SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council is aiming to cut its share of council tax for the second year running, by 2.5 per cent. The final decision will be made when the council meets to agree its budget for 2013/14 in February.
The council currently sets the 15th lowest council tax of any district council in England. If the proposals go forward, A Band D taxpayer will see the element of their bill that relates to the district council reduce from
GOOD news that Citizens Advice Bureaux are to get a cash boost from South Oxfordshire District Council. They serve a great need, giving out advice like the following:
SALES goods may be reduced in price because the trader needs to clear stock at the end of the season, because they want to attract customers, or because there are known faults with the goods. As a consumer, the law says that any item you buy from a trader in a sale must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and match any description given. If it doesn?t then you are entitled to a repair, a replacement, or a refund.
Traders must also point out any faults with damaged sales goods, for example a missing button on a coat. If this does not happen you are also entitled to a repair, replacement or your money back.
Things become more problematic if you have simply changed your mind. A trader doesn?t have to do anything in this situation, but some traders do have their own returns policies where you can be offered an exchange or a credit note. More information on these types of returns policies can be found on the back of your receipt or displayed next to the tills.
Proof of purchase, like a receipt, will be needed to return goods bought in the sales and be aware that some returns policies state that goods which have been opened or the package damaged will not be accepted. Some retailers will also not accept returned goods which could carry infection such as pierced earrings, so remember to check the trader?s terms and conditions if you think you think you may want to return them later.
For more information on your consumer rights go to the Citizens Advice website www.adviceguide.org.uk
CAB adviceline 08 444 111 444 or 0300 3300 650(mobile)
Your local CAB is in Montesson Square, Thame (Market House)
IMAGE: Courtesy of: uk.finance.yahoo.com
THE following is a message from Thames Valley Alert Information sent on behalf of Thames Valley Police:
THERE have been a number of burglaries to churches over the past few weeks in the Thames Valley Police area. Offender(s) have forced doors and windows to gain entry. Safes have been targeted.
Recent incidents in the South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse area are as follows, although no property was stolen:
St James Church ? Church Hill, Little Milton, Thame
Between 24/12/12 & 31/12/12
Harpsden Parish Church ? Harpsden Road, Harpsden, Henley
28/12/12 ? between 2.00pm & 4.10pm
Our Lady of Lourdes ? Crown Road, Wheatley
Between 30/12/12 & 31/12/12
St Marys Church ? Church Road, Wheatley
Between 30/12/12 & 31/12/12
St Thomas of Canterbury ? Manor Road, Goring
Between 30/12/12 & 31/12/12
Methodist Chapel ? Conduit Road, Abingdon
31/12/12 ? Between 11.00am & 7.00pm
Please be extra vigilant. If you see anyone acting suspiciously in or around churches or see any suspicious looking vehicles in the area please call the police on 101 as soon as possible or call 999 for crime in progress. Try to obtain descriptions and vehicle details, including colour, make/model and registration number.
If you have any information relating to this message please call the police on the non-emergency telephone number 101 and state you are responding to a Thames Valley Alert message.
Alternatively if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online @ WWW.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
PHOTO: Courtesy of the Oxford City branch of Bell Ringers LINK
FOLLOWING the success of last year’s Mayor’s New Year’s Day walk, 21st Century Thame followed up this year with a New Year Day’s walk along the Phoenix Trail.
Unfortunately this year’s Mayor was unable to join the walk but after weeks of rain and grey skies, 40 local people of all abilities met at Thame town hall on the January 1st, lured off their sofas by the first bright sunshine of 2013.
The group walked to Towersey where they enjoyed a warming lunch of Potato and leek soup, and jacket potato in the barn at The Three Horseshoes pub.
Once all the lunch money had been collected up, there was
THE following is a message from Thames Valley Alert Information sent on behalf of Thames Valley Police:
THERE have been a number of burglaries to churches over the past few weeks in the Thames Valley Police area. Offender(s) have forced doors and windows to gain entry. Safes have been targeted.
