Category: Thame news

A new Thame library with a host of innovative features is set to open to the public next month. The eagerly anticipated two-floor facility in North Street will be stocked with hundreds more books than Thame’s existing library in Southern Road and will boast a number of innovative features including a touch screen self-service facility for visitors to access information, a first floor mezzanine study space and a dedicated area for teenagers.

Great facilities

The building – operated by Oxfordshire County Council – will also house a book shop-style quick choice area for people in a hurry, comfortable seating and a children’s area with a reading hideaway feature.

The

THAME firefighters have been kept very busy during the recent spell of hot weather, and are urging everyone to take extra care – even after this last spell of rain.

On Saturday evening, July 11, two pumps from Thame and one from Watlington attended a fire in Elm Drive, Chinnor, in which a garage and its contents were completely destroyed. Arson is suspected and the police and fire authorities are involved in an on-going investigation.

In the early hours the following day, Sunday, July 12, they were called out again to a hedgerow fire in Long Crendon and later that afternoon, to a fire on the railway embankment in Chinnor, probably caused by sparks from a steam train that was operating at the time.

WARNING

Andy Ford, Watch Manager at Thame Fire Station, told Thamenews.net today: ” We have been very busy dealing with fire started by BBQs, bon firess etc and numerous hedgerow and field fires which have mostly been caused by carelessly discarded cigarettes and other hot substances.

“A small fire can spread very, very quickly, faster than people realise. So we would urge everyone to take extra care – even after this rain, everything will dry out very quickly and risks remain.”

ADVISE

For advise about preventing and dealing with fires outside the home, visit:

THAME MP, John Howell’s influence on policy making with the new coaltion govertment continues to grow. He has been asked to help steer fundamental reforms of the planning system through parliament.

The MP has been given the job after producing a blue-print for a reformed planning system before the election, called Open Source Planning. It is this document that will apparently underpin the reforms. The bill will be introduced in Parliament later in the year. See: http://tiny.cc/qgsk6

John will now join Greg Clark MP, the minister responsible for planning, as his parliamentary private secretary (PPS) on a temporary basis to help take the reforms forward. This appointment is in addition to John’s recently announced appointment as PPS to the Leader of the House, Sir George Young, which will continue. John already chairs the sounding board on planning reform set up by the Conservative Party before the election with the development industry.

John said: “The current planning system is bureuacratic and highly centralised. Many people feel that they have no say over development taking place in their areas and that their views are ignored. What is required is not a piecemeal tinkering with the system but radical reform that will decentralise and streamline the planning system. I am pleased to be helping to introduce these reforms.”

On July 6, the MP was also appointed a Vice-President of the Local Government Association (LGA) in recognition of his championing of local government.

A sense of excitement is building for this year?s Thame Food Festival which promises to be one of Oxfordshire’s best real food events.

This, the third consecutive Thame Food Festival, will be held in the centre of the town on Saturday, September 25, 2010.

?There is so much great local food and so many wonderfully dynamic local food producers and retailers in our area. We want to put local food on the map,? says Sally Dickinson, one of the joint organisers of the event.

Thame’s Town Centre co-ordinator, Alison Isherwood, adds: “In simple terms we want the Festival to help people discover local food, support the cause and boost local food businesses. There?s so much to gain for everybody.

“The aim is to build a real food event that Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties can be proud of. All food producers are encouraged to take a stand as it is a great chance to showcase and sell their wares.”

As well as street entertainment, food and drink sampling, real ales, children?s cookery workshops and the opportunity to buy mouth-watering local produce, there will be cooking shows and demonstrations with confirmed appearances from local celebrity chef, Lottie Duncan, and Italian cookery specialist and author, Kate Caldesi.

Co-organiser, Sally Dorling, said: “Whether you?re local and interested in food or a local food business, you won?t want to miss out.”

The 21st Century Thame Partnership, which works to promote awareness of the town, is also supporting the event via a grant from the Thriving Market Towns fund.

The Festival is a free day for all the family but there will also be some ticketed events, including some of the food demos: details available soon from the website.

A limited number of stalls are still available for

THE inaugural meeting of the Thame-Sinaia Friendship Association took place at Racquets, Thame, on Friday evening 09/07/10, and the constitution of the Association unanimously approved by the participants.

David Bretherton was elected Chairman, and Nigel Champken-Woods, Deputy Chairman. The new committee includes Jeannette Matelot Green as Fundraising Officer, James Green as Treasurer, and Marius Ciortan as Secretary.

Jeannette Matelot Green, former Mayor of Thame, said: ?Our first meeting was a great success. Everyone who came was enthusiastic and full of ideas for future ventures with Sinaia. Thame has a thriving group of snowboarders and one of their members, Nick Wynd, was keen to hear about snowboarding possibilities in the Sinaia ski resort. Our aim is to include as many associations and clubs as possible to be involved, as this new Friendship Association should include representatives of the whole community.?

