SOLL LEISURE, which manages Thame Leisure Centre, will not have its contract renewed when it expires in March.
Thame and other leisure centres run by South Oxfordshire District Council will be managed by Greenwich Leisure Ltd from April 2009 to March 2014.
The company will also manage the Thame swimming pool which is currently owned separately by Thame Town Council.
A DRIVER had to be cut from his car early on Wednesday morning, when his car left the road and hit a tree in icy conditions.
The incident happened at around 6am on Wednesday morning, and the driver was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Thame Fire Station’s Station Officer, Andy Ford has criticised the standard of driving by many drivers in the icy road conditions that have been experienced on our roads over the last couple of weeks.
“We have had to deal with many incidents that are the result of inappropriate driving for these conditions,” said Andy. “Fortunately, most of them have not lead to serious injuries but they could have. It only takes a few minutes off a journey to drive a bit slower and not to attempt to over-take those taking care in front,” he added.
“It is better to arrive a few minutes late than not to arrive at all,” he concluded.
FOLLOWING dozens of traffic collisons on icy roads yesterday morning, the Police are urging motorists to heed road safety advice in the current road conditions.
Icy conditions and flooding in some areas led to 67 road traffic collisions on the roads of Thames Valley Police area this yesterday morning (11/2), three times the figure for an average day. A total of 463 traffic-related incidents were recorded in the first 12 hours, compared with 102 for the same period of the last Wednesday morning without snow (28/1)
The conditions have led to a significant increase in calls made to police, putting a strain on call-handling and roads policing resources. Further expected flooding and black ice is likely to create similarly difficult driving conditions in the coming days.
Sgt Chris Appleby of the Roads Policing department said: ?We are seeing a lot of accidents caused by erratic driving.
?Many incidents of poor driving practice are being highlighted to us. For example, you should always reduce your speed before a bend, not on it. If you brake on a bend in icy conditions, it is very likely that you will skid.
?Drivers should not make any erratic moves, like sudden steering or braking. These can lead to cars leaving the road. Please allow yourself enough distance to stop.
?The advice is to leave plenty of time for your journey and drive carefully ? we want you to get to your destination safely.?
A Thame fire officer has praised the quick thinking of a Chef whose prompt use of a tee towel almost certainly saved a small fire in a hotel kitchen from becoming a much more serious incident.
Station Officer Andy Ford told ThameNews.Net today: “Because of the heavy snow last Friday (06/02) our progress was impeded when we were called out to a fire at The Peacock, at Henton, near Chinnor. But the Chef their had obviously taken notice of fire fighting advice and by the time we arrived, he had covered a flaming pan which had melted part of an extraction unit with a Tee towel. He then turned off the power to the extraction unit and by his swift action, undoubtedly prevented the fire from spreading and becoming much more serious.”
Cooking fires are the second biggest cause of fire in the home in Oxfordshire, according to Oxfordshire County Council, and since 2004, there have been 544 cooking fires reported to Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. The real number could be much higher because some people have extinguished the fires themselves without calling the fire service.
For advice on preventing and dealing with fires in the kitchen, go to: LINK
Picture: for illustrative purposes only
SEVEN sheep drowned yesterday (10/02) after their flock became stranded in flooded fields in Thame.
Officers from the RSPCA were called to the site near the A418 Aylesbury Road, afer heavy rain and melting snow caused the River Thame to burst its banks. Members of the society’s dedicated flood team waded in to help rescue the 120 strong flock.
In a four-hour rescue effort, three RSPCA inspectors helped the farmer to move the sheep to dry land 200 metrs away, with the help of a tractor and trailer.
Sadly seven sheep drowned prior to the rescue and a further three had to be put to sleep on veterinary advice. Those rescued were treated where necessary by vets at the scene.
RSPCA chief inspector, Rob Skinner, took part in the rescue along with inspectors Will Rippon and Martin Rivett, and trading standards officer, Paul Bates from Oxford County Council. Rob said: “This was a great team effort and we?d like to thank Oxford County Council for their help and the farmer for his cooperation and part in the rescue.
Rob added: “The RSPCA has a flood team which is available to help rescue animals in these situations. However, we are asking owners to make sure that horses and livestock are moved to higher ground in areas where there may be a risk of flooding.”