Recent incidents in the South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse area are as follows, although no property was stolen:
St James Church ? Church Hill, Little Milton, Thame
Between 24/12/12 & 31/12/12
Harpsden Parish Church ? Harpsden Road, Harpsden, Henley
28/12/12 ? between 2.00pm & 4.10pm
Our Lady of Lourdes ? Crown Road, Wheatley
Between 30/12/12 & 31/12/12
St Marys Church ? Church Road, Wheatley
Between 30/12/12 & 31/12/12
St Thomas of Canterbury ? Manor Road, Goring
Between 30/12/12 & 31/12/12
Methodist Chapel ? Conduit Road, Abingdon
31/12/12 ? Between 11.00am & 7.00pm
Please be extra vigilant. If you see anyone acting suspiciously in or around churches or see any suspicious looking vehicles in the area please call the police on 101 as soon as possible or call 999 for crime in progress. Try to obtain descriptions and vehicle details, including colour, make/model and registration number.
If you have any information relating to this message please call the police on the non-emergency telephone number 101 and state you are responding to a Thames Valley Alert message.
Alternatively if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online @ WWW.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
PHOTO: Courtesy of the Oxford City branch of Bell Ringers LINK
AS Thame and says ‘farewell’ to another very eventful year and welcomes in 2013, we’ve put together a review of 2012’s Thame news in pictures.
Click on the LINK HERE to see a full picture review of some of the main stories that hit the Thame headlines throughout 2012. Click on the picture to read the full caption.
IMAGE: Courtesy of Frank Millar
A LOCAL special needs Childrens’ Centre that was the chosen charity for this year’s Celebrity Mastermind Champion, Ken Bruce, was severely damaged by hard-hearted thieves over Christmas.
On December 29, 2012, callous thieves targeted the Thomley Activity Centre at Worminghall, near Thame, a recreational centre for disabled children who visit with their families, friends and schools.
Claire Ackworth, Thomley’s Director, told ThameNews: “Thomley is a lifeline to families with disabled children as there are so few centres which understand the many challenges that face them. Having caused significant damage to doors and cupboards looking for more valuable items, these un-Christmas spirited thieves found very little to steal and were clearly disappointed to find just children?s toys and play equipment.
“They caused a huge amount of mess through their thuggish approach using heavy objects to smash doors and glass. Although little was stolen, this break in has caused anger amongst both staff and visitors about the heartless attack on such a small children?s charity. Thomley has received many words of support from regular visitors such as ‘What is wrong with this world?’ ‘That’s really mean, who would target a centre designed for disabled kids and adults?’ “
Claire added: ?This break in has not only put a dampener on our Christmas, but on Thomley Activity Centre?s 10th anniversary celebrations. It also took the wind out of our sails as our Patron, Radio 2?s Ken Bruce, won Celebrity Mastermind to raise funds for our charity just the following day. We are however extremely grateful to all our supporters who have kindly offered to help clear up the mess or to replace stolen items. Most of the damage was to the fabric of the building and we are therefore not calling for donated goods.
“Being a small charity, we welcome any financial support, especially following such a tough economic year.”
If you would like to help, please donate via www.justgiving.com/thomleyhall/Donate,/a> or contact fundraising@thomleyhall.org
More information about Thomley Activity Centre
Thomley Activity Centre was launched in July 2002 by parents of children with autism. These parents found that their children were excluded from other play-schemes due to unavailability of appropriate activities and facilities, as well as their child?s considered inappropriate behaviour. These parents also observed the need to cater for the siblings of disabled children as they are often disadvantaged by the fact that attention is focused on the disabled child.
In response to their own experiences, they were eager to lessen the feeling of isolation in the challenges of bringing up disabled children.
Programme objectives
Fuelled by their own personal experiences, the founding Trustees established Thomley Activity Centre as a recreational and informal education facility for disabled children, their families, friends and schools. Its aim is to achieve the following outcomes.
? To increase self esteem, health, confidence, social and physical skills of disabled children, their siblings and friends through accessible play, recreation and informal education.
? To provide parents and carers with opportunities to meet others who have disabled children, to lessen their isolation and to increase their ability to support their children through play, recreation and access to information.
? To raise awareness amongst the community, to encourage understanding and acceptance of disability issues, and to increase ability to include disabled children within their own community activities.
Based in Worminghall, Thomley Activity Centre is the only fully accessible facility of its kind within a 35 mile radius. Set in 7 secure acres of countryside, Thomley offers a safe and supportive environment for disabled and non-disabled children to play together, have fun and grow in confidence. Facilities Include a 1km cycle track, outdoor play and music equipment, play rooms and a soft play area, a sensory room and an imagination area, art and craft and music activities. In 2011, a new teenage facility was launched which aims to enhance the social, early vocational, healthy living and life skills of disabled teenagers.
