Category: Thame news

OUTLINE planning permission for new homes in Windmill Road, Thame, has been given by South Oxfordshire District Council.

The site is that of the now demolished ground and club house of Thame United Football Club.

The number of houses permitted however, will be determined at the detailed planning application stage, as will the impact on neighbours generally.

The decision goes against Thame Town Council’s recommendation to refuse the application. The council and some neighbours to the site, were unhappy about a perceived increase in traffic at the juction of Windmill Road with Nelson Street, parking and safety concerns, and a lack of adequate sewage and drainage provision in the area.

SODC have stated that: “Highways issues are considered to be resolvable and, with appropriate conditions and agreements, the development would be in accordance with relevant policies in the Local Plan.”

A man who stabbed a Thame teaching assistant to death while she was out walking her dogs has been jailed for life by Reading Crown Court.

Sally Garwood, who worked at Lord Williams’s school in Thame, was attacked by chef, Robert Cusworth, in July last year at Meadowcroft playing fields in Aylesbury.

Cusworth told police that he had woken up that morning in a bad mood and had taken a kitchen knife so that he could hurt someone.

Robert Cusworth, 25, who admitted murdering Sally Garwwod at an earlier hearing at Reading Crown Court on December 21, last year, will serve a minimum of 20 years imprisonment reduced by six months for time already served in prison.

Carl Barker, the reviewing lawyer from Thames Valley Crown Prosecution Service, said: ?This was an utterly senseless and motiveless attack by a man on a much smaller woman who was simply enjoying walking her dog on a Saturday afternoon on a popular piece of public land in Aylesbury.

?Robert Cusworth did not know Sally Garwood let alone harbour any previous bad feelings towards her. As he told police, he was in a bad mood, and he had bought a knife the day before because he felt ?very very angry? and wanted ?to hurt someone?. He had walked to Quarrendon Fields that afternoon armed with the knife knowing that he was ?going to do something really bad?. By a tragic coincidence, Sally Garwood happened to be walking in that part of the fields when Mr Cusworth was waiting for a victim.

“We offer our deepest sympathies to all who knew Sally Garwood. She was deeply loved and is desperately missed by her family. A remarkable feature of this tragedy is the courage shown by her husband, parents, brother and sisters throughout their ordeal. We hope that the conclusion of the court proceedings can bring them some measure of comfort.”

A man who vandalised at least six cars in North Street, Thame, over last weekend, was apprehended using the town’s CCTV camera network.

A North Street resident contacted the police with a description of a man seen ripping off wing mirrors.
Officers were then able to find the man by looking at CCTV footage and he was later arrested.

PHOTO: For illustrative purposes only – Courtesy of friskeierisky, flickr.oom

FOLLOWING a co-ordinated series of early morning raids, several arrests were made in Thame yesterday, including one at The Two Brewers pub in North Street, Thame.

A 67 year-old man was arrested for possession of a controlled drug (around 1000 pills) with intent to supply, and for tax evasion relating to the possession of approximagtely

FOLLOWING a visit to Chinnor RFC this week by two representatives from the Lost Youth Of Thame Memorial fund, the club has contributed funds and a signed football to auctioned at a later date.

Mike Dyer, Chairman of the charity, and Mark Stiles, the brother of Greg, who died in an accident at Kingsey last May, both visited the club. Mark and his family have become very involved in the fundraising for the memorial which is to be placed in the centre of Thame.

Dick Green, of Connect Scaffolding and a Vice President of Chinnor RFC who are based in Thame, was also present. He employed Greg and is a close family friend of the Stiles.

Carol Bradbrook-Taylor, club Secretrary, said: ?From personal experience I know that the death of someone is a loss to so many people far beyond immediate family and friends. We felt the ripples of Greg?s death here at the rugby club even though he wasn?t a member. As a club in the heart of the community which involves so many young people, we felt it important to make a contribution to this extraordinary idea.?

Further information can be found on: www.thameyouthmemorial.org

Photo by Heather Newport

A THAME man who ate photographs of his French Resistance friends before being interrogated by the Gestapo, has become an Honorary Citizen of Thame.

Arthur Staggs, 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 was officially presented with his honour by Tim Stevenson, Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, during a special party held yesterday at Meadowcroft care home, Towersey Road, Thame, where he now lives.

Arthur is only the third person in the town to receive the prestigious title in recognition of his courageous contribution to the French Resistance.

Arthur?s name will be displayed on the Honours Board on the wall of the Council Chamber in Thame Town Hall, alongside that of Len Webb and David Dodds, and he has a certificate to commemorate the occasion to keep.

Arthur received the Legion d?Honneur, in recognition of his heroic work in 2005, by the people of France, and is one of only nine World War II veterans to receive the award.

After reading one of his own poems, dedicated to a friend, Arthur said: ?I am thrilled to receive such a prestigious title. I have lived in Thame for 52 years and am very humbled to be named as one of its few honorary citizens.?

Arthur’s daughter, Ann Freeman, who sat by his side for much of the evening, told Thamenews.net that her father had not always been able to talk so openly about what he went through during the war, and the many friends he lost in operations.

“For many years after the war, dad wasn’t in the best of health and mother told me that we were not to question him about his army days,” she explained. “It wasn’t until I was 16 years old, and we went on holiday to France and there were all these people there to honour dad, that I learnt about what he had done.”

