Category: Thame news

IN LINE with proposals by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, to change constituency boundaries around the country, a request from Thame Town Council to include ‘Thame’ in the constituency name, is being considered.

The Boundary Commssion is recommending that the constituency be renamed from just Henley to ‘Henley and Thame’ in a bid to reflect the significance of both market towns.

Thame Town Council’s first choice was Thame and Henley, with Henley and Thame being its second choice. Another option was ‘South East Oxfordshire’.

The Commission also proposes that the constituency takes in a number of villages currently in the Banbury constituency as well as Radley, which is currently in Oxford West and Abingdon. It has however, rejected a proposal to also include Blackbird Leys, a large estate in Oxford East, following criticism during the public consultation process.

All constituency boundaries are being reviewed in a bid to reduce the number of MPs. Each new constituency will have an electorate of between 95 and 105 per cent of the UK electoral quota of 76,641 electors.

Anyone who wants to comment on the proposals can do so up until December 5. See LINK

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision on the A418 at Haddenham on Friday afternoon (2/11).

At about 3.35pm, a blue Ford Focus, travelling towards Aylesbury, was in collision with a red and white Iveco recovery truck travelling in the opposite direction, on the A418 Aylesbury Road.

The driver of the Ford Focus, a 61-year-old woman from Hertfordshire, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the recovery truck, a man from Bedfordshire, was taken to Stoke Mandeville Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

The A418 was closed for about six hours following the collision so that an investigation could take place.

If you witnessed the collision or saw either of the two vehicles prior to the collision, please call PC Ryan Whiles, of the Joint Roads Policing Unit based at Milton Keynes, via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

THE emergency services are currently at the scene of a fatal car crash on the A418 near Haddenham and Thame Parkway station.

The collision happened at 3.36pm. The road and round-about close to the station is currently closed.

A CARER working at Thame’s residential home for the elderly, has won two special awards in recognition of his work there.

Scott Turvey, who works at Meadowcroft in Thame, took home The Orders of St Johns Trust Oxfordshire Staff Awards ‘Young Carer of the Year’ award, as well as the coveted ‘Oxfordshire Employee of the Year award.’

Scott was recgonised for his commitment to the wellbeing of the residents and his enthusiasm to progress within the home, and was presented with his awards by Tim Stevenson, Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire.

PHOTO: Scott Turvey with Tim Stevenson, Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, who presented the awards at Kings Centre in Osney Mead on October 11.

A man from Haddenham has pleaded guilty to drink driving while in possession of a loaded gun and a variety of controlled drugs.

Steven Bernard Ferguson, 41, was parked at the side of Longwick Road in Princes Risborough in July when he was approached by police officers. When breathalysed he was found to be almost three times over the legal drink-drive limit.

Two people had earlier reported a blue Audi being driven erratically around a car park by a driver who appeared to be in possession of a shotgun.

When the police searched Ferguson’s car, they found a loaded shotgun and controlled class A, B and C drugs morphine, codine, phenazepam, diazepam and temazepam.

When later searched at Wycombe Police Station, he was also found to have cocaine on his person. Police then seached his home at Runfurrow, Haddenham, where they discovered more cocaine, an air rifle and shot gun cartridges.

Ferguson pleaded guilty to a total of 12 charges at Aylesbury Magistrates Court, from where he was released on unconditional bail until sentencing, due to take place later this month.

PEOPLE living in the Thames Valley Police Force area will have the opportunity to vote for one of six candidates standing for election of a Thames Valley Police commissioner on November 15.

This brand new position will replace non-elected police authorities, which were made up of councillors and members of the public.

Each of the 41 police areas in England and Wales will have a commissioner, except London where the mayor oversees the Metropolitan Police Force.

The commissioners will be responsible for appointing the Chief Constable, setting the budget and deciding policing priorities for their force.

The government says commissioners will not be there to run forces on a day-to-day basis, but to hold them to account on behalf of the public.

In alphabetical order the candidates standing in the Thames Valley are Patience Tayo Awe (independent), Barry Cooper (UKIP), Geoff Howard (independent), John Orrell Howson (Liberal Democrat), Anthony Stansfeld (Conservative) and Tim Starkey (Labour).

For more information about each of the candidates, CLICK HERE

VIEW the video of the recent hustings in Aylesbury

PHOTO: Courtesy of www.bbc.co.uk – TOP L to R: Patience Tayo Awe (independent), Barry Cooper (UKIP), Geoff Howard (independent), BOTTOM L to R: John Orrell Howson (Liberal Democrat), Anthony Stansfeld (Conservative) and Tim Starkey (Labour)

EX pupils from Lord Williams’s school and regulars at The Three Horseshoes pub in Towersey, may have recognised a familiar face on TV this week, when a young man from Thame appeared on the Channel 4 quiz, Countdown.

David Boyle, whose mum is Sue Boyle, the most well-know quiz mistress in Thame, won his first game but then was narrowly beaten in the second in a Crucial Countdown Conundrum.

