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Category: Thame news

  • Would you be willing to pay more towards policing?

    THE following urgent message is from the Police and Crime Commissioner, Anthony Stansfeld:

    On Tuesday, December 19, the Home Secretary announced a substantial £450 million increase in police funding across England and Wales. However, this funding package assumes that all Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) will raise the police element of council tax by £1 a month (or £12 a year) for a band D property which, collectively, will raise £270 million of the £450 million increase. This will allow forces to continue to provide an effective service in their critical work to fight crime and protect the public.

    Anthony Stansfield

    At present around 60% of Thames Valley Police’s £393 million annual policing budget is funded by central government, with the policing element of your council tax making up the remainder. Since 2010/11 the police grant has been cut by around 38% in real terms which has resulted in Thames Valley Police (TVP) having to make £99 million of savings in order to balance the budget. These cuts have already led to a manpower reduction of over 1,000 full time equivalent posts, including more than 450 police officers.

    Setting the budget for 2018/19 needs to be considered in the context of an already constrained financial position as well as the additional pressures policing faces as demand in some of the most complex and challenging areas continues to increase. This includes rising reports and cases of hidden crimes such as domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual offences, serious violence and exploitation have all increased the pressure on police resources.

    Needless to say this is proving to be extremely challenging and without the increase of £12 per year in council tax, as recommended by the Home Secretary, we would have to make further significant reductions in police officers and staff which will affect the level and quality of policing service we are able to offer you.

    In November 2017 TVP was judged by the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to be ‘outstanding’ in the efficiency with which it keeps people safe and reduces crime. This includes an ‘outstanding’ for its understanding of demand and its use of resources to manage demand, and its planning for future demand was judged to be ‘good’. Thames Valley Police was one of only two forces nationally to have been awarded an overall rating of outstanding.

    Ideally I would not choose to consult over the busy Christmas and New Year period and particularly on such an important issue, however, the Chief Constable and I only received the provisional police grant settlement for 2018/19 from the Home Office on Tuesday, December 19. Unfortunately due to budget decisions needing to be finalised by the end of January, I am only able to run the consultation until midday on Thursday, January 11. I apologise for the timing and length of the consultation period but I hope you will take the time to complete the survey which will help the Chief Constable and I to make an informed decision on the budget for 2018/19.

    Today I have launched a short online survey to seek your views on this increase, which can be found on the below link and I would encourage you to complete it and share widely:
    https://www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/police-funding-survey-have-your-say/

    Those residents who do not have access to the internet can write to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Thames Valley Police Headquarters, Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxon, OX5 2NX with your answers to the below questions.

    Question 1
    Do you think an extra £12 per year in council tax, for a Band D property, to help protect operational policing in Thames Valley would be money well spent?

    Yes / No

    Question 2
    If you have answered No to question 1 will you please explain why and propose an alternative annual increase that you believe is justified and will enable the Force to do their job effectively?

    Please note that all responses needs to be received by midday on Thursday 11th January 2018

    Anthony Stansfeld
    Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley

  • ‘Green light’ for Thame-led community housing scheme

    THAME Town Council’s big idea to help tackle the shortage of affordable homes locally, has come a step closer. (more…)

  • Christmas bin collections

    YOUR Christmas waste and recycling collections: Visit the SODC webpage for full details and timetable: LINK HERE

     

  • Quarter tonne of supplies for families in crisis

    YEAR 12 students from Lord Williams’s school’s Ambassador Team recently ran a ‘Food Drive’ across the whole school, collecting food, Christmas items and toiletries to donate to The Trussell Trust, a charity which provides food and supply boxes for families in crisis.

     

     

    The team collected donations between December 4-8, and delivered them to the warehouse on the afternoon December 15, and the combined donation total weighed in at over a ¼ tonne – an impressive 232.8KG. The volunteers were overwhelmed by the amount the school had collected and have written a letter to express their gratitude to all of those involved.

    The Year 12 Ambassador team would also like to thank everyone for their generosity in helping us to make such a success of this event.

    SOURCE: Contributed

  • Thame’s squash juniors mix it with the seniors

    RACQUETS Fitness Centre’s Junior squash players, have been mixing it with the adults to really test their metal and get tournament experience.

    Left to right – Artie Shrimpton and Noah James

    Racquets hosted an Adult Graded Squash Tournament on Saturday, December 16, with 37 players of all standards entered across four categories. Grade D was populated by a host of junior players who all decided to enter the adult orientated tournament for match play experience.

