Category: Thame news

OXFORDSHIRE’S Domestic Abuse services are supporting a national campaign to end violence against women and children.

The campaign, which is being led by the Department of Health, will be launched tomorrow on White Ribbon Day (25/11), the International day for the elimination of violence against women and will continue until December 10.

Information will be available across Oxfordshire, in GP surgeries, health centres, district and county council offices and police stations to raise awareness of the help and support that?s on hand for those affected by violence.

Victims may suffer from more than one form of abuse, including rape, sexual harassment and exploitation, human trafficking, forced marriage, domestic abuse, and crimes in the name of honour. The impact on children and young people is particularly severe.

Det Ch Insp Paul Gration, the Protecting Vulnerable People lead for Oxfordshire, said: ?White Ribbon Day is another opportunity to raise awareness of both domestic abuse and violence towards women and children. There is some fantastic work going on across the country by a number of agencies, but Oxfordshire as a partnership should be particularly proud of the work they have done to date.

?Thames Valley Police is committed to encouraging victims to come forward, supporting them through the criminal justice process and working with them to help manage the risks to both adults and children affected. We will continue to work with our partners in both the public and voluntary sectors in supporting this agenda.?

Michelle Plaisted-Kerr, Oxfordshire?s Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator, said: ?There is a whole range of services to support those affected by domestic abuse, including a local helpline 0800 731 0055 (10am to 4pm), and our website www.amiabused.com which provides support and advice for those affected by all forms of abuse and professionals working with them.?

Services for domestic abuse also include outreach support, refuges, the independent Domestic Abuse Advisory Service for high-risk victims, specialist police domestic violence units, and a network of over 600 trained domestic abuse champions in local organisations including district councils, health centres and schools, who provide a one-stop shop for both adults and children.

Romy Briant, Independent Chair of the Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Strategic Group said: ?This is a national priority. The Coalition Government is committed to preventing violence against women and children happening or recurring, to protect and support its victims and bring offenders to justice. During the campaign, the Government will outline its vision for tackling violence.

?Abuse is much more common than you think; don?t blame yourself; you are not alone, you don?t have to suffer in silence. Calls to the Oxfordshire helpline won?t appear on your phone bill, and you can access the website www.amiabused.com for advice and information.?

The cost of services of domestic abuse in this county is

THE market town of Thame has proved yet again that Thame really has got talent – in abundance!

Thirty two acts, including dancers, a variety of bands from metal, heavy rock, funk, indie and pop, solo singers of all types and ages, a percussionist, a virtuoso guitarist and two excellent magicians, performed to such a high standard, that the judges, Adam Buckland, Mayor of Thame, Peter Denton, presenter from Mix 96, Lindsey Fealey from the Florence Nightingale Hopsice, Sonja Francis, editor of ThameNews.Net and Producer and DJ, Justin Shardlow, were presented with a real challenge to decide on the winners of the three prizes on offer.

Classical singer, Rowan Carter, aged 15, scooped first prize with a spine-tingling performance of Odel Mio Dolche Adore, to a crowd of over 200 people, and was presented with

THE controversial document that will determine where 530 new homes will be built in Thame in the next 16 years, has been approved by South Oxfordshire District Council’s Cabinet.

Representations were made by Mr Ray Powell and Mr Roger Cooper from Thame, who both spoke against the choice of Site F, Mr Smallman, who spoke on behalf of the landowner of site B, east of Thame, Helena Fickling of Moreton, who supported moving Lord Williams’s lower school up to site F, David Hignall, Land Agent for the owner of site F, and two speakers representing Banner Homes, in support of site D.

Councillors voted according to the recommendations of their Scrutiny committee to recommend the Core Strategy to full council, tomorrow, November 18, including the inclusion of site F, for Thame.

The full Webcast of last night’s Cabinet meeting, including the full statements made by the speakers from Thame, can be seen at: LINK

NB There is a slider to enable the viewer to move forward and back to different points in the webcast.

