THAMES Valley Police is advising residents living in South Oxfordshire to be extra vigilant following a series of shed and garage breaks-in the area. Most incidents have occurred overnight.
Thames Valley Police Alert
On 17th May, a shed in Thame Road, Tiddington, and a shed in London Road, Milton Common, Thame, were broken into. Power tools were stolen. Between 20th / 21st May, a garage in Watlington Road, Stadhampton, was broken into and power tools stolen.
On 20th May, a shed in Court Drive, Shillingford, was broken into and power tools stolen.
Between 15th / 21st May, a shed in Observatory Close, Benson was broken into. Power tools and golf equipment was stolen.
For crime prevention advice on securing sheds/garages and details on property marking please click on the link below:
If you see any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area, try to obtain vehicle details including colour, make/model, registration number and a description of any persons seen.
Please report any information to the police as soon as possible on the 24 hour non-emergency telephone number 101 or call 999 for crime in progress.
Alternatively if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online @ crimestoppers-uk.org
. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
THAME Town Council is asking for views on a potential, new scheme for the community – a Good Neighbour Scheme.
Image courtesy of www.ageuk.org.uk
Good Neighbour Schemes are local, voluntary groups which offer a service to those in their local community who may be in need of help or support. Those people who may need the support of GNS volunteers may be older people, people with disabilities, single parents, young mothers, those temporarily in need through illness or anyone who may be isolated in the community.
Help could include occasional transport, prescription collection, dog walking, and even little jobs like changing a light bulb.
If you think you could benefit from a little bit of extra help or if you would be willing to spare an hour or two to help someone in Thame, you can contact the town council either via the website: www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk and take the online survey, or either pop into the Information Centre at the town hall and pick one up, or call 01844 212833.
AWARD-winning local farmer, David Newman, has secured another high profile nomination. David, of Bucksum in Long Crendon near Thame, was named ‘Local Farmer of the Year’ in the prestigious 2013 Observer Food Monthly (OFM) Awards. This year he’s been nominated again; this time in the Best Independent Retailer category.
David Newman of Bucksum Farm Shop, Long Crendon
David grows and supplies fresh seasonal veg, herbs and fruit to the public and the catering trade, including a number of leading chefs. He opened his Bucksum Farm Shop in 2010. He said: “Last year’s Local Farmer of the Year award was judge nominated; this year’s is reader nominated so we’re relying on public support to win.”
If you would like to support David and Bucksum, you can vote via observer.co.uk/food-awards. Voting closes at midnight on June 27, 2014.
Last year’s award brought Bucksum a healthy amount of further publicity and local interest, and since then David and his partner, Tracy Russell, say they’ve seen a real influx of new customers. “Kids love to come along with their parents to play shop and be allowed to use the scales and the till,” said Tracy. “At this rate we’ll be looking to expand the shop later this year!”
THE relative of an resident of a block of flats for the elderly in Thame, has been speaking about her ‘suicidal’ Mother-in-law who, with other infirm residents, has been more-or-less trapped in her home because of a broken lift.
Jean Edwards in happier times before her illness and tribulations at Sharman Beer Court
Veronica Edwards, whose Mother-in-law, Jean Edwards, has had to be carried down the stairs by relatives, has castigated Sanctuary Homes, the company that manages the flats, Sharman Beer Court, in Southern Road, Thame, for its failure to get the lift mended, after seven months.
Veronica has even asked MP, John Howell, to help, but despite a visit he made to Sharman Beer, nothing has been done and residents in wheelchairs particularly remain unable to leave their flats unless they have relatives fit enough to carry them down stairs, She has now sent out a desperate letter to any organisations, media or officials about the plight of her 82 year-old Mother-in-law. She writes:
“I am looking for help and advise. My mother in law lives at Sharman Beer Court in Thame, which is managed by Sanctuary Housing. On October 6, last year, the lift broke. Sanctuary house said that they had to follow the leasing law agreement. My mother-in-law lives on the first floor. She needs the lift because she cannot use the stairs – the lift was one of the good factors when she first came to Sharman Beer Court hence why she bought the flat in the first place.
