Author: Sonja Francis

IN response to concerns about anti-social behaviour on the Southern Road Recreation ground in Thame, a meeting of interested parties, including residents, the police and young people who use the area, is to be held at the end of January.
The final date for the meeting, which will be chaired by local resident and Governor of St Joseph’s school, Jake Collinge, is yet to be arranged by the Town Clerk.
The controversy came to head when the town council rejected proposals to instal a youth shelter on the Southern Road Rec after pressure from a large contigent of adults living around the area voiced their opposition at a meeting of the town council.

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a number of break-ins to sheds and garages in the area.
Over the weekend (13-16/06), sheds in Tiddington, Forest Hill, and Stanton St John were targeted.

Incidents took place in Stanton Road Forest Hill on Monday and Tuesday (15/16th) between 5pm and 11am. Main Street, Forest Hill on Saturday (14/01) between 10am and 9.45pm. Ickford Road, Tiddington on Saturday (14/01) and Brookside Tiddington sometime between Thursday and Friday (11/13-01).

Items stolen include golf clubs, mini-motor bikes and quad bikes, wine and garden equipment.

Lesley Nesbitt, Thame’s Crime Reduction Advisor, is urging residents to upgrade the security on their sheds.
There has been a mail drop in Tiddington and Stanton St John encouraging people to review their current security arrangements.

Lesley Nesbitt said:”Offenders see sheds as easy pickings because they are unprotected and lack basic security measures. The sheds often contain property that can be sold on or implements that can be used to force entry into the owner?s home.
“Spring is coming and crime figures show that this season sees an increase in the number of shed burglaries. Take time to implement a few simple, cost effective-crime prevention measures to keep your shed secure.
“This time of year many people buy new lawn mowers and gardening equipment which makes sheds an attractive target. Make sure you shackle lawn mowers and bicycles together, ideally to the fabric of the building or to a metal post cemented into the ground.”

If you are a shed owner follow this advice:

?Ensure that your shed is in good condition: replace ordinary screws in door hinges and on the pad bars with non-return screws or coach bolts.
?Ensure all tools and equipment are locked away when not in use. Good quality locks should be used on doors. Windows can be fitted with a grille or, as a cheaper alternative, chicken wire to slow the thief down. A shed alarm can also be installed.
?Post code or mark all property, such as lawnmowers, using ultra violet pens, paint or engravers.
?Install lighting as a deterrent, and use thorny shrubs to act as a barrier at potential access points.
?If building a shed, put it where it is most visible to you and neighbours.

For more crime reduction advice on shed security please contact Lesley Nesbitt at Thame Police Station on 0845 8 505 505

Anyone who witnessed any suspicious vehicles or people in the areas or has any information are asked to police via 0845 8 505 505. If you don?t want to talk to police and don?t want to give your name, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

You can also give information to the police in person by visiting any police station. To find out the opening times and location of your local station please call 0845 8 505 505 or visit: www.thamesvalley.police.uk/bcu/oxfordshire/bcu-info/stations.htm

A volunteer fireman at the Chinnor based, Chinnor and Princes Railway, has been honoured for 50 years in the industry.
John Webb had a Class 317 train named after him at a ceremoney which took place at a ceremony which took place at Hertford North station just before Christmas.
John’s long service has been recognised by the West Anglia Great Northern Railway (WAGN).

John started his career at Hatfield locomotive depot in 1953 when he joined British Railways as a cleaner. Becoming a driver in 1961, John worked on the intensive suburban service between Hatfield and London Kings Cross. Moving to Hitchin train depot in 1966, he was by then driving engines from the new fleet of British Railways diesel locomotives.

Before retiring in 2003, John was responsible for training drivers on the new electric trains being used on the suburban services running out of London Kings Cross. He now enjoys assisting the volunteers at Chinnor with his extensive knowledge of railway operating procedures and also spending time as a volunteer fireman working on the steam locomotives in use at Chinnor.

THE Police are appealing for witnesses after a gang were disturbed as they prepared to steal a cash machine from Asda, Wheatley.
At around 5am on Saturday (January 14), police were called after a workman at a contractor?s yard which runs alongside the Asda site saw thieves driving an excavator out of the gates.
Having realised he had been spotted, the person driving the excavator jumped out and ran to a waiting Mitsubishi Shogun which made off at speed. A Mitsubishi Shogun and a Land Rover Discovery were recovered near the Oxford Brookes University campus in Wheatley a short time later. Both vehicles are believed to have been used by the offenders.

DC Michael Hooker, of Thame CID, said: “It seems a gang had planned to pull the cash machine from the wall and had organised a number of vehicles in order to achieve this. Several have been recovered but we are still searching for a low-loader which we believe would have been used to transport the machine had the raid been successful.
“Although it was early this morning, on the outskirts of Wheatley, I would appeal to anyone who was in the area ? motorists or dog walkers for example, to get in touch if they saw anything which may be connected.”

Anyone who has information which could assist is urged to contact DC Hooker via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. Alternatively, if you don?t wish to speak to police or leave your name, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

THE Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway will be holding a series of Driver Experience Days during 2006.
This is an opportunity for members of the public to learn how to control a steam locomotive along the attractive but challenging countryside of “The Icknield Line”.
Participants will control the locomotive for the seven mile round trip and complete the journey by climbing the 1 in 68 bank from Wainhill to Chinnor and bring the train to a gentle stop at the Chinnor station platform.

Telephone 07784 189322 for more details or visit our web site www.cprra.co.uk

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

THAME town councillors will decide tomorrow whether or not to spend over