AFTER months of hanging in funding limbo, Thame and District Day Centre can breathe easier after learning that is has been granted some interim funding from Oxfordshire Social Services.
Brenda Prosser, Chair of the day centre’s Trustees, said: “We have been given a transitional grant for
FOLLOWING the news that a Sainsbury’s superstore is being proposed to be built on the site of Thame Cattlemarket, a petition/cause has been launched on Facebook at:
A MAN from Haddenham and another from Wheatley are among six men charged today after 22 warrants were carried out in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire following a police operation on Tuesday (01/03).
Officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) arrested a total of 17 people in Tuesday’s raids. The six men have all been charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine) and conspiracy to conceal, dispose, convert or transfer criminal property, under section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. They are:
Roy Davis, aged 62, from Franklin Close, Haddenham
Roland Yeates, aged 49, from Holton, Wheatley
Nicholas Dean, aged 45, from Roman Way, Bicester
Jason Dean, aged 43, from Ash Grove, Headington
Nathan Reddy, aged 46, from Radcliffe Road, Iffley, Oxford
Andrew Layden Essex, aged 50, from Balfour Road, Blackbird Leys
All six were due to appear at Milton Keynes Magistrates? Court this morning (3/3).
The other 11 people arrested have either been released on police bail or cautioned:
A 23-year-old man arrested from Windmill Lane, Wheatley, on suspicion of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply has been bailed until 4 April.
A 28-year-old man, arrested from Worminghall on suspicion of conspiracy with intent to supply, has been bailed until 4 April.
A 51-year-old woman from Holton, Wheatley, arrested on suspicion of permitting premises to be used to supply controlled drugs has been bailed until 24 March.
A 43-year-old man arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs from Rutten lane, Yarnton, has been bailed until 29 March.
A 42-year-old man arrested from Burgan Close, Cowley, on suspicion of possession class A and B drugs has been given a caution.
A 42-year-old man arrested from Wootton on suspicion of possession of a firearm and possession of class B drugs has been bailed until 29 March.
A 32-year-old woman arrested from Ferry Road, Marston, on suspicion of possession of class A and B drugs has been given a caution.
A 30-year-old man arrested from Ferry Road, Marston, on suspicion of possession of class A and B drugs has been given a caution.
A 42-year-old woman arrested from Radcliffe Road, Iffley, on suspicion of conspiracy to supply drugs and money laundering has been released on bail until 31 March.
A 38-year-old woman, arrested from Roman Way, Bicester, on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and money laundering has been bailed until 4 April.
A 28-year-old woman, arrested from Ash Grove, Headington, on suspicion of being concerned with the supply of class A drugs and money laundering has been bailed until 4 April.
SOURCE: Press release
A PLAN for a new superstore on Thame’s cattlemarket is set to reignite controversy in the town.
In a statement, the supermarket giant, Sainsbury’s have said: “Sainsbury?s is bringing forward plans for a new foodstore at the site of Thame Cattle Market which would facilitate the relocation of the Market to Thame Showground.
“The operators of the Cattle Market have already secured planning permission for a new Market at the Showground as relocation is crucial to its future. The agreement with Sainsbury?s to develop the existing North Street site would enable the relocation to happen and thereby secure the future of the Cattle Market in the town.”
Sainsbury?s Development Executive Andrew Sanderson said: ?Our High Street store which opened last year has proved to be popular but its size means that the range of goods that we can offer customers is limited.
?Many residents currently leave the town to undertake their main food shopping. A new, larger Sainsbury?s on the Cattle Market site with increased shopper car parking would help to retain trade in the town and underpin the vibrancy of the town centre.?
A MODERN CATTLEMARKET ‘VITALLY IMPORTANT’
Brian Lloyd, Chairman of Thame Cattle Market said: ?The Cattle Market is vitally important to the town and the rural economy in this area. We need to move to a new facility in order to meet the requirements of modern farming, including increased bio-security and animal welfare standards. The agreement with Sainsbury?s will secure the future of the Cattle Market in Thame and is an opportunity that we cannot afford to miss.?
Martin Hector, Thame Show Chairman said: ?The relocation of the Cattle Market to the Showground will create a synergy that will benefit the local agricultural industry and help support the future of the Thame Show.?
FITNESS CENTRE REASSURED
Racquets Fitness Centre, which is based in the Cattlemarket, said in a message to its members yesteday, that Sainsbury’s has taken up a conditional agreement with all of the leaseholders on the cattlemarket, including them, to buy the site.
Reassuring its members, Racaquets said: “As you will all be aware, we have recently been investing in the facilities at the club and this investment will continue. The granting of planning permission is not a foregone conclusion so it will be business as usual for us at Racquet’s until then.
“If the sale of Racquet’s at the cattlemarket does go through it is our intention to relocate, and we have already identified two potential sites and have had preliminary discussions with the site owners.”
AGAINST THE LOCAL PLAN
Thame Town Council’s response to the plan is unequivocal: “Town Council has pointed out that such a proposal is against South Oxfordshire District Council?s current Local Plan. The Plan states that food supermarkets should be excluded from any development at the Cattle Market site (Policy THA1). The policy also identifies ?mixed-use development? for the site, which could include community facilities with ?assembly and leisure uses?.
“Just as the Town Council considered it to be essential that residents were made fully aware of the repercussions of SODC?s Core Strategy, so it believes that the views of local people must be heard on this issue. The Council will hold Initial discussions with representatives of community groups next week, in line with its desire to represent the needs of the community now and in the future. The Council itself is keeping an open mind at this stage.