“Unfortunately this is a very long issue regarding the lift. At first Sanctuary said they had to follow the leasing held law. Waiting to go through the protocol of the law, the lift wouldn’t get sort before Christmas, so all the residents, their families and friends tried to get help by speaking out about the problem and getting publicity to get the lift sorted sooner. The local papers and ITV local news have all reported on this issue. We even managed to get the Thame MP to come to the Sharman Court but that didn’t result into any thing.
“For months residents’ families helping them down the stairs has been their only way of seeing the outside world. In our case the only way we could do this was by having two members of our family carrying her down the stairs in her wheelchair. A chair lift was fitted but this was only ‘a bandage on a very bloody wound’ as my mother-in-law, Jean Edwards, can’t leave the confinement of the building without the aid of one of us helping. Jean is now in a wheelchair and on her own, unable to get up and down the stairs on her own.
“I am sure that many of the other residents are in the same place, having to rely on neighbours to help take the shopping upstairs for them while the use they lift. They were finally given March as the date for the lift to be worked on. March has came and gone and no work was done. So we all tried again to get the support and help of the media again, to which Sanctuary House is still hiding behind the lease hold law. Another date was given for the lift to be fixed – May 19. I had a very distressed mother-in-law in tears on the phone at the weekend as the residents had received a letter saying that the lift will not be fixed, with no new date given.
“So after seven months without being able to leave their flats on their own, Jean and the other residents have become very depressed having no quality of life. It’s heart breaking having to hear Jean say that she would rather be dead then be confined to the same four walls all the time.
“Jean will be 86 tomorrow (21.5.14) and says she has nothing to live for. She has always said that prisoners get treated better than she does; as least prisoners have at least a hour of fresh air a day. Jean’s health has deteriorated, and I don’t know what else I can do to help. So I am getting in touch with as many companies and organisations as I can think of. So please could you help me in this battle to find out why Sanctuary Housing can take seven months to fix a lift. We all know that they have the money as Sanctuary have what they call ‘a sinking fund’ which is meant to used at times like this. They have fobbed off anyone who has asked about when it will be sorted. Everyone has now stopped trying.
“The May 21, is Jean’s 86th birthday. PLEASE help me to make it be the best ever by having a date that is real and will actually happen!”
THE organisers of this year’s Thame Food Festival have teamed up with festival ambassador, Raymond Blanc, to offer an exclusive tea-time treat at an exclusive price to help raise funds to run the food festival.
If you’re looking for a truly indulgent treat for a loved one, the perfect present idea for a foodie friend, or simply fancy spoiling yourself, why not enjoy Champagne afternoon tea in the luxurious surroundings of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Raymond Blanc’s fabulous Oxfordshire country house hotel, near Thame?
This unforgettable experience, which takes place on Monday, June 2, starts with a private tour of the Le Manoir Gardens with the expert gardeners on hand to walk you through the impressive two-acre plot. Take in the tranquil Japanese tea garden created by landscape designer Robert Ketchell; the beautiful English water garden which is fed by natural springs and was founded by the monks who lived in the property in the 16th century and La Vallée de Champignons, the unique mushroom valley. Inspect the immaculate vegetable and herb gardens which supply the two-star Michelin kitchens with over 90 different varieties of freshly grown organic vegetables and 70 types of herbs, and admire the colourful flower and herbaceous beds in the main garden.
Then it will be time for tea in the elegant setting of La Belle Époque private dining room, where a glass of fine Le Manoir Champagne will be waiting for you. Sit back in the glorious surroundings of this intimate room and savour a delectable afternoon tea. Enjoy a selection of sandwiches, patisserie du jour and homemade scones, jam and clotted cream, all freshly prepared for you by the chefs, before relaxing and making the most of your afternoon at Le Manoir.