    Coach, Sue Martin Downhill said: “It was fantastic to witness the next generation of squash players coming through and mixing in with more experienced players, watching and taking notes as well as trying their hand at marking the senior competitors.”

    Ten year-old Alex Bozon was quick to volunteer as referee in between his own matches, showing confidence in tracking the score. He had a close match with peer Andrew Worby who has only been playing squash for three months but managed to serve well on the day to sneak a win.

    In the other half of the competition original Academy player, Allegra Michopoulou, took on newby Matthew Bailey who started playing squash in October when his school attended squash sessions at Racquets. Both players showed grit and determination but it was Allegra who had the slight edge. Sue Martin-Downhill emphasised the importance of introducing schools to squash for the future of our sport: “People rarely stumble across squash,” she said. “It’s up to us and our squash community to offer opportunities to play.” Racquets currently works with local schools during the daytime and also run junior squash sessions six days a week outside of school hours. Offering all these opportunities to play has seen the junior set up in Thame flourish over the last six months.

    Sue concluded: “The tournament was a great success with over 50 matches being played across the day. Players earned their mince pies, particularly nine-year olds Noah James and Artie Shrimpton, who ended the day with a tight five set match in the D grade final. Over 40 minutes of play, Artie came out triumphant, beating Noah 11-7.

    “Well done to all the juniors who played and marked over the weekend; it was fantastic to watch the new generation of young talent on our squash courts here in Thame.”

  • Medals a-plenty for Thame Swimmers at County Qualifier

    THAME Swimming Club put in an amazing performance in the recent Watford County qualifier meet, taking advantage of the penultimate weekend before the county qualifying period closed!

     

     

    In all, Thame won 34 Medals as well as a whole host of Personal Bests – 11 Gold, 11 Silver, and 12 Bronze medals were carried home.

    Thame Swimming Club spokesman, Will Hard, said: “The team had great fun at the meet warming up to Macarena and YMCA, but giving their best and showing great camaraderie and friendship along the way. It was brilliant to see the team having so much fun, but giving their absolute best in the pool.

    “The swimmers gained a plethora of county qualification times for the Oxford North Bucks County Championships, which will be held in January and February of 2018.

  • Fake Government grants fraud alert

    INDIVIDUALS and businesses are being warned to watch out for cold calls and online contact from fraudsters who are offering victims the opportunity to apply for Government grants for an advance fee.

     

    To make the grants look legitimate fraudsters have set up bogus companies and convincing looking websites that claim to be operating on behalf of the UK Government.

    Fraudsters cold call businesses and individuals offering the grant and if they’re interested direct them to fill out an online application form with their personal information.
    Once the fraudsters have that information they’ll contact back victims and congratulate them on being accepted onto the grant programme.

    Pre-paid credit cards

    Applicants are then asked to provide identification and are instructed to get a pre-paid credit card to deposit their own contribution to the fake Government grant scheme. Fraudsters will then contact victims on the phone or are emailed and asked for the details of their pre-paid credit card and copies of statements to in order for them to add the grant funds.

    Of course the grant funds are never given by the fraudsters and the money that’s been loaded by the victim onto the card is stolen.

    If you receive one of these calls, hang up immediately and report it to us. We’ve already taken down one website fraudsters have been using to commit this fraud and are working with Companies House to combat this issue.

    How to protect yourself

    Be wary of unsolicited callers implying that you can apply for grants. You should never have to pay to receive a government grant, and they definitely won’t instruct you to obtain a pre-paid credit card. The government should have all the information they need if a genuine grant application was submitted, therefore any requests for personal or banking information either over the phone or online should be refused.

    What to do if you’re a victim

    If you think your bank or personal details have been compromised or if you believe you have been defrauded contact your bank immediately.
    Stop all communication with the ‘agency’ but make a note of their details and report it to Action Fraud.
    If you have been affected by this, or any other type of fraud, report it to Action Fraud by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

    The information contained within this alert is based on information from gathered by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB). The purpose of this alert is to increase awareness of this type of fraud. The alert is aimed at members of the public, local police forces, businesses and governmental agencies.