Dan Hayes, County Director of the Order of St John Trust, which runs Meadowcroft, said: “It is wonderful to see Arthur being awarded this honour. He is a very popular character at Meadowcroft and has many fascinating stories to tell residents and staff about his life.

?He has had an exciting few months, having met the Duke of Kent at the opening of Meadowcroft in October last year and now receiving this special award. We are all very proud of him.?

Cllr Matelot Green said: ?As Mayor of Thame, I am delighted to have had the opportunity to propose that Arthur should become an Honorary Citizen of Thame, particularly as we are both half French!?

You can read more about Arthur’s war experiences and how he came to working behind enemy lines, by clicking on the LINK

PHOTO: Arthur Staggs receives Honoury Citizenship of Thame from The Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Tim Stevenson. His daughter, Ann Freeman shares his special moment.

THE Rotary Club of Thame raised over

DESPITE losing several days work due to the weather, Thame’s new library is on course for a summer opening.

This week, large glass panels at the front began to enclose the structure and it is really is beginning to look like a real building rather than a building site.

If the new library is not opened by July 11, the old library in Southern Road, Thame, will be celebrating its 50th birthday!

An exhibition about the history of libraries in Thame, currently on at Thame Museum, is to be extended until February 17.

Opening times: Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday – 10am to 4pm; Sunday – 12 – 4pm FREE ADMISSION

PHOTO: Friends of Thame Library members, John Ansell, Dr Hussein Mirza and Beatrice Dobie, with the site foreman, Martin today.

The Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG)for the Thame area will be conducting new consultations in 2010 and welcomes your views to identify local issues.

In 2009, the NAG consultations identified speeding, parking, litter, anti-social behaviour and dog fouling as main concerns and worked to make a difference in these areas across the neighbourhoods.

The NAG will be consulting in Thame and the surrounding villages, Watlington and Chinnor, in February and March 2010. There will be questionnaires in the community and the consultation forms can be found on SODC website at www.southoxon.gov.uk/nag

Consultations specifically targeting Chinnor and Watlington will take place later in 2010.

Community feedback will be passed to the relevant agencies and the NAG will work on the main concerns. The NAG welcomes your views and looks forward to helping to make your neighbourhood a better place.

If you would like to receive NAG updates please go to www.tvpcommunitymessaging.org
and register (in notes, please enter: would like to receive Thame, Chinnor and Watlington NAG updates)

To find out more about NAGs and download the latest NAG newsletters go to: www.southoxon.gove.uk/nag

To find out more about neighbourhood policing or who your local police officers are go to: www.thamesvalley.police.uk

THAME, Watlington and Chinnor Neighbourhood Action Group Progress Update – December 2009

Anti Social Behaviour- Thames Valley Police (TVP) increased early intervention, education and enforcement including Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABC?s) and home visits.

Thame Town Council agreed funding for 10 community noticeboards to highlight available facilities, installation 2010.

Shopwatch scheme launched by TVP with 85 shops enlisted so far.

Litter- Increased town centre patrols by TVP and Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN?s) may be issued as required.

District Council asked to provide larger bin at key point for takeaway refuse.

Town Council is working with other partners to organise an anti-litter campaign.

Local takeaway outlet taken proactive approach in clearing litter resulting from their customers.

CHINNOR Neighbourhood, including Aston Rowant, Crowell, Sydenham, Tetsworth and Towersey:-

Speeding- Numerous operations carried out by TVP, site is now adopted by Safer Roads Partnership (SRP) for mobile van enforcement.

Handheld laser device now available to Neighbourhood Policing Team (NHPT) with permanent device bid still ongoing.

Speed survey on B4009 into Chinnor did not substantiate a speed issue, Community Concern signage installed to educate drivers.

Aston Rowant Parish Council achieved installation of Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) at various points through village.

Parking- Chinnor Parish Council requested feedback from residents in November ?Pump? article, nothing received at time of meeting, education and enforcement of parking restrictions will continue.

Dog Fouling- Tetsworth Parish Council running a poster campaign in conjunction with NHPT.

Parish Council looking to relocate 1 dog waste bin to problem area to facilitate use.

PCSO?s will educate and enforce with FPN where necessary.

photo: courtesy of whosbybobby.co.uk

Thames Valley Police would like to speak to a taxi driver in connection with the unexplained death of a young Wheatley man in Oxford on Boxing Day.

At around 9.30pm, a man was picked up by a taxi, just outside the grounds of the JR2 Hospital, near Headley Way. He was then dropped off at the junction of High Street and St Aldates in the city centre at around 9.40pm.

Det Con Lisa Heaton, investigating the incident, said: ?Shortly after, at 9.58pm, the man was found dead at the bottom of Westgate Car Park.

?The man has been identified as Joshua Nunan, aged 22, of London Road, Wheatley. He was white, slim, with short brown hair, wearing light coloured trousers and a three quarter length, light brown coat.

?I am appealing for the taxi driver to come forward and speak to police as we believe he was the last person who saw Joshua alive and may be able to assist our enquiries.?

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Det Con Heaton at St Aldates police station via Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don?t want to speak to police and don?t want to leave your name contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.