Marius Ciortan, one of the Association’s initiators, said: ?We hope people and families from the Thame area will join our new group and visit Sinaia, also known as the ?Pearl of the Carpathians? during a long weekend planned for November.

“There are plenty of things to be done there: walks in the mountains and relaxing, whilst visiting the Peles Castle is a must. For the brave ones, there are plenty of opportunities too: they can do trekking, mountain biking during the spring, summer, or autumn, and skiing and snowboarding during the winter, as Sinaia?s ski slopes go to over 6,500 feet (2,000 metres) altitude.?

Bert Ingram, Chair of Thame & District Classic Motor Club said: ? I talked with Vlad Oprea, the Mayor of Sinaia, on his visit in April and, whilst it is a bit far for most of us to drive in our classic cars, they do have a fantastic Rally during their festival and we may be able to get to watch that. We may, however, get some brave souls to drive there, never say never!?

Nigel Champken-Woods, past Chairman of the Thame & District Twinning (Montesson) Association said: ?Whilst the numbers involved with the Sinaia Friendship Association are relatively small at the moment, when the Twinning with Montesson started, we only even had five or six members and look how that has flourished over 10 years. I am sure this new Friendship Association will be equally as successful.?

The next meeting of the Friendship Association is expected to take place at Racquets on Friday, September 3, at 7 pm. To join the Association is very easy and the annual membership fee is only

A VERY special Thame citizen was out and about at the visiting French market this afternoon, chatting to the French market stall holders in their native tongue.

Authur Staggs was recently made an Honoury Citizen of Thame for his exploits and bravery during World War Two. But today he was having fun laughing and joking with the stall holders and ex Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, who visits him regularly at Meadowcroft Home for the Elderly and was escorting him today.

Arthur, who is now 97 years old, worked as a secret agent in German occupied France during World War II, using his guile and knowledge of the French language to avoid discovery.

He is seen here with Thierry Geffroy who runs the French cheese stall. As well as giving Arthur his email address so that they could keep in touch, Thierry gave him a Neufch

THAMES Valley Police have confirmed that no one was injured when a two seater aircraft crash landed into a hedge in fields off Frogmore Lane in Long Crendon yesterday.

The emergency services were on the scene within minutes with fire offices from Thame, Haddenham and Aylesbury attending.

Reports of the crash came just before 4.30pm when the fire service were told of a possible fuel leak coming from the damaged plane.

PHOTO: Peaceful Frogmore Lane in Long Crendon where a two-seater plane crash landed in fields near by yesterday. COURTESY OF: www.petergoodearl.co.uk

AFTER a gap of several years, the people of Thame can now donate blood from a centre in the town.

Blood donating in Thame stopped severeal years agowith the demise of Thame United Football Club’s HQ in Windmill Road, which was eventually demolished.

A blood donation session will be held on Tuesday, July 27, at The Spread Eagle Hotel, 16/17 Cornmarket, Thame from 1.30pm – 3.30pm & 4.15pm – 7.30pm.

For more information or to book an appointment to attend this session, please call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk

THE landmark willow tree in Thame’s Memorial Gardens was felled yesterday after it was found to be diseased and dangerous.

Town Clerk, Helen Stewart, said: “This is a very sad day for Thame and I know that many people will be unhappy about such a significant tree coming down.

“The willow was a well-known focal point in the town but very unfortunately this action has been necessary for safety reasons. We have taken the advice of the Forestry and Countryside Manager at South Oxfordshire District Council, following a site visit.”

The tree will be replaced today with a mature willow with a girth of at least 14-16cm and a height of between 4.2 and 4.8m, and planted as near to the original site as possible.

THAME residents living alone or in smaller properties, say they are disappointed that the district council seems to have gone back on an assurance that smaller bins would be available once the new collection system was up and running.

Following the news that the new collection scheme has been so successful at increasing the amount of waste recycled, Rosalie Gibson, who is retired and lives in Thame, told ThameNews.Net: “Those people who wanted smaller bins, though initially told that they would be able to have them once the scheme was up and running, have now been told that it isn’t possible.

“Lots of people don’t have room for the big bins and many who live on their own don’t need big bins. In fact, since they only pay 75% Council tax, they should only be entitled to a smaller bin!

“Perhaps it would also make people realise how much rubbish they are creating and then they might try to cut down on the waste to contain it into a smaller bin.”

Mrs Gibson continued: “I know a number of people who live alone and have asked to have small bins, and who were disappointed when the decision was reversed.”

ED. What do YOU think? Let us have your views on whether smaller bins should be available for smaller properties in the district, or for people living alone.

NOTE: Councillor David Dodds, Cabinet Member responsible for rubbish and recycling, was unavailable for comment at time of publishing, but as soon as we receive his comments, they will be published.

PHOTO: Courtesy of Verdant Plc