Category: Thame news

RESIDENTS in Thame have been helping to lead the way in battery recycling by putting spent batteries out with their weekly rubbish.

In a matter of weeks, since the scheme began, 4,300 kg of batteries have been collected in South Oxfordshire and The Vale for recycling, preventing them from being sent to landfill. If these were laid end to end they would reach from Thame to beyond Stone!

Last month South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils, along with waste and recycling contractors Biffa, organised for bright pink stickers to placed on top of residents’ green recycling bins to
inform people about the new scheme.

Batteries should now be placed on the lid of the green recycling bin in a clear bag and will be collected as part of the fortnightly ‘green bin’ recycling collection.

As a result of the promotion, both districts saw a huge increase in the number of batteries being recycled through household collection.

FACTS: Why recycle batteries?

It is very important that batteries are recycled and not put in the black rubbish bin. Batteries contain toxic and hazardous metals such as lead, mercury, sulfuric acid and cadmium. When they are thrown into the rubbish, they end up in landfills. These toxic compounds can leak into soil and water harming public health and posing environmental risks such as contaminating vegetation, polluting lakes and streams and making them unfit for drinking, swimming, fishing, and supporting wildlife.

With the dangers associated with battery disposal the need for recycling becomes ever more important. All types of household batteries including mobile phone, laptop and power tool batteries can be put through this process. There are also other benefits of recycling such as: –

● Nickel, cobalt and, silver are valuable metals, when
their re-use is possible it would enable us to save
resources.
● Recycled cadmium and nickel requires respectively
46% and 75% less energy in extraction than virgin
metals.
● Batteries are recycled into a number of new products
such as new batteries, steel industry products and
electronic manufacturing.

Cllr David Dodds, Cabinet Member for Finance, Parks and Waste at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Batteries can pose a real danger to the environment if they are simply left to decay. By putting them out for recycling residents of South Oxfordshire and the Vale are helping to remove this danger and also helping to reduce unwanted waste at the same time.”

SOURCE: Press release

TWO men are in hospital this evening following a collision on the A329 near Little Milton, earlier this evening.

It has been reported that a young man in his mid-teens received a head injury and that a man in his forties suffered a leg injury during the crash, which involved two vehicles at around 6.15pm.

Three ambulance crews attended the scene, and treated three people with minor injuries.

BETWEEN 11pm on (1/8) and 5am on (2/8) a farm building in Long Crendon Road, Thame was broken into. It is unknown how the offender/s gained entry to the farm building. Power tools, a ride on mower & an Ifor Williams silver trailer were stolen.

Between midnight on (29/7) and 12pm on (3/8) an outhouse in Onslow Drive, Thame was broken into.
Offender/s gained entry to an insecure door and stolen a lawn mower. No further details at this time.

Between 11pm on (31/7) and 8am on (1/8) a shed in Emmington, Chinnor, was broken into.
Offender/s gained entry by forcing the padlock on the door. Garden equipment & furniture were the items stolen.

Between 8pm on (1/8) and 8am on (2/8), offender/s gained entry to an insecure vehicle parked in Estover Way, Chinnor. Power tools were the items stolen.

If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message, please ring 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 @ crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

OVERNIGHT between 9am on Tuesday (30/7,) and 9am yestereday (31/7,) a shed in Cheshire Road, Thame was broken into.

It is unknown how the offender/s gained entry. Two chain saws & a long handled Stihl hedge trimmer were the items stolen.

If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message, please ring 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 @ crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

LUCKILY for a Thame householder yesterday, the sound of smoke alarms alerted neighbours to a fire after cooking was left unattended in a flat in the town.

Oxfordshire’s Fire and Rescue Service was called to the fire in Churchill Crescent, in Thame, at 17:21 yesterday (30/07/13) by the quick-acting neighbour who spotted smoke after being alerted by smoke detectors.

Four fire engines attended from Thame, Haddenham, Slade Park and Wheatley fire stations. On arrival, fire-fighters could see smoke issuing from the house.
Fire-fighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the house to search for the missing occupants and extinguish the fire, preventing it spreading to further parts of the property. Fortunately there was no-one in the house at the time of the fire.

Crew Manager, StevenLockwood said: ?Unattended cooking is one of the most common causes of fires occurring in the home. The occupiers in this case were fortunate that they had smoke alarms which alerted the neighbours or the situation could have been far worse.

“Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service would like to remind everyone that leaving cooking unattended could have serious consequences for you and your home. You should also have a working smoke alarm on each level of your home and test it once a week.”

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

INVESTIGATIONS into the fire that destroyed one house and damaged two neighbouring homes, are still going on, according to Investigating Officer for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Watch Manager, Don Crook, the investigating officer for the fire at Chowns close, told ThameNews.Net today:

“Investigations are still on going, however I can say that the fire is not being treated as suspicious and the most likely cause of the fire is accidental.”

PHOTO: By George Blewitt

A charity run in memory of the late musician, Robin Gibb, will set off from his family home in Thame next month, and the particiPANTS will all be wearing pink Y-fronts.

The run is being organised by William Graydon, son of Robin’s Manager, Ken Graydon, who will run 200 miles in seven days in pink Y-fronts to raise money for three charities, two of which the Bee Gees singer supported throughout his life.

Cycling alongside William throughout the event will be Robin?s nephew, Steven Murphy and William?s close friend, Benedict Smith whose task will be to keep William motivated during any low points!

Why the Y-fronts?  William explained: “I think with just wearing our pink Y-fronts, it?ll give people another reason to sponsor us because frankly we will look ridiculous, especially towards the end of the event!

“Losing all dignity as I run up the country will be worth it if we can help these three charities carry on with their great work.?

The run will finish on The Isle of Man where the Gibb brothers once lived and still own a family home, and will pass through Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, to pay respects to the soldiers who have fallen during recent conflicts and have been repatriated through the town.

Robin Gibb died in June last year of cancer, despite confounding his family and the doctors by coming out of a lengthy coma, as a result, his family believed, of them constantly singing Bee Gees songs to him. It is the courage showed by Robin during his final months that Williams has said inspired him and his support team to commit to an event that will push them to their limits; “Something the singer did throughout his life,” concluded William.

More information about William’s quest and how you can support him and benefit Robin Gibb’s charities, can be found here: http://www.justgiving.com/teams/robinsrun

At 8:30pm on (27/7) a property in Cedar Crescent, Thame was broken into. Offender/s gained entry by forcing the front door as jemmy marks were found around the door frame.

Two white male suspects were seen, suspect one described as 5ft 9ins tall, close cut fair hair, the second suspect is described as slighter shorter in height than the first, wearing possibly either a hat or baseball cap.

A wallet was stolen from the property which was later found nearby with cash missing.

If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message, please ring 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 @ crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.