Category: Thame news

A Joint Statement from the Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum on the ‘flu pandemic, released today, states that there is no cause for concern.

The statement includes advice on what to do if anyone thinks they may have been infected. The full statement reads:

“We were notified yesterday that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Influenza A (H1N1) virus has now moved from Phase 5 to Phase 6 which is defined as pandemic stage.

A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a disease, with outbreaks or epidemics occurring in many countries and in most regions of the world.

This decision reflects the geographic spread of the virus and not its severity. The move to Phase 6 does not trigger any material change to our response in the UK. Actions taken in the UK are based on the situation here and our preparations are well advanced.

Chair of the Local Resilience Forum Working Group, Assistant Chief Constable Brian Langston, said: ?The Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum (LRF) has been liaising and working hard during the last few weeks to prepare for a potential pandemic. This is in addition to a substantial amount of preparation work that has been carried out throughout the past four years. As we have reached pandemic stage the LRF group will now sit as a Strategic Coordination Group and we are prepared to turn any plans into actions should the need arise. It should however be stressed that the impact has been considerably less than we had anticipated. Therefore the escalation to Phase 6 gives us no cause for concern.?

Dr. Jonathan McWilliam, Director of Public Health for Oxfordshire, explained: ?A pandemic is not related to the severity of the influenza, but to its spread. The World Health Organisation is responding largely to developments in Australia. We do expect to see an increase in the number of cases in the Thames Valley but not immediately and we are confident everything is in place to ensure we are able to deal with the situation.?

*The LRF consists of key partners across the Thames Valley including all Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) Thames Valley Police, the Thames Valley Health Protection Unit, local authorities including Oxfordshire County Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, Milton Keynes Council and all Berkshire unitary authorities.

As a result of the WHO announcement, activity on many levels between partner organisations will now be increased to ensure they meet the demands of the pandemic phase.

This has meant:

Ensuring sufficient stock of anti viral medicines
Ensuring sufficient stock and distribution of swabbing equipment
Ensuring sufficient stock of personal and protective equipment for NHS staff (ie masks)

The current situation across the Thames Valley area is that, yesterday (Thursday 11 June) there were 47 confirmed cases of influenza A (H1NI). All are recovering well.

The virus first emerged in Mexico in April and has now spread to 74 countries with a reported 28,774 cases and 141 deaths.

General guidance

Reduce the risk of catching or spreading flu

CATCH IT – Always carry tissues and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Always cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.

BIN IT – Germs can live for several hours on tissues. Dispose of your tissue as soon as possible.

KILL IT – Hands transfer germs to everything you touch. Dispose of dirty tissues promptly and carefully. Wash you hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of germs. Clean hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) frequentlyusing a normal cleaning product.

We are continuing to advise the following routes for patients and the public to access information regarding Swine Flu.

1st: Visit the NHS Choices website for information and frequently asked questions about Swine Flu. There is also an online flu symptom checker on both NHS Choices website and the NHS Direct website.

2nd: Ring the national Swine Flu information line (0800 1 513 513). This provides pre-recorded information about Swine Flu.

3rd: Call the NHS Direct telephone service (0845 4647). Callers with flu-like symptoms, who have internet access, will be asked to try the online flu symptom checker first, if necessary, they will be able to request a call back from an advisor. Otherwise callers are asked to hold to speak to someone who can help.

4th: If you have taken these steps and are still concerned, call your GP. ” STATEMENT ENDS

Image: Courtesy of pro.corbis.com

APART from the news that the date of Thame Show will change from 2010, new Domestic Classes for both children and adults have been added to the programme for this year’s show, September 17, 2009.

There are three categories for a children’s Photographic Class, “In My Garden” (5-7 year-olds), “Animal World” (8-10 year-olds) and “Whatever The Weather” (11-14 year-olds).

Also new for 2009, Vegetable and Flower Classes for children, with two choices, a Collection of three different veg, any type, any variety, or One vase of flowers, or a houseplant, or a pot plant which must not exceed 175mm diameter.

For the grown-ups the theme for the Photography Class is “The British Summer.”

Details of all the other Domestic Classes and entry forms are available from the offices of The Oxfordshire county and Thame Show, 55 North Street, Thame, OX9 3BH. More information on the website:
Thame Show
You can also find out what will be going on in the main arena and other information about the show here.

The date for next year’s Thame Show will be July 31 and August 1, 2010.

THIS is a Ringmaster message from Thames Valley Police. Next week, 15th to 21st June 2009, is National Neighbourhood Watch Week.

Your NHW Administrators will be promoting the week at the following locations between the hours of 10:00AM and 12:00Noon.

Thursday 18th June – Thame Town Hall, Thame Town Centre
Monday 15th June – Abingdon District Council Building in the Reception Area
Tuesday 16th June – Outside Waitrose in Wallingford Street, Wantage
Wednesday 17th June – Henley Town Hall, Henley Town Centre

We are hoping to raise awareness of NHW and obtain details of new people who may be interested in starting up a new NHW scheme.

We will be giving out information on burglary packs, free UV marker pens and details on property marking. If you have the time, please come along and talk to Carol, Kathy or Clare. Alternatively, call the Watch Office for further details on 01235 556957. Thank you. Message ends.

FEARS that kitchen waste is still going into landfill, despite the new waste separation scheme launched this week, have been allayed today.

Following correspondence from a ThameNews.Net visitor yesterday – see LINK
and several phone calls to South Oxfordshire District Council, the council has issued an explanation for how the new system works.

