Category: More News

FIND out how much local authority executives earn, including David Buckle, Joint Chief Executive of South Oxfordshire District Council andThe Vale of White Horse DC.
http://www.catent.co.uk/sodcWatch/

TWO Thame sports organisations have been awarded over

HENRY Olonga is the Zimbabwean cricketer who donned a black armband at the 2003 World Cup in a dramatic protest against Robert Mugabe.

As a result of this simple demonstration, Henry was branded a traitor, threatened with the death penalty and forced to flee.

On March 26, at St Mary’s Church, Thame, Henry will tell the story of life in a country ruled by a tyrant, of his battle to reach the top as a black cricketer and, ultimately, how he sacrificed that position in order to make a difference.

Henry Olonga put his life at risk and has now made a new life in England where he is pursuing a career as a singer and artist.

Come and hear his extraordinary story as well as some of his songs. There will also be an opportunity for you to ask Henry questions.

Tickets to the evening are

[Reference: M 21/03/042] This is a Community Message from Thames Valley Police.

THEFT FROM VEHICLES

Between 18th & 19th March there were theft from vehicles in Oxford Road, Towersey Drive and Bell Lane in Thame. Property stolen included a Sat Nav, Ipod and a small amount of cash.

The police are advising residents to be extra vigilant at this time. If you see any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message, please call the police on08458 505 505and state you are responding to a Ringmaster message. If you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Message Ends.

A Concept Masterplan for the proposed 500-homes development on the outskirts of Thame (site F), has been released today by the developer.

The plan, which includes proposed pedestrian and cycle links, green spaces and flood prevention works, will be available on South Oxfordshire District Council’s website later today. Link to relevant page

In the meantime it is available to be viewed at Thame Town Hall. The plan will be sent with SODC’s Core Strategy document, along with all the other, SODC district-wide preferred sites plans to the Planning Inspectorate.

The next stage in the process will be an Examination in Public carried out by an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State, probably in the summer. The Inspector will invite interested parties to appear before him.

Jeffrey Emmett, the Planning and Development consultant acting for the prospective developer, said: “It is important to stress that, in the absence of any agreement with Lord Williams’s school or the Education Authority, at the request of SODC, we are not able to include in the plan any land allocation for educational purposes.

“However, we still believe in the original idea to include education within Site F and are committed to the continuation of talks with the school and the County Education Department. If agreement can be reached, the appropriate educational provision may be considered for inclusion at a later date in the plan process.”

Reference: M 14/03/029] THIS is a Community Message from Thames Valley Police. Have you been impressed with the service given to your community by a member of your neighbourhood policing team?

As it launches the 2011 Community Policing Awards, Thames Valley Police is asking members of the public to nominate police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) who have had a positive impact on the their local community.

The awards aim to find the police officers and staff who have made the greatest contribution to addressing the concerns of local residents over the past year.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Rowell, who is responsible for Local Policing and chairs the judging panel, said: ?This is our annual celebration of the work we do to make communities better and safe places to live. Last year, I was very impressed by the standard of the nominees, and by the vital grassroots work they carry out in neighbourhoods across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

?It?s a key objective of Thames Valley Police to strengthening neighbourhood policing so that it better responds to the needs of local people. The nominations we have received in previous years have shown that the effective and innovative approaches our officers and staff have adopted have been greatly appreciated by the people they serve.?

Members of the public and partner organisations who would like to nominate someone for an award can do so by downloading a nomination form from the Thames Valley Police website.

at: www.thamesvalley.police.uk/communityawards or email: communitypolicingawards@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
Hard copies of the form are also available from your local police station.

There are awards for Community Police Officer, PCSO, Special Constable, and volunteer. The deadline for nominations is 8 April and the winners will be announced on 25 May.

The winners of Community Officer of the Year, PCSO of the Year, and Student Officer of the Year will be put forward for the national Community Officer of the Year competition, run by Jane?s Police Review magazine. The Special Constable of the Year will be put forward for a national Special Constabulary award.