The uniqueness of the centre draws visitors from 22 different counties merely to access a facility which understands and meets the needs of disabled children. In the past 3 years, Thomley received over 17,165 visits by over 3,650 different children, with the majority coming from Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire.
AS Thame and says ‘farewell’ to another very eventful year and welcomes in 2013, we’ve put together a review of 2012’s Thame news in pictures.
Click on the LINK HERE to see a full picture review of some of the main stories that hit the Thame headlines throughout 2012. Click on the picture to read the full caption.
IMAGE: Courtesy of Frank Millar
A LOCAL special needs Childrens’ Centre that was the chosen charity for this year’s Celebrity Mastermind Champion, Ken Bruce, was severely damaged by hard-hearted thieves over Christmas.
On December 29, 2012, callous thieves targeted the Thomley Activity Centre at Worminghall, near Thame, a recreational centre for disabled children who visit with their families, friends and schools.
Claire Ackworth, Thomley’s Director, told ThameNews: “Thomley is a lifeline to families with disabled children as there are so few centres which understand the many challenges that face them. Having caused significant damage to doors and cupboards looking for more valuable items, these un-Christmas spirited thieves found very little to steal and were clearly disappointed to find just children?s toys and play equipment.
“They caused a huge amount of mess through their thuggish approach using heavy objects to smash doors and glass. Although little was stolen, this break in has caused anger amongst both staff and visitors about the heartless attack on such a small children?s charity. Thomley has received many words of support from regular visitors such as ‘What is wrong with this world?’ ‘That’s really mean, who would target a centre designed for disabled kids and adults?’ “
Claire added: ?This break in has not only put a dampener on our Christmas, but on Thomley Activity Centre?s 10th anniversary celebrations. It also took the wind out of our sails as our Patron, Radio 2?s Ken Bruce, won Celebrity Mastermind to raise funds for our charity just the following day. We are however extremely grateful to all our supporters who have kindly offered to help clear up the mess or to replace stolen items. Most of the damage was to the fabric of the building and we are therefore not calling for donated goods.
“Being a small charity, we welcome any financial support, especially following such a tough economic year.”
If you would like to help, please donate via www.justgiving.com/thomleyhall/Donate,/a> or contact fundraising@thomleyhall.org
More information about Thomley Activity Centre
Thomley Activity Centre was launched in July 2002 by parents of children with autism. These parents found that their children were excluded from other play-schemes due to unavailability of appropriate activities and facilities, as well as their child?s considered inappropriate behaviour. These parents also observed the need to cater for the siblings of disabled children as they are often disadvantaged by the fact that attention is focused on the disabled child.
In response to their own experiences, they were eager to lessen the feeling of isolation in the challenges of bringing up disabled children.
Programme objectives
Fuelled by their own personal experiences, the founding Trustees established Thomley Activity Centre as a recreational and informal education facility for disabled children, their families, friends and schools. Its aim is to achieve the following outcomes.
? To increase self esteem, health, confidence, social and physical skills of disabled children, their siblings and friends through accessible play, recreation and informal education.
? To provide parents and carers with opportunities to meet others who have disabled children, to lessen their isolation and to increase their ability to support their children through play, recreation and access to information.
? To raise awareness amongst the community, to encourage understanding and acceptance of disability issues, and to increase ability to include disabled children within their own community activities.
Based in Worminghall, Thomley Activity Centre is the only fully accessible facility of its kind within a 35 mile radius. Set in 7 secure acres of countryside, Thomley offers a safe and supportive environment for disabled and non-disabled children to play together, have fun and grow in confidence. Facilities Include a 1km cycle track, outdoor play and music equipment, play rooms and a soft play area, a sensory room and an imagination area, art and craft and music activities. In 2011, a new teenage facility was launched which aims to enhance the social, early vocational, healthy living and life skills of disabled teenagers.
The uniqueness of the centre draws visitors from 22 different counties merely to access a facility which understands and meets the needs of disabled children. In the past 3 years, Thomley received over 17,165 visits by over 3,650 different children, with the majority coming from Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire.
AS it’s a public holiday, there will not be a Tuesday market in Thame on January 1st.
The market will resume on the following Tuesday, January 8, 2013.