Don’t miss out on this wonderful experience, which has been created especially for this year’s Thame Food Festival by Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. Tickets, which cost £90 per person, are only available by going to www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk, where you also find out about the fantastic foodie line-up for this year’s event.
The Thame Food Festival takes place from 9am to 5pm on Saturdayn September 27, in the heart of Thame town centre.
DESPITE a delayed arrival because of a mechanical fault with their coach, a party of visitors from France brought friendship and sunshine to Thame this weekend.
The 24-strong group of all ages came from Thame’s twin town of Montesson, near Paris. They stayed with host families in the town, sharing two days of fun, food and cultural activities, including the current exhibition at Thame Museum themed around the experiences of people with a Thame connection who lived or served during the First World War.
On Saturday, a trip to the Cotswolds included a visit to the old Roman town of Cirencester, taking in its Corinium Museum, a stroll through its many squares and arcades for shopping and of course, for just sitting and chatting over a cup of coffee or tea and cake, outside the towns many cafes in the sunshine. In Cirencester, there are more decorated, giant hares around the place than there are plastic cows in Thame, the hare, we learned, representing romantic love, lust, and abundance in Roman mythology. (The hare was were associated with the Artemis, the goddess of wild places and the hunt, and newborn hares were not to be killed under any circumstances but left to her protection).
The ‘twinners’ from Thame & Montesson stroll around the village of Bibury
Back in the bus after a picnic on the grass in the tranquility of the old Monastery gardens, the group broke the journey back to Thame with a short visit to the ‘Chocolate box’ beauty of the Cotswold village of Bibury, with its gently flowing, clear chalk streams of tiny minnows – and in some of the larger streams, jumping trout could be seen – and heard!
After a circular walk past the old, traditional cottages of Cotswold stone, passing pairs of swans with their signets, across neat little wooden bridges under dappled trees, it was time for an ice-cream before boarding the coach for the journey back to Thame.
A meal with host families and a welcome good night’s sleep later, Thame awoke to a sunny, warm Sunday morning. Some of the visitors were taken to see the stunning displays of flower arranging as part of the St Mary’s Flower festival, whilst others visited the museum or just explored the town centre before meeting together at the Three Horse Shoes pub in Towersey for a superlative mid-day meal in the barn, with a variety of English desserts provided by members of Thame’s Twinning Association.
L to R: Michel Cojean (Montesson twinning official photographer, Anne Gillet, Don Butler, Jeannette Matelot Green & Jean Francois Bel
Thame’s newly elected Mayor, Cllr Jeannette Matelot Green, welcomed the Mayor of Montesson, Monsieur Jean Francois Bel; the President of Montesson’s Twinning committee, Anne Gillet and the Deputy Chair of Thame and District Twinning Association, Don Butler, who all expressed their thanks and appreciation to everyone who had made the weekend such a success, and their pleasure at the continued strength of the union between the two towns.
After many hugs and ‘au revoirs’, a group photograph and a few tears, the coach of Montessonaise was waved off by the English hosts, with ‘fingers crossed’ that the journey back to France would be less eventful than the in-coming!
THERE has been quite a bit of bad press and TV programmes recently about badly behaved bailiffs. Thame’s Citizens Advice Bureau has there come up with some useful information about your rights if you are visited by bailiffs and what to do is you think they are not treating you fairly or correctly.
Image courtesy of empireclaims.co.uk
Question: I’ve received a letter from a bailiff firm saying that they are going to come and collect an unpaid parking fine. I’ve seen stories in the news about how bailiffs have been treating people badly, and I’m worried that they will come to my house before I can sort out a repayment plan. Is there anything I can do to protect myself?
The advice from Thame’s CAB:
Citizens Advice Bureaux have helped thousands of people who have fallen foul of bullying bailiffs. We see evidence of bailiffs breaking the rules, so it’s important that you know your rights if a bailiff turns up on your doorstep. At the beginning of April this year, the government introduced new regulations to give people better protection and make bailiffs clean up their act.
