Category: More News

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information to a robbery where thieves targeted a lorry as it was travelling along the M40 last night (7/4).

As the lorry was travelling northbound along the motorway at about 11.30pm towards High Wycombe it was flashed by a dark-coloured BMW between junctions 2 and 3.

The driver of the lorry pulled over, thinking it was a police car, and a man with a high-visibility jacket and cap got out of the car and approached the cab.

At the same time, another man wearing a mask entered the cab of the lorry from the passenger?s side and forced the driver into the back of the cab.

The driver was then tied-up and blindfolded, and what is thought to be three men got into the cab and drove the vehicle to Willets Lane in Denham, where they unhooked the trailer, containing high-value computers, and drove away with it.

The driver managed to get free and made his way to a nearby house where he alerted police at 12.48am this morning (8/4).

Det Sgt Pete Collett said: ?I would like to speak to anyone who was travelling along the M40 last night who may have seen a Volvo arctic lorry towing a white, unmarked trailer, being pulled over by a dark-coloured BMW with a blue light.

?Or anyone who was in the Willets Lane area who may have seen the men unhooking the trailer and driving away from the area with another lorry.?

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Mohammed Rashid via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police Enquiry Line on 0845 8 505 505. Alternatively, you can contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

WHAT An Inconvenient Truth did for understanding climate change, this new film, The Economics of Happiness, is sure to do for understanding localisation versus globalisation.

Even for those who are well versed in the negative effects of globalisation, this film will further expose the systemic structures that drive the machine. But the film also offers hope in examples of the ways (such as transition) that localisation could save us.

You can find out more about the film at: LINK

HADDENHAM IN TRANSITION. The group was one of four finalists in the Best Community Initiative category in the inaugural Climate Week Awards (Mar 21-27). The winner was selected by a judging panel, which included Lord Nicholas Stern, Met Office Chief Scientist Julia Slingo, environmentalist Tony Juniper, author Ian McEwan and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s climate advisor, Terry Tamminen.

It was announced on March 21 at the official Climate Week launch event, where the keynote speaker was Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. The project entered for the award was their Heat, Camera, Action! initiative: ?to offer people infrared thermal images of their houses, businesses and community buildings, for free. The project aims to catalyse action to reduce energy use, by showing people where heat is escaping from their properties.?

It was set up by volunteers from Haddenham in Transition, who, in November/December 2009 borrowed an infrared camera and built a team of 20 volunteers who surveyed nearly 200 local properties in seven local towns and villages, including Thame. They also ran events about climate change in each location.

In December 2010 they secured a

Soha Housing thinks that people who make a difference in their communities deserve recognition. So the South Oxfordshire landlord is running two competitions to find the Soha Community Gem of 2011 – one for the under-20s and one for those a little older.

The winner, as decided by the elected tenant representatives, will win

[Reference: M 24/03/050]

This is a Community Message from Thames Valley Police.

CENSUS SAFETY TIPS

The 2011 Census is coming on Sunday 27 March.

If people don?t complete their forms by 6 April, the Census team will visit to offer help. Please be aware of the following advice:

? Census staff will carry an ID card

? they will not ask for your bank or credit card details

? you wont be asked to leave your completed form on the doorstep

? you can arrange a visit by calling the helpline number of the form

? Census staff will only visit residents who have not returned their forms

? don?t let the caller in your house

? if you?re not sure of the callers identity, keep the door closed and call the Census helpline (0300 0201 101)

For more information visit www.census.gov.uk or call 0300 0201 101.

Message Ends.

Reference: M 25/03/057] – This is a Community Message from Thames Valley Police.

THEFT FROM VEHICLES

There has been an increase of theft from vehicles, particularly from beauty spots in the South Oxfordshireand Vale of White Horse areas. With the nicer weather coming up more people are going out to rural locations for walks and leaving valuable items in their vehicles.

Please DO NOT leave anything on display in your vehicle, items stolen have included bags, Sat Nav?s and mobile phones. It is not just the loss of your property but also the costly repair to your vehicle if entry is gained by smashing a window.

SHED BREAKS

More incidents have been reported of shed breaks, where valuable tools and gardening items have been stolen from insecure sheds and outbuildings. It is not only the cost of the property you loose but the possibility that the tools may be used by a burglar to gain access to your property.

Residents are being advised to secure their sheds with a shed alarm and to consider boarding up or barring windows. Property mark all tools and register power tools on www.immobilise.com Tool marking kits and some shed alarms (including alarmed padlocks) are available from some police stations, please contact your Thames Valley Police Crime Prevention and Reduction Advisor on 08458 505 505 for availability and further information.

Please click on the following link to view a selection of alarms available:

http://www.c-p-p.co.uk/category/asp/CtgID/1031/af/page.htm

For a free copy of the Thames Valley Police ?Secure your sheds, garages and outbuildings? leaflet, please contact the Watch Office on (01235) 556957

If you see any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area, please call the police on 08458 505 505 or 999 for crime in progress. If possible try to obtain make, model and registration number of the vehicle and description of occupants, without putting yourself at any risk.

Message Ends.