David is currently in his final year studying English at Swansea University and in the holidays, works at The Three Horseshoes in Towersey. To earn his place on the show, David had to apply months ago and had to go through an audition, as well as taking part in a test game where he beat eight other hopefuls.

David told ThameNews: ?Nick Hewer was very authoritative, even off camera when he was introducing himself to the audience or contestants. It was a very strange experience having all the lights and cameras around and going into make-up, but that was easier because we shared the room with Rachel! (Riley)

“Everyone loved the fact that five of my ‘uni’ mates drove up to Manchester to support me, even if they were slightly rowdier than the average Countdown viewer!

“It was a great experience, but I wish I had done a bit better – the nerves got to me!?

And what was the crucial conundrum that ‘did’ for David?

CITEDAVID ? (weirdly including his name!) And the solution is of course (easy when you’re not under the pressures of being in a TV studio with possibly hundreds of thousands of viewers looking in!) ADDICTIVE

David buzzed in with one minute to spare and admitted he had no idea, but as he said: “It would be a shame to waste the buzzer!?

SOMETIME between Tuesday (16/10) and Thursday (18/10) a property in Priest End, Thame, was burgled. It is believed entry was gained by either an insecure door or an upstairs window that had been left open. Four rings were stolen from a bedroom draw.

If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area, or have any information relating to this message, please call the police on the new national single non-emergency telephone number 101 and state you are responding to a Community message.

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.

SOURCE: Thames Valley Police Community Alert

A burglary to a garden shed has been reported on Willis Road, Haddenham, between midnight and 7am today (29 October). Offenders forced the lock on the shed and stole tools and a generator from inside.

Officers dealing with this crime would like to hear from anyone that might have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area between the times given. If you have any information please call the 24 hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

Further information and advice on protecting sheds and outbuildings can be found on our website www.thamesvalley.police.uk or by calling on 101.

SOURCE: Neighbourhood Alert from Thames Valley Police, Aylesbury

WITH Halloween fast approaching, the police are reminding people to make sure they spend their time trick or treating responsibly:

“Last year, Thames Valley Police recorded the highest level of crime on Halloween compared with any other single day across the rest of the year. There was also a significant rise in urgent calls to the Police Enquiry Centre in 2011. Although Halloween always shows a peak in calls, last year showed the highest levels in five years.

Across the force, 526 crimes were recorded on Halloween last year. The majority of these crimes were theft or handling stolen goods offences and criminal damage.

There will be Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), Special Constables and police officers on late shifts, to be able to cope with the demand Halloween brings, but also to act as a visible deterrent to anyone looking to commit crime or anti-social behaviour.

Tim De Meyer, Head of Neighbourhood Policing and Partnerships said: ?I know for some people, this time of year can be unsettling as your evenings are interrupted with people knocking on your doors for treats.

?Most of these children or teenagers are just getting involved in the Halloween celebrations and will be friendly.

?Your neighbourhood team will be carrying out patrols in the evenings to make sure people who are trick or treating are doing so in a friendly manner and not causing a nuisance.?

Halloween can be a lot of fun and we are not opposed to people wanting to have a good time, but keep in mind that it can be unsettling for some. Residents who would rather not be bothered by trick or treaters this Halloween can download and print a ?No trick or treat? flier and display it in a window.

We would like to encourage all parents, if they have children who will be going out on Halloween night, to recognise this flier and if they see it displayed in a window to move on to the next house.

We will also be encouraging people to watch our ?Click Your Trick? film which highlights the consequences of anti-social behaviour. The film features a teenager who was convicted of arson after he and his friend put a firework through a family home as a prank in 2008. The prank went horribly wrong with the firework setting the house on fire causing damage to the house. Luckily nobody was seriously injured.

We want everybody to have fun during Halloween and Bonfire night, but don?t want children and teenagers to be influenced by others into doing things that may seem minor at the time. Please remember, your actions could have a massive impact on not only people inside their house but to your life as well.

If you are trick or treating this year:

Don?t knock where you see a ?No Trick or Treat? poster
Be visible and stick to well lit streets
Don?t enter any house
Although Halloween is meant to be spooky, be careful not to frighten people
Plan your trick or treat route before you go and let an adult know where you?ll be going and what time you will be back
Go with an adult when possible
If at any point you do feel nervous or unsafe:

Don?t open your door if you?re unsure who is there. Use your spy-hole, look out of a window, and use your door chain if you do decide to open your door.
Have a contact number of a close relative or good neighbour by your telephone, just in case you need to phone them.
if you are part of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, let your coordinator know that you will be on your own at Halloween. If you are a coordinator, please identify people in your scheme that may be vulnerable and offer them reassurance.
Thames Valley Police will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour at any time of the year.”

To report anti-social behaviour call the 24 hour non emergency number 101. If it is a crime in progress, call 999 immediately.