The new rules should reign in some bad behaviour by bailiffs. They have to write to you to tell you that they have been told to collect the debt so that you have the chance to arrange payment. Bailiffs are no longer allowed to enter your home between 9pm and 6am, when there are only children under 16 or vulnerable people present, or through an open window.
Vulnerable debtors are also given more protection, as they must now be given an opportunity to get advice and assistance from an organisation like Citizens Advice. Bailiffs do have the right to charge fees, although there are now set fees that they can charge you at different stages of the process. Your debt could just get bigger if you ignore them. An advisor can help you to check what the bailiff is allowed to take and how much they can charge you in fees.
If a bailiff is behaving badly, you can complain to the bailiff firm or the company you owe the original debt to. You might also be able to complain to an Ombudsman.
If you believe a bailiff has broken the law or you think they should be struck off, you can complain to the police or the County Court. The bailiff’s certification may then be withdrawn or they could be ordered to give you compensation. If you are in a situation where you are dealing with bailiffs then you should go to your local Citizens Advice Bureau in Market Square, Thame. Citizens Advice can then help explain what your rights are, what a bailiff is and isn’t allowed to do, as well as guiding you through the process of making a complaint, should you need to. For more information visit the Citizens Advice website www.adviceguide.org.uk. Adviceline: 08444 111 444 03 00 33 00 650 (Mobile)
GOOD news for commuters who cycle to Haddenham and Thame Park Railway station. A new cycle park means that spaces have now been increased from 38 to 110. The cycle park has been jointly funded by Buckinghamshire County Council’s Access to Stations project, Chiltern Railways and the sustainable travel charity, Sustrans.
L to R – Misha Lund (Project Officer, Sustrans); Mike Barber (Travel Advisor, Sustrans); Roderick Floud of Haddenham Safe Walking & Cycling Group prepares to cut the ribbon to open the new cycle park; Mark Pateman (Regional Manager, Chiltern Railways)
Haddenham & Thame Parkway is one of four stations in Bucks in the Access to Stations project where cycle parking capacity has now been doubled to encourage less car use and more cycling by commuters.
Sustrans’ Area Manager for the Thames Valley, Peter Challis, is currently writing travel plans for the four stations, which recommend possible infrastructure improvements to encourage cycling to the four stations, the others being Amersham, Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross.
Bucks C C intend that by highlighting and improving the travel options available to rail users: “….the project will support the local economy by tackling congestion and reducing journey times. A move away from driving will also lower carbon emissions and improve the health of Buckinghamshire residents.”
THAME Town Council has recommended that a proposal to build an additional 28, one and two bed apartments in three blocks on the site of Angus House, Wenman Road, be turned down by the local planning authority. Rectory Homes want to build the additional blocks on the site of the old Angus building car park, where they already have permission to convert the old office building into 44 apartments.
The proposals include 40% affordable homes, a central community garden, parking for 158 cycles and car parking. The town council considered that the car parking provision is inadequate for the number of homes and for visitors, and that the proposal was too large for the site, and of poor design.
Rectory Homes’ representative, Henry Venners, had told the council during its meeting on Tuesday that the proposal would be ‘an improvement to the Southern approach into Thame’, and that it would meet the need for smaller housing units.
THE cost of the renovation work currently underway to Thame Town Hall is soaring, after it was discovered that the building is in a worse state than was previously thought before the scaffolding went up and a closer examination could be made.
Structural archwork above a window at the front of the building needs urgent attention at an estimated cost of £12,000, as well as rotten window frames at the top floor level needing repair – and a crumbling stone ball on the clock tower was found not to be attached! Also, old street lighting fixed to the building, which will be completely removed, has created water damage.
In total, the work will cost an extra £28,373 which, unless the town council can get from South Oxfordshire District Council, it will have to fund itself out of general reserves.
Speaking at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, Cllr Nigel Champken Woods remarked: “We don’t have a lot of choice but to have the work done. It’s a shame we didn’t let Oxfordshire County Council have it as a library a few ago, then we wouldn’t have this problem.”