A spokesperson for SODC told ThameNews.Net: “I can tell you that food waste is collected by use of a ‘slave bin’ which looks like a grey wheeled bin attached to the back of the truck. All food waste is emptied into this before being emptied into the truck. The trucks have two compartments – one for waste or recycling (depends on the collection) and one for food waste. So while it may look like it’s all being dumped into the same truck it is actually being emptied into separate compartments.”

District and Town Councellor, David Dodds, explained that the contractors may use a bin of any colour, one that perhaps has no lid or unusable for some other reason, as the so-called ‘slave bin’ so it may have looked as though kitchen waste was being put into a general waste bin.

“Actually,” continued Cllr Dodds, “more kitchen waste was collected on Monday than was anticipated which will all go to help reduce the amount of waste going into landfill.”

In the Thame and Wheatley area on Monday, 10.7 tonnes of food waste was collected and delivered to a processing plant. If this tonnage is maintained, it will be roughly equivalent to removing 10% of the previous residual waste that went to landfill.

Despite some teething problems with the new scheme, the collection generally went well in Thame, though some bins were not emptied, particularly on the north side of the Upper High Street.

Photo: Some of the kitchen waste collected from the Thame and Wheatley area on Monday, launch day of the new scheme to collect separated waste.

A THAME business man and a friend will soon be heading off on a 1500 mile banger rally, in a Lightening McQueen look-alike car that cost them just

PEOPLE who live lavish lifestyles on the proceeds of crime are being targeted in a joint campaign by police, Crimestoppers and their partners across the county.

?Too much bling? ? give us a ring?, is a two-week advertising campaign being launched to coincide with National Tackling Drugs Week, and aims to encourage members of the public to report their suspicions about people who appear to be wealthy despite having no discernible legitimate income.

The campaign will also be featured at a number of events taking place across Oxfordshire in support of National Tackling Drugs Week.

Ch Supt Brendan O?Dowda, Commander for Oxfordshire, said: “We have launched this campaign during National Tackling Drugs Week, as a lot of criminal asset seizures are made in connection with drugs offences.
?Do you want to see drug dealers living a life of luxury as a result of them peddling their misery throughout our neighbourhoods and communities? I don?t, and together there is something we can do about it.
“It?s not just drug dealers we?re targeting; burglars, thieves, robbers and money launderers can all live off the proceeds of their crimes and they are well and truly on our radar. We want to encourage people to join us in our campaign, Too much bling – give us a ring! You can call Crimestoppers now and anonymously report those who are clearly living well beyond their means.”

PC Leigh Thompson, Drugs Coordinator for Oxfordshire, added: “The proceeds of the property seized from criminals are later sold and the money is deposited in a central government fund, a percentage of which will be returned to the Force. We will use the money to fight crime by funding the training of more financial investigators and, in future, putting the money toward community-based projects.
“Lots of people work extremely hard to be able to buy nice cars and belongings but there are a few people who will live off criminal gains, and this isn?t right or fair. We must work together to eradicate this, especially in the current economic climate.
“This is the perfect opportunity for the public to call in anonymously to Crimestoppers with any information about people who they genuinely suspect are living off the proceeds of crime.”

Crimestoppers is an independent charity which offers the public the ability to report what they know without having to identify themselves. Anyone can call 0800 555 111 at any time of day or night or give information online through a secure website: http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

For more information about the ?Too much bling? ? give us a ring? campaign, please visit: LINK
or Crimestopppers

Image courtesy of Inimagine.com

09/06/09

THAME’S main entry streets now boast fresh, new signs illustrating the town’s link with the French town of Montesson, near Paris.

The signs include the town’s logo and have been provided by Oxfordshire County Council.

The Twinning relationship between Thame and Montesson continues to develop and grow, with a coach party from France recently spending a weekend in Thame in the homes of supporters of Thame and District Twinning Association. The visitors were taken to historic Stratford-Upon-Avon for the day, and both visitors and hosts came together on the Sunday for a reception at the town hall, jointly organised by the twinning committee and Thame Town Council.

On Saturday, (June 13), the weekend of Thame festival and the carnival, a small group from Montesson will once again have a stall, selling their delicious crepes, wine and other French produce. The Twinning Association will be spreading the word about the ‘jumelage’ at their stand, next door to Montesson’s.

PHOTO: Young people from Le foyer, in Montesson, pose for a picture with one of their hosts, John Francis, and their carers, before leaving for home, after a weekend in Thame recently (May 2009).
They stayed at the Spread Eagle in Thame, where their welcome packs included a bag of special chocolates and sweets, donated by ‘Sweet Surrender’ in Cornmarket, Thame.

THIS is a Ringmaster message from Thames Valley Police.

On Monday, June 8,2009, at aprrox: 03:17hrs, a property in Cromwell Avenue, Thame was burgled. It is believed entry was gained via the front door. Offender(s) stole keys to the aggrieved vehicle, then stole a Blue Audi Convertible.

If you have any information relating to this message, please call the police on 08458 505 505 and quote URN 119 of 08/06/09. Alternatively, if you have any information and wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A THAME fire officer issued a warning this morning about driving with care in wet weather, following a car crash yesterday.

A car left the B4012, Thame to Postcombe road at about 10.30pm yesterday and collided with a hedge before flipping over.

Fire crew manager, Steve Lockwood, said: “Luckily the driver escaped with minor injuries and nobody else was involved. But we would like to remind everyone to be careful in the wet weather; it so easy to lose control of a vehicle when the conditions are this bad.”

OVER 80 people attended a Barn Dance at the Haddenham Village Hall on Saturday, May 30, 2009, aimed at raising funds for young people’s charities.

Organised by the two local Rotary clubs, Thame and Haddenham, the event generated over