Category: Thame news

THAME Town Council has called a special meeting of its full council, following its receipt of Sainsbury’s planning application to build a large supermarket on the Cattlemarket site.

In a statement today, the council said: “Due to the huge impact such an application could have on the town, a special Full Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 6, at 7.30pm. This will enable all Councillors to consider and vote on the application, rather than just the Planning & Environment Committee.

“Their recommendation will then go to South Oxfordshire District Council, the Planning Authority.”

Thame Town Council has been given an extension until 19 March to return comments to SODC, not February 20, as originally specified. (Ed. BUT February 20, is the cut off date for comments from anyone else!!)

View the Plans on line:
www.southoxon.gov.uk/ccm/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ApplicationDetails&REF=P11/E2086

Hard copies of the Sainsbury’s plans are available for the public to view in the Information Centre at the Town Hall.

[M 31/01/054] THIS is a Community Message from Thames Valley Police sent on behalf of the Director of the 2011 Census, Glen Watson:

Email Scam

We are aware that an email entitled ‘Population Census: a message to everyone – act now’ is being circulated, allegedly in the name of National Statistician, Jil Matheson. This email demands individuals provide further personal information, supposedly for the Census and threatens fines for non-compliance.

This email is a scam and a hoax. It has no connection whatsoever with the National Statistician, the 2011 Census or the Office for National Statistics.

We believe the links in the email could download malware to any computer where the user clicks on the links. This could put your personal data, including financial information, at risk.

Anyone receiving this, or similar emails, should delete them, not open any links and certainly not provide any information.

For more information on how to protect yourself from this type of threat, please see /www.getsafeonline.org

If you wish to, please report receipt of any such suspicious emails to www.actionfraud.org.uk

ONS takes the protection of personal census information extremely seriously. Collection of census data was completed last year and no further requests will be forthcoming from the Office for National Statistics relating to the 2011 Census.

Message Ends.

A Business plan showing possible alternative, sustainable development on the Thame Cattlemarket site, other than a supermarket, has the support of Thame Town Councillors.

At a recent meeting (14/01) between the Cattlemarket Action Group, Cmag, town councillors and Tibbalds who are helping draw up a Thame Town Plan, it was revealed that the independent Tibbalds feedback exercise had demonstrated that residents did not want Sainsbury?s, and that a large community space was required.

It was agreed that if a feasibility study for mixed use development on the Cattle Market site and a viable business plan for a new community facility could be produced for the site, it would really help to support what the Town Plan is able to say about the site.

Hilary Satchwell, Tibbalds Urban Design (in the Chair), pointed out that the existing Local Plan did not allow for a supermarket on the Cattle Market site, and the retail study said there was no need for one, adding that evidence nonetheless was helpful.

The meeting notes state that it was recognised that SODC (Ed. who own the site and currently lease it to The Cattle market operators) would be looking for the best financial return, and if a viable business plan was available it might show SODC that there were other options. If Sainsbury?s did not get planning approval then they (SODC) would have to look at other approaches for the site. (Ed. The lease runs out in 16 years time)

The ten Councillors present, including the Mayor David Bretherton, were very keen that a feasibility study/business plan should be produced and that this (or an outline of it) should ideally fit in with the timescales of the Town Plan. It was suggested that the matter should be placed on the January 31, Culture, Leisure & Recreation Committee agenda and the Cllr Bretherton said that he would discuss it with the clerk on her return from holiday. (Ed. To date, it is not on the agenda)

INCLUDES CORE STRATEGY LATEST: DESPITE being taken ill during an afternoon ministerial visit elsewhere, Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Minister of State for Communities and Local Government, dropped into Thame last night to see how Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan was progressing.

Mr Clark, accompanied by Thame’s MP, John Howell, met some of the key contributors to Thame?s Neighbourhood Plan project, including councillors of various levels and representatives from local community and residents’ groups. The evening included short presentations and a chance for guests to ask questions.

Unfortunately Mr Clark did not feel up to a press call after the meeting, which was only open to an invited audience.

John Howell is Greg Clark’s Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) and was involved in the production of the policy document ?Open Source Planning?, much of which became the foundation for the Localism Bill.

Thame Town Council said: “Thame is one of a few towns selected as a front runner for Neighbourhood Planning and this visit gave the Minister an opportunity to observe Neighbourhood Planning in action and to engage with, and learn from, the people involved at grass roots level.”

LATEST: Thame Neighbourhood Plan and the Core Strategy

THE Core Strategy Examiner (due to announce his full conclusions in February) has indicated his intention to rule that site allocations for proposed housing development in Thame should be determined by the people of Thame through the Neighbourhood Plan. His latest report states:

“The Neighbourhood Plan for Thame will allocate land for 775 new homes on land selected through that process as the most appropriate and sustainable. If Thame Neighbourhood Plan (TNP) has not been adopted by April 01, 2014, the reserve site (site F) would be released for 400 homes and the balance of Thame?s allocation of 775 homes would then be identified either through the Neighbourhood Plan or a Site Allocations DPD.