NNB to view all previous news stories on this item, put Core Strategy in the Search box (top right)

THE Oxfam Bookshop in Thame, soon to celebrate its 10th anniversary in the town, has raised

HEREis the latest Thame neighbourhood update from Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Diane JACKSON and PCSO Lucy THORNE, for November 2010.

Crime Info:
Crime mapping shows an increase in Burglary from 4.3 to 6.3 between the period of July-Sept 2009 and the same period for 2010. This is a 46.2 percent increase. We are fully aware of the types of crime that Thame are currently targeted by. To tackle Serious Acquisitive Crime, we deploy the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) device at key points to target travelling criminals coming into our area. We hope this will deter/prevent criminal activity on our areas.

We also visit vulnerable/elderly residents regularly to offer crime reduction advice, by calling into coffee mornings and conducting home visits. We also continue to carry out high visibility patrols.

More information on the above crime types can be found on the Thames Valley Police website under local crime mapping www.thamesvalley.police.uk

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Info:
During October, we have had no alcohol seizures in Thame and no Section 59 warnings have been issued by Thame PCSOs. Section 59?s are a useful method for us to stop vehicles being used in an anti-social way. If the individual is caught they are issued with a Section 59 warning; this applies to the person and the vehicle, so if caught again we can seize the vehicle involved or any other vehicle that driver may be driving, under section 165 of the Road Traffic Act.

PCSO JACKSON and PCSO THORNE are working closely with families where there are ASB issues and Anti-Social Behaviour Contracts are currently being drawn up for two individuals. Warning letters are also being issued to other young people who have been associated with ASB issues.

PCSO JACKSON and PCSO THORNE are participating in Operation Munitions. This involves carrying out highly visible foot/cycle patrols and patrols in marked vehicles and responding to incidents relating to Halloween and Fireworks Night. We were pleased with how smoothly Halloween passed with no reports of ASB. We worked closely with supermarkets and other businesses to ensure that the sale of eggs and flour was monitored.

Community Messaging
This free service provides information to subscribers about crime and police activity in their area via phone or email. It also includes information on what we and our partner services are doing to bring offenders to justice or combat anti-social behaviour, and information on opportunities for local residents to raise concerns with their local policing teams.
More information can be obtained via our website, and you can sign up here too:
http://www.tvpcommunitymessaging.org/rmwebportal/startup.aspx.

Offenders brought to justice:
In October, there have been 19 offenders brought to justice including:-

? 1 Public Decency/Public Nuisance
? 6 Theft not Classified
? 3 Assault without Injury
? 1 Drug Possession not Cannabis
? 2 Drug Possession for Cannabis
? 1 Criminal Damage to other buildings
? 1 Grievous Bodily Harm
? 1 Actual Bodily Harm
? 2 Shoplifting
? 1 Obscene Publication

We are currently dealing with a young boy in Thame who has admitted to writing the graffiti on John Hampden School premises.

Comments on all priorities:
The Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) priority for Thame is:

1. Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) – Key areas are patrolled when on duty and any ASB is dealt with and youths are moved on if necessary. Where needed, home visits are carried out with parents present.

Partnership Activity:
During October, we have worked closely with housing associations, carrying out site inspections and home visits to tackle neighbourhood disputes.

On 13 October, we participated in the Distraction Burglary Event, held at the Leisure Centre in Thame. This was a great day and we were pleased with the number of residents from Thame who joined us for the presentation and refreshments. A video of the day?s event is on our Youtube channel.

Non Priority Activity:
PCSO Lucy THORNE would like to take this opportunity to remind young people looking for work, or looking for assistance with finding employment that a Connextions representative is available to speak with at the Young Persons Centre in Thame every Wednesday from 14.00-16.30.

PCSO THORNE organised for her and PCSO JACKSON to attend John Hampden Primary School where we gave a talk on road safety to a group of young pupils. We thoroughly enjoyed it and were delighted to stay for lunch time with the pupils of the school, eating lunch with them and spending playtime in the playground. We received some wonderful thank you cards, which have been displayed in the Neighbourhood Office at the police station.

