Author: Sonja Francis

ABSEILING down the side of a church tower would be daunting enough for an adult, but for a couple of brave, Year Seven lads from Lord Williams’s school, Thame, such a challenge is one they decided to take on themselves, after learning that the Vicar of their church in Haddenham was planning to do it  herself for charity.

Ben Shardlow, aged 11, and 12 year-old William Race, who both live in Haddenham, have raised over £700 for the charity, Christian Aid, by abseiling down the tower of St Mary Magdalen church, in Oxford.

A proud Ben said: “At the beginning I felt really anxious about doing it. But once we’d actually started our descent, I felt really happy and the adrenaline rushed in!

“When I’d finished, I felt really happy and proud that I had done it. Our parents and friends all said that they were really pleased and proud of what we’d done. I would definitely do it again!”

The Vicar of the Baptist Church in Haddenham, Amanda Pink, and her friend Mary Miller, together with the money the two boys raised, managed to bring the total raised from the tower abseil to over £2,000. Pledges of support are still coming in and there’s still time to donate. You can add to Amanda and Mary’s fund through their Just Giving website or sponsor William and Ben through their dedicated MoneyGiving website.

IN the latest of Thame.Net’s ‘Take on Thame’ opinion features, Bob Austin, of the East Thame Residents Association, writes about the possible threat posed by increased housing numbers proposed by South Oxfordshire District Council, on the Thame Neighbourhood Plan: (Reminder: The views expressed in the following are not neccesarily those of Thame.Net)

“The Thame Neighbourhood Plan (TNP) is facing a further threat, this time from increased housing numbers demanded from the new SODC Local Plan 2031. It is vital that as many people as possible make their opinions clear to SODC.

Last Year SODC produced a document entitled ‘Issues & Scope’ that set out options for locations for additional housing provision. Now it has produced another document called ’Refined Options’ containing interim proposals to locate an additional 3600 homes for SODC needs as well as some 3000 homes for overspill from Oxford City.

It would be fair to say that the launch of the ‘Refined Options’ has been so low key as to be almost invisible and inaudible.

How does this affect Thame? SODC are recommending concentrating the bulk of this extra housing in the Market Towns and Large Villages as well as the Science Vale (around Culham & Berinsfield). In practice it means that Thame will be hit hard unless we defend it vigorously and ask for a fairer distribution. SODC are going for the ‘low hanging fruit’ again instead of a more balanced approach.

In the SODC Local Plan 2027 (the basis for our Neighbourhood Plan) the Market Towns contributed 79% of new requirements but only had 44 % of the then existing housing stock. Smaller villages, with 26% of the existing housing stock, were not required to contribute anything at all. In other words the demands on the Market Towns were disproportionate to all other categories. Thame itself was required to supply 775 houses compared to Wallingford’s 555 and Henley’s 400 despite all three towns being of comparable size.

The imbalance of this allocation will again be repeated, or made worse, if the principles of the ‘Refined Options’ are applied. This will be compounded by a failure to take account of ‘windfall’ development in Thame (windfall is piecemeal development within the town that is not included in the Local Plan). Since 2011 Thame has had approximately 300 ‘windfall’ homes built or approved. They must not be ignored.

We do not know how many additional houses Thame might be required to take but if the same proportion is maintained as in the 2027 Local Plan it will be another 350; it could be better or much worse.

It is vital that as many people as possible express their view. You can do this by going to the SODC website: www.southoxon.gov.uk/newlocalplan. If you need further information please contact your local residents’ association.

Make your voice heard and defend Thame! SODC are influenced by the volume of responses but time is short. The consultation closes on April 2.”

Bob Austin
East Thame Residents Association

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following a burglary (non-dwelling) in Thame, overnight between Saturday (21/03) and Sunday (22/03), when offender(s) forced entry to a workshop at a property in Chinnor road. A buggy and a power saw were taken.

Anyone who may have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message, is asked to call the police on 101.

Alternatively, anyone who may have any information but wishes to remain anonymous, can 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.

A Lawyer from Thame is facing a possible jail sentence after fare dodging to the tune of £23,000, between Haddenham and Thame Parkway and Marylebone stations, for two and a half years.

Australian born Dr Peter Barnett, commuted the 40 miles without buying a valid Chiltern Rail ticket, but simply touched in with an Oyster card at Marylebone. He has now agreed to pay back £23,000, after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, and will be sentenced next month.

The offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

According to Metro, Barnett was stopped at Marylebone last year and said that he had only travelled from Wembley. He then apparently, went to the excess fares window, but ran off when suspicions were roused. The next day he handed himself in and British Transport Police found he had been dodging fares since April 2012.

SOURCE: Metro