AS the clock ticks down towards the ‘Glo4Flo’ Midnight walk in aid of the Florence Nightingale Hospice, women from all over the area are signing up to take part to raise funds for the charity, including Yvette Cundy, proprietor of Kismet Jewellers in Thame.
Yvette Cundy walking in last year’s midnight walk
Charlotte SanMarco, from Chinnor, another walker, has been explaining why she has decided to take part: “In 2013, my dad, Bian Mace, was told that his bowel cancer had returned and that he would probably only have months to live. When you’re told something like that, it doesn’t just affect your loved one – it affects the whole family.
“Once we realised Dad’s illness was terminal we were put in touch with the amazing team at Florence Nightingale Hospice. They stayed by our side for the next year, explaining everything to us to make the whole experience seem less scary.
“Last summer, Dad’s cancer took hold and he was admitted to the hospice, where he was cared for with dignity and pride right up until his final few days. My young boys, Callum (6) and Zak (4), were very unsure about why ‘Grampy’ had to stay in the hospice.
But, the nurses were brilliant. They even gave the boys a teddy bear each which put smiles back on their faces.
“Sadly, on the August 3, 2014, dad lost his battle. We’re just so grateful that he had somewhere safe and comfortable to spend his last days. This is why on Saturday, July 11, my Mother-in-law, Sister-in- law and me (with my five-month-old baby bump) will be walking six miles to support the outstanding care provided at the Hospice, and to enable them to continue to help families just like us.”
There is still time to register to take on the challenge; visit www.gemstonewalk.co.uk to find out how.
THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after two dog walkers were attacked by a stranger’s dog and verbally abused by the dog’s owners.
The incident took place at about 7pm on Wednesday (17/6) in Whites Field, off Mill Lane, Chinnor.
Two women in their twenties were walking their dog in Whites Field when they were approached by a dog which jumped up and bit each victim on their arms. The victims both suffered puncture wounds. They did not require hospital treatment.
The two offending dog owners were verbally aggressive towards the victims.
The offending dog owners were described by the police as being two white women. The first is between 50 and 60-years-old, around 5ft 6ins tall, with very short dark hair and of a large build. She was wearing dark glasses, light long sleeved top and dark trousers.
The second woman was in her late thirties, with blonde shoulder length hair and is of a large build. She was wearing a zip up hooded top and blue jeans.
PC Ali Shahed from Thame police station said: “Members of the public who were enjoying their evening may have seen or heard this incident as it was a busy evening on the field.”
If you have any information please contact PC Shahed via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.
If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
THE work for Chinnor Parish Neighbourhood Plan will be officially launched at Chinnor Village Hall on Thursday, July 2, between 3 pm and 8.30 pm.
Marius Ciortan with Chinnor Neighbourhood Plan leaflets
Every resident of Chinnor, Chinnor Hill, Emmington, Henton and Wainhill is invited to attend and bring ideas about the future of the parish for the next 20-25 years.
There will be timed sessions when Chinnor Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group volunteers will outline the preparation stages and objectives for the neighbourhood plan. There will also be break-out sessions, when local residents will have the opportunity to share their ideas about the future of Chinnor Parish. The expected themes will include housing, road infrastructure, schools, doctors’ surgeries, retail, recreation facilities and other topics which local residents may wish to bring up.
Marius Ciortan, spokesman for the Steering Group, said: “We as a Community covering Chinnor, Chinnor Hill, Emmington, Henton and Wainhill can make a difference and become a force to be reckoned with. However, we can only achieve this if we pull together and gather our views and ideas on how we would like to see our area develop over the next 25 years. Therefore, we would like to encourage all residents who live in the area covered by Chinnor Parish, to attend our Chinnor Neighbourhood Plan Launch Event on July 2.
“This is going to be our own Neighbourhood Plan prepared by all of us, all together, all our Community.”
Chinnor Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group is also looking for more volunteers who could help distribute communications, report progress, get involved with surveys and collate information for the Steering Group to work from.
More information about Chinnor Parish Neighbourhood Plan can be found at: www.Chinnorneighbourplan.com The Chinnor Neighbourhood Plan Steering group can be contacted via: Chinnorneighbourplan@outlook.com & share ideas with other members of the community via: www.facebook.com/ChinnorNeighbourhoodPLan
THAME’S Community policing team have been kept busy over the past month dealing with Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) in Thame and Chinnor, as reported in their latest monthly Crime update.