“The reserve site referred to above is intended only as a contingency measure to ensure a 5-year housing supply if the TNP is not adopted by April 01, 2014. Unless it becomes necessary to invoke this provision TNP will be free to distribute the required number
of allocations at Thame among such selected sites as may be deemed most appropriate and sustainable.

** ED. The above section of the Inspector’s report as been amended (28/01) following a challenge to its legality from those with interests in Site D. This section now reads:

“According to the current programme and expectations, Thame Neighbourhood Plan (TNP) should be adopted in plenty of time to avoid a hiatus in land supply even if adoption were to be delayed considerably beyond its original programmed date.

“Although I was previously inclined to agree with SODC that inclusion of a contingency/reserve allocation could mitigate any negative effects arising from failure to adopt TNP by April 2014, any such action needs to be proportionate to the degree of risk. The NP process appears to have been widely welcomed and there is no evidence to suggest that TNP will not succeed in reaching timely adoption. Nor has there been any opportunity to discuss the need for, or the form and scope of, any contingency measure. I therefore reach the revised conclusion that, in relation to the risk, it is unnecessary and inappropriate to include the requested contingency
measure: in short, the CS (Core Strategy) would not be unsound without one. The District Council will be closely engaged at all stages of the NP process and would have the opportunity, in accordance with policy CSC1, to consider the implications for land supply and the way that any likely future shortfall should be addressed in the (currently unlikely) event that the TNP did not make progress as reasonably expected.” ** END OF AMENDMENT

“Provision of additional housing will help to support the town centre?s attraction in relation to nearby centres and maintain Thame?s services and facilities.

The overall strategy is to provide 775 additional houses to 2027 on sites selected by a neighbourhood plan.

“The selected sites will need to have a form and character which meet identified needs and be planned comprehensively in accordance with agreed design briefs reflecting policies CSQ1-4 and other relevant policies in the Local Development Framework. The developments should avoid building on areas of land within flood zones 2 and 3, provide safe pedestrian and cycle links to the town centre, and make provision (or provide contributions towards) such necessary supporting infrastructure as is set out in the infrastructure delivery plan.”

PHOTO: The Minister (left) with Thame’s Mayor David Bretherton (centre) and John Howell MP

FOLLOWING the huge success of last year’s Thame Tidy Day, when phone boxes were painted, bus stops cleaned, benches repaired, weeds from gutters removed, hedges trimmed and pathways cleared, as well as the whole town being blitzed of litter, plans are now under way to repeat the event.

Cllr Adam Buckland, the proprietor of Brothers Hair Salon in the town, set the ball rolling last year when he was Mayor.

Adam said today: “The date has been set for Sunday, March 25, and I am trying to arrange a meeting in the near future to get everyone involved together to recap on last year and see if anyone has any ideas to make this year’s event even bigger and better!
olu or your community group would like to take part and also if you know of any other groups who would like to be involved?

“I’ll then send out a few dates of possible meeting times (last year me met on a Monday around 6pm.)

“Onwards and upwards!”

You can contact Adam by email: adambuck1@aol.com

PHOTO: Adam Buckland and the team survey the rubbish collected during last year’s Thame Tidy Day

A man who admitted breaking into two Thame shops and stealing a total of

A prolific distraction burglar who targeted hundreds of vulnerable elderly people has been sent to prison for nine years.

William Vinson, 59, of Cotswold Terrace, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, committed more than 100 distraction burglaries, many of them in the Thame area, including Chinnor, Brill, Haddenham, Worminghall, Cuddington, as well as Thame itself.

Sentencing him on Friday at Oxford Crown Court, Judge Anthony King said he recognised the distress caused to his victims, many of whom have since died.

At a previous hearing in December last year, Recorder Andrew McCooey, had told Vinson: ?You are a vile, despicable person preying on these vulnerable victims. Goodness knows what untold damage you have done to these people.?

Detective Ch/Insp Paul Hayles from Oxfordshire?s Force Crime unit said: ?This type of crime is something that we are particularly focussed on, due to the effect it can have on raising the fear of crime in vulnerable communities.

?A joint operation was formed with a team of detectives which ensured that every opportunity for evidence regarding offences of this type was explored.?

The operation to catch Vinson was named Operation Strident, led by CID officers from Thames Valley Police, in partnership with Wiltshire Police and Operation Liberal, a national police unit which co-ordinates the investigation of distraction burglaries.

