
Thames Valley Police Alert
Planning officers can often turn up to a site unannounced, especially planning enforcement officers. However, they will always have photo ID on them, and are always happy to be asked for it and to explain the reason for their visit. Their identity can also be verified by calling the planning office on 01491 823740 or by contacting the Customer Service Manager Duncan Grainge on 01491 823711 or email: duncan.grainge@southandvale.gov.uk
Residents are asked to be extra vigilant about this kind of activity and to ask for ID from anyone who visits unannounced from any organisation. Please report suspicious activity to the Police via the 24 hour non-emergency telephone number 101 or call 999 for crime in progress.
The Police would appreciate your help in passing this message onto family, friends, work colleagues and other residents living in the area, thank you.
THE people of Thame have been thanked for their generosity in supporting the Oxfam Bookshop’s Emergency appeal for the victims of Gaza.
Oxfam Bookshop volunteer, Peter Soya
The shop’s manager, Dick Jennens, said: “The appeal was launched on August 7, and has resulted in a massive outpouring of generosity from the people of Thame. I would like to personally say a big ‘Thank You’ to our donors.
“As well as a number of large cash donations to the shop, we have received an extraordinary large number of donations of books and CDs etc.
“We have been overwhelmed with the generosity of our donors, the number and quality of the donated stock has been exceptional, so much so, that the volunteer team have been working extra hard to sort, price and present them for sale.
“During the past weeks we have sold over a thousand items each week generating much needed funds for our work with the refugees.
“We are now planning to recruit more volunteers to process the high level of donations and to increase our trading hours by opening on Sundays.
“We are seeking volunteers to cover our planned Sunday opening of 11.00 – 3.00, volunteers to support the shop by shelf filling and looking after our customers and a volunteer who knows about sheet music and also to help with data entry for the Oxfam ONLINE SHOP!”
For more information contact Dick on 01844 214645 or call into the shop in Cornmarket, Thame.