Thame’s Neighbourhood Policing team
The team has apparently been receiving reports of ASB in Southern Road recreational ground car park area, in Thame, involving the smashing of bottles and noise, and at Whites Field, Mill Lane, Chinnor, involving cannabis smoking and littering. The team is asking that local people please tell them immediately by calling the police non-emergency number 101, and they will deal with it firmly.
Cannabis and alcohol has been seized from persons near the river at Priest End, Thame and alcohol has also been seized from persons drinking inside the exclusion zone of Southern Road recreational ground. Officers say they will continue to monitor the areas of concern pro-actively.
Traffic issues/Parking
The team has continued to monitor illegal parking in the area and have been issuing parking tickets to offending vehicles. Parking on double yellow lines carries a fine of £30 and parking on zigzags at crossings is £60, plus three penalty points. Don’t get caught! Tickets have been issued in Thame and Watlington for both parking on double yellows and parking in a disabled bay without displaying a valid badge.
Offenders brought to justice
A 15 year old male will appear in court after being charged with handling stolen goods and causing criminal damage in Chinnor.
Following a spate of plant thefts including hanging baskets and box shrubs, the suspects were identified and arrested. The items have now been returned back to the rightful owners.
Two neighbourly disputes have been managed and resolved by local PCSOs in Thame and a vehicle seized in Chinnor.
You can read PCSO Jacky Madden’s full update here: LINK
NB
‘Have Your Say’ meetings are an ideal opportunity for local residents to speak to their local police officers and PCSOs about any local issues, no appointment is necessary just turn up and speak to your local officers. Upcoming Have Your Say meetings are:–
Saturday, 20 June 2015, 3pm – 5pm at the Co-Op Cafe, High Street, Thame with PCSO Diane Jackson.
A CAMPAIGN group that opposes a proposal for an edge of town supermarket in Thame, now has over 1,000 signatures to its on-line petition of support for its cause, and has been analysing where that support is coming from.
Chris Wren (right) in his butcher’s shop in Buttermarket, Thame
Thame Centre First states that it is opposing an out-of-town supermarket development to keep shops together at the heart of Thame, and that it has evidence to show the valuable role Thame town centre plays as a retail hub, not only for residents of Thame but for the surrounding community in a 10 mile radius.
The group has analysed responses to the petition that has been running at various shops around the town in recent weeks, and now states: “Well over 1000 people have now signed the petitions which oppose the proposed Tesco development on the DAF site at Howland Road. Of these, 58% of respondents were from Thame town, while 42% were from other locations. These included villages such as Haddenham, Chinnor, Chearsley, Shabbington, Ickford, Cuddington and Tetsworth, and shows how vital a role the centre of Thame plays for shopping and other services in the local area.
Independent butchers have their say
“The success of the town centre as a retail centre is exemplified by the fact that it supports two independent butchers, Newitt’s and Wren’s,” continued TCF. Tom Newitt, MD of Newitt’s, said: “Our family business has been trading on our present site for 50 years and we are here for the long term. We live and work in Thame and provide employment in the town. We want to be around for the next 50 years and not considering shutting up shop because of reduced footfall and vanishing customers.
“We urge all our customers to support Thame Centre First.” Christopher Wren, MD of Wren’s, in the Buttermarket, said: “We’ve been butchers for over 40 years in Thame, 20 of these on our present site. I believe independent shops like ours are vitally important as we offer outstanding customer service and best quality meat at value-for-money prices. The disastrous effect on town centres is evident from other places where supermarkets have opened on the edge of town, leading to loss of business and shop closures.”
RETAIL IMPACT
Thame Centre First has commissioned a retail impact study from Strutt & Parker, the leading property consultants and have reported that the initial findings of this study show that: “…the proposed Tesco store will lead to a diversion of trade away from Thame town centre.”
Thame Centre First added: “The initial assessment carried out by experts we have instructed indicates that Tesco has understated the negative impact on the successful retail units in the town centre, which will over time lead to a reduction in choice for shoppers. The proposed Tesco store is inconsistent with the adopted planning policy set out in the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and the Thame Neighbourhood Plan, which set out limited requirements for additional convenience shopping and nothing on the scale proposed by Tesco.”