An emergency Pubwatch meeting was held in October, where two members of the public were added onto the scheme, following drug related incidents in a Thame Public House.

Country Watch meetings are being held quarterly. It is anticipated that the next meeting will be sometime before the end of the year, with the date to be confirmed via Ringmaster following confirmation by the Country Watch Coordinator, PC Gregory.

Planned Activity:
There are monthly operations for Country Watch.

We will continue to deploy the Speed Indication Device (SID) in the area on a monthly basis, on roads which have been highlighted for speeding. We will also be looking to deploy the ANPR device along with the SID to tackle travelling criminals entering and travelling through our area.

Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) Activity:
Following consultation with the Thame, Chinnor and Watlington NAG, the group decided to evolve the process through closer contact and liaison with the existing structures of local parish councils and meetings. The NAG therefore decided to disband in favour of this partnership approach. The neighbourhood policing team are currently in close liaison with all the parish council and parish meetings within the Thame, Chinnor and Watlington area.

Good news stories:
We would like to thank Sainsbury?s, Waitrose and Co-op for their kind donations towards the Distraction Burglary Event.

PCSO THORNE reunited a bag of shopping and personal belongings to its owner in Thame.

PCSO JACKSON was able to secure a number of ?Dog Fouling? signs, which will soon be distributed in appropriate locations where there is a problem with fouling, where dog owners are failing to pick up. We would like to remind members of the public that this is an offence and could carry an

THAME gathered around the war memorial on a cold and damp Sunday, November 11, to remember the dead of two world wars and the conflicts since that have seen the ultimate sacrifice of men and women from all the Services.

Among the hundreds who came to be united at this time of tribute was Ricky Kingham of Long Crendon, who has seen action in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, and Len Webb, Freeman of Thame, who was one of the first allied troops to enter Belson when it was relieved in 1945.

Representatives of many local organisations, including ATC, guides, scouts, the police, Rotary Club of Thame, Thame Twinning, the fire service, Thame WI and Lord Williams’s School, went one-at-a-time to lay a wreath on the steps of the Thame War Memorial in Upper High Steet.

Rev Garratt lead the Prayers for Remembrance Sunday, which included the exhortation to pray for all who suffer as a result of conflict; for members of the armed forces who are in danger in Afghanistan and elsewhere; for civilian women, children and men whose lives are disfigured by war and terror; for peacemakers and peacekeepers and all who bear the burden and privilege of leadership, political, military and religious.

PHOTO: A representative from Lord Williams’s school in Thame lays a wreath on the steps of Thame’s war memorial.

THE Rotary Club of Thame planted 1,000 Crocuses at the Moats, Lea Park in Thame, on Saturday (November 13). The work was carried out by members and partners of the Rotary Club of Thame. Some of the crocus bulbs were planted in the shape of the letters “END POLIO NOW”.

Rotary Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland have been working to plant purple crocus bulbs from the beginning of October so that they will be in flower for Rotary Day ? 23rd February 2011. These purple flowers represent the colour of ink dabbed on a child?s little finger to indicate that they have been immunised against polio.

The Rotary Club of Thame is grateful to the Thame Town Council who approved the use of the Moats for planting the crocus bulbs.

TWO Thame schoolgirls who went missing on Tuesday (9/11/10) and been found safe and well.

Hannah Waters, 16, and Joanna Walters, 15, both pupils at Lord Williams’s school in Thame, disappeared after they were last seen boarding a 280 bus in Thame town centre heading for Oxford.

Both girls were found safe and well in the Birmingham area yesterday evening (11/11) and have been returned to their home addresses.

Thames Valley Police have thanked the public and media for their assistance in this matter.

FOLLOWING an your article on ThameNews.net about criticism from some Thame Town Councillors about the life-size plastic cows to be seen grazing outside a local butchers shop, a Save-The-Thame-Cows campaign has been launched on Facebook.

http://www.causes.com/causes/546214-save-the-thame-cows

THAME interest groups with views on the proposed draft plan for housing development in the town to 2027, have helped the Core Strategy over the first hurdle of its adoption.