“The land in question on North Street is owned by South Oxfordshire District Council. This means that any agreement with Sainsbury?s, as to the cessation of the Cattle Market?s tenancy and the subsequent sale of the land at North Street, would be their decision. The District Council is also the Planning Authority and, as such, makes the final decision on planning applications.”
Sainsbury’s says that at this stage, the plan is only at the conceptual stage and that no planning application will be submitted until after their Public Consultation.
SINCE its launch last month, the VisitMidsomer website, which focuses on visitor opportunities to the many locations in our area used in the popular TV series, has made a real impact.
Its blogger and twitter additions have attracted a wide and growing audience and interaction and the trails, including one that takes in Thame, have attracted wide attention. As well as the local media, the Guardian is following visitmidsomer on Twitter and now The Express is sending along a reporter who will stay in Thame and Wallingford while she trys the trails for herself and writes about her experiencea.
The Express’s Catherine Cooper picked up on the Midsomer Murders Trail and will be spending a night in Moulsford (just outside Wallingford) and at the Spread Eagle Hotel in Thame. She will be visiting all three of South Oxfordshire’s market towns as part of her tour and her piece in the Travel section of The Express is expected to hit the news stands sometime in March/April – perfect timing as all the district’s attractions are opening and the weather is improving just in time to show off what Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire has to offer to potential visitors.
Many local businesses have been very generous with their time and hosting offers, including Frazer Hamilton, GM at The Thatch Restaurant and The James Figg in Thame. The Midsomer Murders angle is really catching the eye of local, national and soon to be international (watch this space) coverage.
PHOTO: Rumsey’s Chocolaterie in Upper High Street, Thame, temporarily transformed into a camera shop for an episode of Midsomer Murders.
FOLLOWING an intelligence led police operation early this mroning, Thames Valley Police has arrested 17 people across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire this morning (1/3), including seven from the Thame area.
The warrants were carried out under the Misuse of Drugs Act at the following addresses:
Franklin Close, Haddenham
Holton, Wheatley
The Avenue, Worminghall
Windmill Lane, Wheatley
Two addresses in Cuddesdon Road, Horspath
Church Road, Wheatley
Old London Road, Wheatley
Arncott Road, Murcott
Roman Way, Bicester
Ash Grove, Headington
Monument Business Park, Chalgrove
Radcliffe Road, Oxford
Townsend Square, Oxford
Balfour Road, Blackbird Leys
London Road, Headington
Rutten Lane, Yarnton
Burgan Close, Cowley
Wootton Road, Wootton
Randolph Avenue, Woodstock
Ferry Road, Marston
Banbury Road, Woodstock
The warrants issued related to suspicion of various offences, including conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply and money laundering.
Officers recovered class A and class B controlled drugs (cocaine and cannabis), cash, and a CS gas canister.
Det Supt David Poole, who led the operation, said: ?Today?s arrests are the culmination of an extensive investigation by Thames Valley Police. We will take any action necessary to stop the supply of illegal and dangerous drugs, which cause so much harm to our communities. My message is if you are involved in selling illegal drugs we will be coming to get you next.?
Ch Supt Brendan O?Dowda, Oxfordshire BCU Commander, said: ?The impact of organised crime syndicates is significant on a regional and local level. Their illegal activities not only create crime and misery but causes drug addiction amongst our young and most vulnerable people. It threatens the safety and cohesiveness of our diverse and vibrant communities in Oxford. Today?s activity is evidence that we are working hard to protect our public from drug related crime and that we are putting the organised criminal and crime syndicates firmly on the back foot.?
SOURCE: Press release
PHOTO: For illustrative purposes only
AT a recent court hearing at Oxford Magistrates Court, Simon Hill, 27, of Windmill Road, Towersey, near Thame, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm in Thame, on November 13, 2010.
He was sentenced to 50 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay
THAT great British tradition, the street party, will no doubt be a feature of the coming celebrations for the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William, and South Oxfordshire District Council has helpfully come up with some guidance for organisers, including how to go about getting a road closure.
The royal wedding on April 29, 2011, is a great chance to get out with your neighbours into your traffic-free street to celebrate.
The council’s advice page on the website also includes links to all the application forms you may need for a road closure and an Events Licence.
Key deadline dates for forms:
Road closure application forms – seven weeks before the event (Week ending 11 March for event on 29 April)
Temporary event notices – deadline 12 April.
Sharing alcoholic drinks with your neighbours at a private party does not require a licence. However, if you want to sell alcohol or provide entertainment for up to 499 people (such as live music, showing a film, performing dance), you will need to apply for a temporary event notice (TEN) for your street party. This costs
A King Charles spaniel that went missing while she was being clipped in Great Haseley, near Thame, back in November, has been returned to her rightful owner after being discovered in Bedfordshire!
It transpired that Ruby, whose owner lives in Little Milton, had apparently escaped from a Travellers’ camp in Bedfordshire yesterday and ran in front of a police car. She was picked up by officers and her true ownership discovered when her micro chip was scanned at a rescue centre.
A family of Travellers tried to claim Ruby, saying that they had bought her from another Traveller. A police investigation is under way, following a spate of dog thefts.
THAME Town Council is inviting community organisations working for the benefit of residents to apply for a grant.
Applications for grants intended to improve the range of activities and services in Thame must be received by 30 April 2011. Please note the earlier deadline this year.
Application Forms are available from Thame Town Hall or from the Council?s website: www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk.
They must be completed in full and include information on what your organisation does, how it benefits Thame and the amount of funding requested.
When returning your completed application, please include a copy of your constitution, annual accounts for the last two financial years and a signed copy of the Declaration at the back of the form.
If you have any queries or would like forms posted to you, please contact 01844 212833 or e-mail oss@thametowncouncil.gov.uk.
SOURCE: Press release