For more information on Thame Centre First, visit http://www.thamecentrefirst.org/ or email info@thamecentrefirst.co.uk.
To sign the petition opposing the Tesco development, visit shops including Newitt’s, Wren’s, Glynswood, Robert Stanley, Planet Health, The Book House and others in Thame. Alternatively sign the petition online at www.thamecentrefirst.org.
To object to the proposed Tesco development, go to:
FOLLOWING the news today that Oxfordshire County Council is considering closing some Childrens’ Homes in the county to save money, Thame’s county councillor, Nick Carter, has assured Thame.Net that any closures will not include the new Assessment Centre, currently being build on the outskirts of Thame, as it is being built in order to save the huge cost of placing ‘looked after’ children in facilities outside the county.
Cllr Carter was not, however, able to say that Thame’s Red Kite Childrens’ Centre, will escape closure, and issued the following statement:
Cllr Nick Carter
“The County Council has 44 children’s centres, including the Red Kite centre in Thame. These have been in existence for about ten years, and because of big cuts in funding, we have to start looking for different ways of running them or of providing an equivalent service.
“The County Cabinet is looking at how to deliver these services, and next week it will decide whether to accept the principle that changes could be made. If so, the options will be worked out and everyone will be able to consider them during a thorough consultation in the autumn.
“The County Council provides about 85% of everyone’s services in Oxfordshire, and a large part of the funds for this come from the Government. However, the national finances are still in deficit and more cuts are inevitable.
“Since 2010 when the deficit reduction began, the County Council has achieved £200 million of savings. This has had a massive impact on how services are delivered, but so far, we have managed to avoid affecting aspects such as children’s centres. But those savings are nowhere near finished yet. By 2018, we know that total savings have to reach £290 million. And now, on top of all this, there’s likely to be about £60m more to add to that total.
“This will be a huge challenge, particularly with the increasing pressure on both adult and children’s social care – currently around 50% of the County Council’s budget is spent on just 2% of Oxfordshire’s population. We can no longer avoid the fact that more than £6m has to be saved from what is known as the early intervention service, which includes children’s centres.
“What happens after this will start to become apparent next month. The Government Budget on July 8, along with the spending review later in the autumn, will provide more details about the impact of further cuts in funding.”
THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information following the theft of a tractor from Milton Common, Thame.
At around 2.11 am yesterday morning (15/06), offender(s) stole an old model green John Deere 7530 tractor, registration number OU59 AY0 from a business premises in Rycote Lane.
If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message, please call the police on the 24 hour non-emergency telephone number 101.
Alternatively if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online @ crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
IN response to the Thame Centre First campaign against a proposed large supermarket on the outskirts of Thame, a group of residents in favour of the proposal have started a campaign of their own and have issued the following statement:
“Thame NEEDS Tesco – TNT, was formed to represent the views and opinions of people in the town who welcome the prospect of a Tesco supermarket on Howland Road. We are all local people living in and around Thame. Many of us have lived here most of our lives. We have no vested business interests or political ambitions. We represent a broad cross section of the Thame community; working people with young families, retired folk, young people keen to get a start in life.
“We care for Thame and are concerned about the future of the town as it faces changing times involving the building of hundreds of new homes.
We support the vibrant town centre with its mix of shops and services, but recognise that it does not meet the everyday shopping needs of many residents. We strongly believe that Thame needs another supermarket that can offer what is currently unavailable, or unaffordable, in the town centre. Many of us shop in big supermarkets in Aylesbury, Wheatley, Princes Risborough, Oxford or Bicester. But we’d prefer to spend our time and money in Tesco, in Thame.
“Wanting Tesco does not mean we do not support the town centre shops. We will continue to use them as we do at present if Tesco is built.
The argument that Tesco will affect town centre businesses carries little weight if the people who currently shop there continue to do so. And why would they change their habits when they already have the choice of shopping in other out-of-town supermarkets if they wished to?
“Thame is likely to have to cope with over 700 new homes in the next 10-15 years. Where will those new families do their shopping? The town centre is already congested with very limited parking; it certainly will not be able to cope with the predicted influx. If new homes are built, the town has a moral duty to provide the services needed to encourage owners to become part of the community. That includes adequate local supermarket choice. Forcing people to spend time and money in other towns will limit their involvement in, and appreciation of, the town they have chosen to live in.