They were assisted by support from neighbouring forces in the region. Detective Inspector Mark Johns, who co-ordinated the investigation, said: ?The type of crime carried out by William Vinson is utterly contemptible and among the most upsetting for victims to come to terms with.

?He targeted the most vulnerable people in society, pretending to be a new friendly neighbour or a workman from one of the utility services in order to gain their trust.

?Once he had done so, he stole cash and valuables, destroying lives and causing distress and misery in order to benefit himself.

?Some of the victims have since died and others will never live independently again as a result of what he did to them.

?I am pleased that the sentence reflects the distress caused to his victims and I hope this goes some way to bringing them a sense of justice.?

Det Sgt Craig Burchall, who also worked on the case, said: ?It was notable that there were a large number of foiled burglaries where the victim refused to open the door or phoned a friendly neighbour or close relative when Vinson called.

?Even the threat of a neighbour coming round was sometimes enough to scare this man off. By their very nature, many distraction burglars are cowards and do not want to be confronted by anyone other than the weak and vulnerable. If you live near someone who you think could be a target for distraction burglars, please give them your number and let them call you if they are in doubt.

?And for everyone, the message is simple; if you are not sure, don?t open the door.?

A full list of towns and villages in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire where Vinson committed his crimes is available below:

East Hagbourne, Didcot

Sutton Courteney

Drayton, Abingdon

Radley, Abingdon

Steventon, Abingdon

Harwell, Didcot

Drayton, Abingdon

Grove, Wantage

Faringdon

Shrivenham

Chinnor

Benson, Wallingford

Berinsfield, Wallingford

Benson, Wallingford

Sonning Common

Thame

Brill, Aylesbury

Marsh Gibbon, Bicester

Haddenham, Aylesbury

Adstock

Cublington, Leighton Buzzard, Bucks

Hardwick, Aylesbury

Longville, Milton Keynes

Winslow, Buckingham

Worminghall, Aylesbury

Nash, Milton Keynes

Cuddington, Thame

Nash, Milton Keynes

Brill, Aylesbury

Highfield Bicester

Fringford Bicester

Emberton Olney

Hampstead Norreys, Thatcham

Wickham, Newbury

Upper Basildon, Reading

Yattendon.

Southmoor, Abingdon

Hanslope, Milton Keynes

THE Manager of the Oxfam Book Shop in Thame said this morning that the day had “a nice warm feeling” to it, after a customer walked into the shop and purchased a signed copy of a book by Conan Doyle.

As reported on ThameNews.Net on Wednesday (18/01) LINK the signed copy of ‘White Company’ was found with others in the series in a box of donated volumes.

The same customer bought one of the other remaining titles and an on-line buyer purchaser, a single title.

PHOTO: The Manager of the Oxfam Book shop in Thame

REPRESENTATIVES from Thame’s town partnership celebrated the shared success of the Oxfordshire Small Rural Towns programme on Tuesday, which included the Thame Loyalty Card scheme, the Blue Plaques project and the shop fronts improvement scheme.

The event was hosted by ORCC (Oxfordshire Rutal Community Council)which supported the programme, and held at Carterton community Centre which itself was an OSRT project.

Sonja Francis, currently the Chair of the Economic working group (Thame4Business) of the 21st Century Thame Partnership, said: “It was very interesting to review what has been achieved by Thame and the other three South Oxfordshire market towns in the programme, and to discuss what we have learned from the experience.

“The Thame contingent, Alison Isherwood (Market Town Co-ordinator), Town Cllrs Helena Fickling and Mary Stiles, and myself, came away feeling very proud of what Thame had achieved.

“All four towns are now looking for possible funding streams and support from their local authorities to help enhance the prospects of our market towns into the future.”

The invited delegates included the volunteers from each market town who had seen the projects through to fruition and the Town Clerks of Wallingford, Faringdon and Carterton who had helped steer their towns through the process.

PHOTO: L to R: Alison Isherwood, Caroline Wood (SODC), Mary Stiles, Sue Scott (ORCC), Valerie Carter (SEEDA)and Helena Fickling

[M 18/01/029] THIS is a Community Message from Thames Valley Police. Crime Series ? Theft from vehicles: FURTHER incidents have been reported of theft from vehicles in the Thame area. Offender(s) have mainly been targeting vans to steal tools, most offences have occurred overnight. Recent thefts have taken place in Lewknor, Little Milton and Montrose Way, Thame.

The police will be putting on extra patrols and are asking anyone living or working in the area to be extra vigilant and please report any suspicious looking people or vehicles as soon as possible. Try to obtain vehicle details including make, model and registration number and description of any occupants if possible without putting yourself at any risk.

If you 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 Ringmaster message or call 999 for crime in progress.

Alternatively if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Message Ends.