The RSPCA received 303 calls about animals affected by floods on Tuesday morning (10 February), mainly in Essex, Oxfordshire, Devon and Worcestershire.
To protect animals from severe weather conditions, pet owners and farmers are being urged to:
? Move outdoor pets such as rabbits and guinea
pigs indoors to a garage or shed;
? Keep all domestic pets indoors and ensure
dogs are accompanied at all times when
outside;
? Put horses, ponies and donkeys into stables;
? Livestock should be moved from lowland onto
higher ground to avoid floods;
? Livestock must have access to adequate feed
and fresh water which should be checked
regularly to ensure that it has not become
submerged in water;
? Livestock must have access to shelter
LAST night, Pop icon, Robin Gibb helped recognise the efforts of young role models to improve the lives of other young people.
The Bee Gees musician, who lives in Thame, attended a Downing Street reception for five recipients of awards set up in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.
In his capacity as a Diana Award ambassador, Robin joined the young people being celebrated, including Nicole Drysburgh, 19, whose book, The Way I See It, details how she overcame a range of illnesses since she was 11, including tumours, a brain haemorrhage, Bells Palsy, a stroke and subsequently becoming deaf and blind.
Despite her difficulties, Nicole has raised over
A member of staff at a Wheatley store was hit over the head with a weapon yesterday (09/09) when he refused to hand over cash to an armed robber.
The Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident that happened at around 7pm, when a man walked into Londis in the High Street, Wheatley, and threatened the member of staff with what was believed to be a handgun.
After injuring the man, the robber stole a small amount of cash. The victim was taken to the JR2 where he received treatment to a head wound.
The offender is described as white, in his mid twenties and wearing dark clothing.
Det Insp Simon Morton, leading the investigation, said: “We are linking this incident to the robbery at the BP Garage in Marston on Friday evening and we are also keeping an open mind as to whether they are linked to the other armed robberies that took place in Oxford in December and January.
“I would like to reassure the public that we have a number of officers dedicated to this investigation and a lot of work is being carried out to track down and arrest the person responsible.”
Anyone with information that could assist police enquiries is urged to contact Det Sgt Simpson via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don?t want to speak to the police and don?t want to leave your name, contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
Photo: For illustrative purposes only – this is NOT the Wheatley store.
DISCO king, Robin Gibb, who lives in Thame, is reported today as having had a baby with his housekeeper.
The baby girl, named Snow, was apparently born in November, to his 33 year-old housekeeper and companion, Claire Yang.
Bee Gee, Robin, who is 59, is said to have had an eight year relationship with Claire Yang, with the approval of his self-proclaimed bi-sexual wife of 23 years, Dwina.
Dwina herself, who is an adherant to the Brahman religion, which requires members not to have sex, has always had a very open and permissive relationship with Robin. But today she is said by the press to be “furious” about the baby and to feel “betrayed.”
Mother and baby are apparently living five miles away from Thame in a rented house and Robin is said to be “a frequent visitor.”
DISCO king, Bee Gee Robin Gibb, who lives in Thame, has recently become a father again.
The national press today are reporting that a daughter, called Snow, was born to Robin’s ex Housekeeper, and companion for the last eight years, 33 year-old Claire Yang, in November.
Robin’s wife, self-confesssed bi-sexual, Dwina, with whom he has had an open marriage for 23 years, is allegedly “furious” about the baby, having previously accepted the relationship.
She recently converted to the Hindu sect, “The daughers of Brahmam” which expects its followers to become celebate.
Miss Yang and the baby are apparently living in a rented house five miles from Thame, where Robin is a frequent visitor.
Photo: Dwina and Robin Gibb
PLANNING permission has been granted to build five cottages behind The Money Spinner, Cornmarket, Thame, despite opposition from Thame Town Council.
South Oxfordshire District Council’s Planning committee has givien planning and listed building consent for the part demolition of the existing rear projecting extension at the site, and for the erection of a new extension to form five, two bed Mews Cottages with services and facilities including
the construction of waste and re-cycling facilities and a cycle store.
The town council previously recommended refusal of the application on the grounds of it being: “Totally unsuitable backland development on a very narrow site, and “inadequate vehicle access and egress.”
Both Thame’s District councillors, David Dodds and Ann Midwinter, spoke against the application and a motion moved and seconded to refuse the application on the grounds of inadequate parking provision was defeated.