As well as a much-needed choice of shopping, Tesco will bring new employment to the town. We are lucky to live in an area of low official unemployment, but the figures disguise the fact that new jobs would be very welcome among young people, parents with pre-school children, older people and those looking for part-time work. And let’s not forget that this is not just about a supermarket but also about providing other commercial employment on the site with DAF and or other businesses.
“In the weeks ahead we will continue to talk to people in Thame, seek their support for our campaign and represent their views to the town council, the district council and other parties involved in the decision making process. ”
Details of the supermarket’s plans can be seen on the SODC website, Planning Application P15/S1637/O where comments of support can be made.
TNT, like the Thame Centre First group, has set up an e-petition for supporters to sign: LINK HERE FOR PETITION
IF you were one of the brave souls at the Thame Carnival Fete on Saturday, and you bought raffle tickets for one of the fabulous prizes, you will want to know the numbers of the winning raffle tickets that were not claimed during the rain!
Despite the rain, after having a guess at the length of the giant scarf, this young man was determined to enjoy a giant icecream
And if you had a go at guessing the length of the giant scarf at Thame to Thame’s stall, see below to find out how long it actually is!
The organisers have asked that ticket holders should be aware that prizes will only be given out on production of the raffle ticket, and that the book code will be checked against the books from which they came.
Raffle prizes can be collected from Racquets Fitness Centre, North Street, Thame (behind the Cattle Market) from 9am to 4pm each day this week. For collections outside this time please speak to Sue Martin-Downhill by calling 01844 261754. And here are the winning numbers:
White 19 Pink 388
Yellow 60 White 82
Pink 7 Pink 187
White 56 Pink 243
Pink 321 Yellow 62
White 29 Pink 285
White 40 Pink 400
Pink 68
Pink 382
Please ask for Sue Martin-Downhill when collecting your prize.
The giant scarf in 7 metre folds, before it was completely rolled up again
Thame to Thame’s stall, ‘Guess the length of the giant ‘Sherpa’ scarf’, raised a magnificent £100.90p towards helping to fund the rebuilding of the school in Thame’s namesake village of Thame (Tam-ay) severely damaged in April’s earthquakes in Nepal. This included £20 in donations and a contribution from Anne Croxford who sold her hand-made cards from the stall.
The length of the scarf when unrolled measured just under 356 ft, that’s 108 metres ! Thame’s ex Mayor, Jeannette Matelot Green, came very close with a guess of 327′ 2″, and Lewis too was quite close with a guess of 370 ft, but the closest – with an estimate of 348 ft, was Becky, pink ticket no. 246 – just 7″ short of the actual measurement!
Becky wins a Cream Tea for two. FOR MORE Carnival Fete pictures, go to LINK (apologies for poor quality of some of the pictures; camera was very wet by the end of the afternoon)
THE out-going Headteacher of John Hampden Primary School, Thame, lead his ‘crew’ through the centre of the town for the last time today, to the stirring sound of the theme music to the film, Pirate’s of the Caribbean.
Alan Haigh leads his ‘crew’ in today’s carnival procession through Thame
As the drizzle relentlessly descended, Alan Haigh, who is retiring from teaching at Christmas, nevertheless went ‘out with a splash’ as he cheerfully waved to well-wishing on-lookers, some sheltering under umbrellas and others determinedly ignoring the weather and making the best of it as the people of Thame always do.
Other entries in the carnival, themed this year around ‘The Movies’, included Frozen, Lego the Movie, Lion King, The Wizard of Oz and Hairspray – all equally as cheerfully and bravely in some cases, displaying a true, carnival spirit despite the weather.
The Mayor of Thame, Nichola Dixon, helped by the new Town Clerk, Graham Hunt, cut the ribbon to declare the start of Carnival 2015, and after much deliberation, declared John Hampden School and Tetsworth School (apologies for reporting it was ‘Tiddington’ earlier), joint winners of the Carnival Cup. But the winners’ good fortune came at a price – they have to go and search and find this coveted treasure themselves, for the cup seems to have gone missing and is proving difficult to trace. So, whichever school manages to track down who has the Thame Carnival Cup, will get to keep it in their school’s trophy cupboard – just until next year.
Follow the LINK to see pictures of today’s Carnival procession. (More about the Carnival Fete tomorrow)
But, the nurses were brilliant. They even gave the boys a teddy bear each which put smiles back on their faces.