THAME MP, John Howell, went back to school on Friday (25 March)to Lord Williams?s, Thame. The MP?s visit included a meeting with the head, David Wybron, to discuss a range of issues about how Government education policy was affecting the school.

John then held a question and answer session with sixth form students who asked a number of questions on topics which ranged widely from the budget and fuel prices to High Speed 2.

John said: ?It is always a pleasure to debate issues with the students at Lord William?s. The questions are spot-on and show both that they are fully aware of current affairs and that they care about the issues of the day.?

Following this, John was the guest at the formal weekly Year 10 assembly. Earlier in the year, Year 10 students had participated in a planning project to understand the issues around new housing in Thame.

The MP congratulated the students on the professionalism of their approach and explained how the planning system was changing and how the approach the students had taken was along the lines of the sort of community and neighbourhood planning that was going to be at the heart of the system in the future.

The visit was arranged by Nicky Stallwood, Personal Development Curriculum Manager at the school. Following the visit Nicky said: ?It was good to have John at the school and for the students to be able to ask questions face to face. It gave them the opportunity to link their work with real life decision making. It always helps when learning can be put into the wider context.?

John commented: ?The Year 10 students showed they cared about their town and their environment but they were also realistic about its needs for the future. They were particularly keen to ensure that environmental issues were addressed such as ensuring that there were green spaces as part of any development. I thought they had particularly good insights and it was clear they had enjoyed the project.?

John also told the students a bit about what it was like to be an MP. Using the example of the how the students passionately supported very different football teams he showed how it was impossible to represent everyone?s views and how an MP needed to listen but then come to his or her own judgement on key issues of the day ? and which football team was best!

SOURCE: Pres release

[Reference: M 30/03/062] This is a Community Message from Thames Valley Police. CARAVAN SECURITY EVENT

PC Paul Gregory and PCSO Jacqueline Madden are holding a Caravan Security Event in partnership with the Oxford Caravan Centre, in Oxford Road, Tiddington, OX9 2LH, on Saturday 9th April, between 11:00hrs and 14:00hrs.

The event is designed to offer awareness for caravan security, with useful crime prevention and reduction advice available. The Oxford Caravan Centre sales manager and site manager have agreed to support us in this event and approved the use of the forecourt to set up a gazebo and a table for information.

Anyone who is interested in caravan security is invited to come along and speak with us. Please click on the link below for further security advice:

LINK

If you are unable to attend but have concerns and would like to receive FREE crime prevention and reduction advice, please contact your Thames Valley Police Crime Reduction Advisor on 08458 505 505.

Message Ends.

AN EYE-CATCHING sculpture of a red kite in mid flight will be unveiled at the launch of the show homes at Windmill Place, Thame, next month.

David Wilson Homes Southern, who are building the new homes development off Windmill Road, Thame,
commissioned local artist Anne Gingell to design a piece of public art to celebrate the launch of the 99 new homes, on Saturday April 9.

Anne, who lives in Eynsham, Oxon, looked to the natural environment for inspiration: ?I walked along the Phoenix Trail recreation path, which starts near the Windmill Place development, and greatly enjoyed the sculpture and furniture made by students of Rycote College,” she said. “I then noticed the numerous red kites that swirled and dived over the path. These impressive birds flew very close to me, with their huge wing span (around five feet) moving the air above my head. I thought it would be wonderful to capture something of their energy and movement in this sculpture for Windmill Place.?

Red kites suffered severe persecution between the 16th and 19th centuries as they were thought to be a threat to expanding agriculture. These magnificent birds of prey, which feed mainly on carrion, insects, earthworms and small mammals, were almost extinct in Great Britain by the end of the 19th century, when just a handful remained in Wales. However, they have been reintroduced to the Chilterns by the RSPB and English Nature, where there are more than 130 breeding pairs. They are particularly visible in the Thame area.

Anne addec: ?My red kite will be made of rusted steel and mounted on a stone column. It will be around eight feet off the ground, so it will look like it?s flying just above our heads, like the ones I saw on my walk. I hope to impart the vital energy and force of the bird itself, not just its image.?

Paul Moran, Sales Director at David Wilson Homes Southern, says: ?The red kite has made a successful comeback in this beautiful area. Our Windmill Place development borders the open countryside where the birds fly and we felt Anne?s sculpture would be a fitting tribute to its survival. We hope to see lots of people at the unveiling on April 9th.?

The Red Kite sculpture can be viewed on Saturday, April 9, when the show home at Windmill Place will be open to the public.

For information on the two, three and four-bedroom homes at Windmill Place, call 01844 260000 or visit: www.dwh.co.uk

PHOTO: By Chris Smith

REFURBISHMENT of the public toilets in the Market House, Thame, the subject of copious complaints over recent years, has come a step nearer.

A planning application has been submitted to South Oxfordshire District Counci, by the council itself, for internal alterations including re-arrangement of cubicles and services, a new window to match the existing one and two glass block windows in the south elevation.

Details of the application, reference P11/E0306, can be viewed on SODC’s website at the following http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/ccm/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ApplicationDetails&REF=P11/E0306