Category: More News

UNTIL recently the rules about Council Tax Benefit were set nationally, and were applied in the same way wherever you live. This has now changed. From April 2013, council tax benefit (CTB) will be abolished and replaced by a local means-tested council tax relief scheme called the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

If you’re of working age and have had all your council tax paid because you?re on a low income, it’s likely you’ll have to pay some of your council tax bill in the future. How much you will have to pay will depend on the area where you live.

If you?re a pensioner, you?ll get the same amount of support as you did under the previous Council Tax Benefit rules, as long as your circumstances haven?t changed.

In England, local councils will get 10 per cent less money from the government and will have to find savings when they start running their new schemes. Each local council will be able to decide who to give support to. This means there may be big differences in the level of support available in different parts of the country.

To find out more about how you might be affected, check your council website or consult your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau. For more information go to the Citizens Advice website www.adviceguide.org.uk
Your nearest CAB office is in Market Square, Thame
Adviceline: 08444 111 444 or 03 00 33 00 650 (Mobile)
Some information HERE for residents of South Oxfordshire.

A Draft agreement between Thame Town Council and the Showman?s Guild to enable this year?s Thame fairs to go ahead, includes two new clauses laying out fines for late or non compliance with necessary paper work and excessive noise, following problems last year.

TICKETS have now gone on sale for this year?s Music In The Park event on May 12, 2013. Tickets cost Adults –

THOMLEY Activity Centre is a unique recreational facility for disabled children, their families, siblings, and friends. Situated on the Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire border in seven acres of beautiful countryside, Thomley offers a safe and supportive setting for children to play, learn and explore.

There are a wide range of activities suitable for all ages and abilities, allowing everyone to have fun, make new friends, and most of all, feel accepted. Activities vary from outdoor activities including; a football pitch; 1km cycle track; zip wire and large sheltered sand pit to numerous indoor areas including; arts and craft; computer room; soft play area and the very popular sensory room.

EASTER HOLIDAYS ? Booking is essential. All of the regular activities are on offer, with additional activities provided for each day; with a separate provision for teenagers and young adults available too. Please see the planner on the website for further information www.thomleyactivitycentre.com/newsletters

Monday 1st April ? Community Day – for all children with and without a disability, their family and friends.
Tuesday 2nd April ? Family Day – for all disabled children, their family and friends.
Wednesday 3rd April ? Teenage and Adult Day ? for all disabled children aged 10+, with their family and friends.
Thursday 4th April ? Group Day ? bookings for disability groups only.
Friday 5th April ? Community Day – for all children with and without a disability, their family and friends.
Saturday 6th April ? Community Day – for all children with and without a disability, their family and friends.

Monday 8th April ? Community Day – for all children with and without a disability, their family and friends.
Tuesday 9th April ? Pre School Day – for all children with/ without a disability under 6.
Wednesday 10th April ? Teenage and Adult Day ? for all disabled children aged 10+, with their family and friends.
Thursday 11th April ? Group Day ? bookings for disability groups only.
Friday 12th April ? Community Day – for all children with and without a disability, their family and friends.
Saturday 13th April ? Family Day – for all disabled children, their family and friends.

Pre-School day ? Tuesday 16th April
Come and have a fun-filled day with other parent/ carers and take advantage

THAME photographer, John Comino James’ latest book is about to be released, his third of photographs taken in Havana, Cuba, a city of images that have captured a special place in his heart.

Havana: Intimations of Departure, due to be published on April 1, by Dewi Lewis Publishing, is John’s third book of photographs made in Havana, a city which, he says, “.. still surprises me: just when I think I know parts of the city well, I catch myself walking in streets made unfamiliar by my photographs.”

John explained: “The monochrome images are arranged in five sections. The photographs are a contemplation of some of the visual experiences and emotional connections I feel I might lose were I unable to walk through Havana again. I record moments in the history of buildings, find myself drawn into and almost overwhelmed by the energy of the street, and observe moments of individual preoccupation and solitude.

“The sixth and final section of the book, using text and colour images, is in reaction to the blandishments of a tourist industry which all too often proposes that ?Cuba is on the verge of change and that therefore now is the perfect time to visit before its distinctive character is altered forever?, and which invites would-be visitors to ?check out the charming glory of Old Havana where American 50?s cars line the streets and where they can relax with a cigar and a mojito?.

“In revealing something of my relationships and my photographic practice I hope to counter the proposition that the admittedly photogenic Havana landscape simply presents an opportunity ?for great dramatic photos for competitions and portfolios.?

“Even before I knew that Cuba?s story would become part of my grandchildren?s cultural heritage,” concluded John, “I became increasingly preoccupied with the need to learn something about the historical events and culture that underpinned the life I was witnessing in the streets. This last section of the book therefore concludes with pointers towards a wider culture of film, music, literature, painting, and politics beyond the Che Guevara T-shirts and other souvenirs.”

(related link)

Hardcover: 168 pages
Publisher: Dewi Lewis Publishing (1 April 2013)
ISBN-10: 190789330X
ISBN-13: 978-1907893308
Price:

THIS year’s Tidy Thame Day, will be on March 24. Local organisations and individuals will come together to make Thame a tidier, brighter and cleaner place to work, rest and play.

Residents? Associations, schools, clubs, or individuals are being encouraged to come together on Tidy Thame Day and spruce up an area in their vicinity, or put their name down to join a larger group who have a bigger project in mind.