Last year?s Thames Valley Police Community Officer of the Year was Sgt Simon Wheeler from the Central Reading neighbourhood team. The winner of the PCSO of the year award was David Bullock, from the Windsor Inner neighbourhood team. David went on to be runner-up at the national awards.

Special Constable of the Year was Jamie Byrom, from Buckinghamshire, and Arnold Freeman (deceased), also of Berkshire West, won Volunteer of the Year.

SOURCE: Press release

ADVICE about changes to Income Support Benefit rules has been issued today by Thame Citizens Advice Bureau.

Benefit rules have recently changed so that if you are a single parent who currently gets Income Support and your youngest child has turned seven, you will now have to move to Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) if you are able to work.

The Department of Work and Pensions should write to you eight weeks before your child is due to turn seven, inviting you to an interview to apply for JSA.

However, there are some protections built into the new rules to take account of the particular difficulties lone parents might face in juggling work with the needs of their children.

You will only be expected to be available for work during normal school hours. And you may be able to refuse work if you cannot find suitable childcare or the childcare costs would be too high.

If you cannot work because you are sick or disabled, you may be able to switch to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). If you get Carer’s Allowance or look after a child who gets Disability Living Allowance, you may continue to get Income Support.

JobCentre Plus offers a range of services to help you get back into work. For more information contact your local JobCentre Plus office. Go to: www.direct.gov.uk

For more information about Jobseeker’s Allowance, see Benefits for people looking for work on the Citizens Advice website www.adviceguide.org.uk

If you are still worried, a CAB adviser can give you free, confidential and independent advice on your situation.

To make an appointment call 01844 217186
To talk directly to an advisor call 01844 214827

IMAGE Courtesy of www.thecarer.co.uk

Lisa Richards, 23, of Pitters Piece, Long Crendon, has been banned from driving for a year after admitting to Oxford magistrates that she drove after drinking above the legal limit of alcohol.

The offence, of having 49 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, above the legal limit of

FOLLOWING the news of a proposed superstore on the site of Thame cattlemarket, the Cattlemarket Action Group (CMAG) has issued a statement this morning.

CMAG was formed several years ago with the aim of: “…ensuring that the needs of the people of Thame for an excellent, multi-purpose community development is kept high on the agenda of any discussion on the future use of the site.”

CMAG’s statement reads: “CMAG is a working group which represents many community groups in and around Thame.
Its aims are to ensure that redevelopment of the Cattle Market site in North Street best serves the needs of Thame residents and those of the surrounding villages.

“In particular, CMAG?s members would like the need for a multi-purpose, community building in the centre of Thame addressed. The current local plan states that redevelopment of the cattle market site should be a ?mixed use? development and that retail units should be limited to 2000 square metres. There is exclusion of food retail use.

“There has been no robust public discussion as to why this policy should be changed and as we welcome the advent of localism, we look forward to South Oxfordshire District Council and Thame town council engaging the people of Thame and the surrounding villages in discussion on the future of such a key site in our town.”

HAVE you ever thought that you would like to help out your community in some way, but have been uncertain what volunteering opportunities existed? You will now be able to browse through a directory of the many different charities and organisations which would appreciate more helpers.

Thame and District Citizens Advice Bureau has compiled a directory of over 30 groups needing volunteers in this part of Oxfordshire and Bucks. This directory is available for you to read in Thame Citizens Advice Bureau, Thame Town Hall, Haddenham Library, Long Crendon Library and Chinnor Village Centre. More than just a list, here you will be able to find out, not only what the charities/ organisations do, but also the specific jobs required to be undertaken by volunteers.

There will be something here to suit everybody?s tastes and talents, from driving elderly people to appointments, chatting to clients of a Day Centre, giving advice and practical support to families with young children, to helping run a preserved railway and much, much more.

So if you find yourself with some spare time on your hands, think about using your skills for the benefit of people within your local area and come to browse this new directory.

If you are interested in volunteering or run an organisation that needs volunteers then contact Tom Fox at the CAB on 01844 217186.

CONTRUBUTED