The Draft Core Stategy went before South Oxfordshire’s Scrutiny committee on Tuesday (November 9), before it is recommended to the Cabinet on November 16, and then to full council.

So many speakers from the four towns in the district wanted to be heard, that they were limited to three minutes each and the huge numbers in the public gallery spilled into an adjoining room where they were able to view the proceedings as a Web cast.

On the Core Strategy itself, Mr Matthew Clifton from Didcot, reflected the concern of other speakers and some councillors when he queried whether the numbers of new homes proposed were now out of date because of the economic downturn. He called for the CS to be dropped in favour of an interim planning policy until the Localism Bill comes in at the end of 2011, as other areas like Aylesbury Vale have done, a point supported by Cllr Sue Cooper.

Miles Thompson, SODC’s Planning Policy Manager said that Aylesbury was in different position because it has enough sites already identified for the next five years, whereas South Oxfordshire does not.

Speaking on behalf of Thame Town Council, Cllr Mike Dyer described the draft Core Strategy as: ?…seriously flawed and unfit for purpose,? and as a ?box-ticking exercise.”

He added: “Aside from polarised opinions on the choice of site, we (the town council) have the full support of the community in challenging the methodology, the numbers, the one site option, and even the very evidence on which the strategy is based. No part of these proposals even pretend to identify the specific development needs of Thame.”

Cllr Dyer remarked that no reference in the Core Strategy document included any reference to what the Town Council consider one of the most significant factors, which is the potential to unite Lord Williams?s School on a single campus.

“This vision requires that part of site F be set aside and protected from the early phases of development to allow time for a full study into this option, but no such provision is allowed for.”

Robin Storey, representing the Moreton Residents, asked why no consideration had been given to dispersing the housing around the villages first. He was however content that site F had been chosen over site D (on land to the south of Town between Thame and Moreton)which he said, would have destroyed amenity landscape.

He told councillors that he had been a member of a Core Strategy Working Group, put together by Thame Town Council, which consisted of 15 different amentity and residents’ groups.

Angela Wilson, representing the Lea Park Residents’ group (also part of the Core Strategy Working Group), said that she was happy that a site that will limit further expansion had been chosen but that the all the local authorities needed to work together to come up with a plan that would enhance the area, particularly ensuring that the houses were not too high.

Oxford Road resident, Judi Robinson, said that she appreciated that Thame needed to expand but that she would like to make the following points:

1. That inadequate consideration has been given to the value of site F, in relation to the long-term development of the community, specifically if lower Lord Williams’s school potentially moved up, the re-siting of the fire station, and, what she called: “muted discussions about a health centre and a hotel.

“If site F is released now,” she said, “it would be like selling the family silver. That site should be kept in abeyance for the future of the children of Thame, and development on site D be allowed to go ahead.”

2. “Considering the potential growth of the town in the next 10 years,” she continued, “and bearing in mind that the current facilities at the Thame Leisure Centre are woefully inadequate, we will then require more leisure facilities. So it makes sense to link them in with the current facilities then, keeping it all in one place. We will also then require more parking for cars and more space for buses to support the increased leisure facilities and pupils.

“It would be stupid to develop that site now when there is an alternative,” she concluded.

The other speaker from Thame was Jeffery Emmett, Agent for the landowner of site F, Charles Castle. His speech and the full representations made by all the other speakers, can be viewed on the Web cast of the meeting available on South Oxfordshire District Council’s website. WebCast

Other notable contributions:

Cllr Anne Purse asked for the proposal to build on the edge of Wheatley on what is Greeen Belt land, to be dropped. It was pointed out that the Core Strategy makes provision for a Green belt review at the Site Allocations stage of its progress.

The meeting heard that 520 affordable homes are needed across the district per year! Having small numbers of new homes would not help here because the district only gets affordable homes built on the back of market value homes. The current policy is that developers must provide 40% affordable homes on any development over three homes.