If you would like to take part, contact Cllr Mary Stiles at maryandstella@aol.com or Cllr Andy Gunn at andygunn41@yahoo.co.uk

THE Thame Equipment Bank is growing and growing. So much so that 21st Century Thame, the town partnership, has had to replace the containers that house all the hire equipment with two larger ones.

Thanks to extra muscle from an army of helpers from Chinnor Rugby Club?s Friday Club, all the tables, chairs, gazebos, bins and other equipment for hire to local organisations and residents, was quickly moved out of two smaller containers before the rain came down, and the container crane replaced them with two larger containers which then had to be refilled.

Any time now additional equipment, including staging, will also be available. For a full list of the equipment available and how to apply to hire it, visit the web portal, www.thame4me.org

PHOTO: Lizzie Smailes from Chinnor helps move the Equipment Pool to its new home on Friday (08/03)

NFU South East has invested in four county advisers to work with its farmer and grower members ? including an adviser covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

The new County Adviser for the NFU in Berks, Bucks and Oxon is Nerys Wright. She said: ?This is an exciting new role within the NFU which will allow me to work much more closely with our members in the three counties. I am also keen to forge stronger relationships with the relevant organisations that have an impact on our members? businesses.?

Nerys Wright grew up on a Welsh beef and sheep farm and graduated in Animal Science from The University of Nottingham. She then went to work as a consultant for ADAS staying for more than six years, before joining the NFU. She is based in the centre of the three counties at Milton Common, near Thame in Oxfordshire. You can follow Nerys Wright on Twitter @ neryswright

The recruitment of county advisers by the NFU this winter follows a decision last year by the NFU?s Governing Council to make a significant investment of

BUCKS Open Studios, the largest visual arts event in Buckinghamshire, has announced that more artists and makers than ever before will be participating in the 2013 event.

Now in its 28th year, Bucks Open Studios will take place across the county from June 8-23, 2013.

575 artists and makers from the county including painters, glass workers, basket weavers, metal workers, wood turners, jewellery makers, book makers, print makers and silk makers will be opening their studios at 199 venues to the public for free and showcasing their talent through demonstrations, exhibitions and workshops.

Several artist from Haddenham, near Thame, will be taking part including:

Ali Cockrean – Professional Expressionist Painter

Ali Smith – Natural Gemstone & Wirework Jewellery

Anna K Baldwin – Handmade Contemporary Jewellery

Art At Tiggywinkles – Paintings,sculpture,photography & textiles

Dragon Barn Studio – Mixed Contemporary Art Exhibition

Ed Bullimore – Fine Art Photographs On Canvas To Delight

Heather Hunter & – Paper, Print & Book Artists
Jean Mould Hart

Ben Boswell, Joint Chair of Bucks Open Studios and Photographer said: ?We are absolutely thrilled to announce that the event will have more artists and makers participating than ever before. In fact the event has more than doubled in size since 2007 in terms of artists participating and we hope to exceed last year?s record of just over 38,000 visits made to studios and exhibitions by around 12,000 visitors during the fortnight in June.

“This is all a testament to the growing popularity of the event as well as a general increase in the urge to be more creative, perhaps inspired by popular TV programmes such as Kirstie?s Homemade Home.?

Ben continued: ?The event spans a huge variety of disciplines and levels of involvement, from professional artists with international reputations to passionate hobbyists. So whether you are an art enthusiast or just casually interested in art, Bucks Open Studios is a great opportunity for a fascinating day out. You can talk directly to artists, watch demonstrations and even be inspired to take up a new hobby and find your own hidden talent.?

To find out more about Bucks Open Studios 2013, and for a full list of all the participating artists, visit the website http://www.bucksopenstudios.org.uk

FLOODS, droughts, hurricanes & heatwaves: a talk about the latest news on climate change followed by a discussion – Thursday, February 28, 2013 – 8pm – 10pm

Venue: Rose & Thistle Pub, Station Road, Haddenham.

Dr Martin Hodson will bring the meeting up to date with a short talk which will then be followed by a group discussion.

Martin is Visiting Researcher in Environmental Biology, Oxford Brookes University, having been on the staff since 1989. His research interests include plant mineral relations, archaeology and palaeoecology. He has over 75 publications, mostly in international scientific journals.

VISITORS to South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse can go on a real voyage of discovery this March thanks to a programme of English Tourism Week events.

To celebrate the national effort to push tourism throughout the country, a special Southern Oxfordshire English Tourism Week programme has been produced, highlighting the exciting events taking place across the region between 16 and 24 March.

Visitors to the area will be able to check out The Story of the Paralympics at the River and Rowing Museum in Henley, Head Over Heals ? the tale of shoes and hats, at Abingdon Museum; or how about taking part in one of Britain?s most eccentric events The World Pooh Sticks Championship at Day?s Lock.

During the week South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils will also be running a special tourism quiz, testing people?s knowledge of sites and events across the area. Prizes on offer include a chocolate making course at Rumsey?s,in Thame, the opportunity to try your hand at farming at Farmer Gow?s, and the chance to win a season ticket to Wallingford Museum.

Thame’s 21st Century Thame Partnership is planning ‘A Day Out in Thame’ event, promoting the town’s eating and drinking, theatre, cinema and cultural events. More information to come!

For more information about events taking place in Southern Oxfordshire during tourism week, visit: www.southernoxfordshire.com

Cllr Judith Nimmo-Smith, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Property and Technical Services at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: ?Tourism Week gives us a great chance to promote the area to a national and international audience, showing off the sites and events that we really pride ourselves on.?