  • Lucky tenants for new social homes near Thame

    THE first residents of four new social homes in Great Haseley, near Thame, could be moving in for Christmas. (more…)

  • Thame groups benefit from Music In the Park grants

    THE team behind Thame’s annual Music in the Park, has recently awarded grants to two local organisations. Barley Hill Church received a grant of £250 to help fund Thame’s Christmas Eve “Carols Around the Tree” event, and Thame Concert Band was awarded a grant of £300 to help it boost recruitment and purchase new music.

    Cheques were presented to both organisations by Chris Fram, Chair of Music in the Park’s organising committee.

    Michael Lindsay of Barley Hill Church said: “We work with other groups such as Thame Concert Band to organise Carols Around the Tree on Christmas Eve, which, every year brings pleasure to some 500 – 600 Thame residents. This grant will help us provide everyone with a glass of mulled wine to help warm them up.”

    Marie Bradley, Chair of Thame Concert Band, said: “Thame Concert Band is a community-based wind band which has been a vital part of the local music scene for twenty-five years. We welcome musicians of all ages, from school children to very senior citizens, and of all abilities. This grant will help us increase our recruitment activities and buy some new music.”

    Plans for Music in the Park 2018 are well underway and local organisations that meet the criteria will once again be able to apply for grants.

    Grants to local organisations

    Music in the Park initially directed proceeds from its event to improving the facilities in Elms Park, where the event takes place. Music in the Park contributed to lighting along the path through the park and bought a commemorative bench to help people sit and enjoy the park. In 2016, Music in the Park announced it would also award a limited number of grants to local organisations that have a clear link to Thame or the surrounding area and meet Music in the Park’s key objective of assisting in the provision of facilities in the Thame area in the interests of art, music or recreation, or other leisure time occupation of individuals or organisations that live or operate in the Thame area.

    To keep up-to-date with news of Music in the Park 2018, visit the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/MusicInTheParkThame or website: www.musicinthepark.org.uk

  • Chinnor keep cool heads in freezing conditions to beat Bury

    IT took cool heads in freezing conditions to see off the challenge of free flowing Bury St Edmunds on Saturday, but despite being outscored five tries to six, Chinnor RFC secured their 13th win of the campaign.

    For the second week in a row Chinnor got on the score sheet early with an impeccable lineout catch and drive. Jack Gilding emerged from the pile to claim the points on eight minutes. Then Bury struck back with a speculative grubber causing confusion on the Chinnor line allowing the Suffolk side in at the corner flag which on the advice of the touch judge was upgraded to a penalty try with a yellow card issued to Jamel Hamilton for ‘playing the player without the ball’.

    Chinnor’s 14 men regrouped and struck back with Jack Ramshaw powering over to give Chinnor a 5-12 lead. Bury had a simple game plan – to hit the wide man Corcoran and let him run! It was a tactic that Chinnor failed to deal with effectively all afternoon. On 27 mins it paid dividends again with the pacey winger running in for the first of his hat-trick.

    Chinnor’s scrum dominance strangely went unrewarded by the officials for the full 80 mins. However, they stayed focused and George Oliver duly finished of an excellent series of phase play to give Chinnor a half time lead 12-19

    The first score after the break was going to set the scene for the rest of the game. Chinnor, comfortable in possession, gifted an intercept to the home side to allow Corcoran to touch down on on 41 mins and the conversion levelled the scores. It was game on!. Jonny Bentley then edged the visitors ahead with a coolly slotted penalty. A Beales try then swung the pendulum back towards Bury.

    There followed an exhibition of running rugby from both sides which was appreciated by the packed Haberden crowd. Henry Lamont cut through the Suffolk sides defence to score and was shortly followed by a superb length of the field run by Kieran Goss which set up Al Gliksten to dive over. These, in true form, were answered by two tries out wide again by the Bury pace men which made the scores level 34-34 with 10 minutes left to play.

    Chinnor then showed their class in front of the raucous home crowd by working their way up the pitch and earn a penalty 25m out to the sides of the posts. Replacement Bertie Hopkin stepped up to slot the winning points. With five minutes left to play Bury threw everything at the Chinnor line but it was in vain as after several phases of text book defending Bury St Edmunds infringed and Bertie Hopkin put the ball in touch to seal the five points.

    This was a great game for the neutral and the packed Haberden stand helped their side to a deserved two points. Chinnor made life difficult for themselves but it was job done! Five points in the bag and on to Canterbury at home next week.

    SOURCE: Contributed