Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • FSB wants better support from LEPs to help drive small business growth

    A new report by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), backed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales (ICAEW), urges Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to change to the way they offer business support, to better help drive small business growth.

    David Knowles Leak
    David Knowles Leak

    The report recognises the role played by LEPs in facilitating well-targeted business support, and its importance to the national economy in delivering future growth. However, it also highlighted areas of weakness that LEPs should address in order to strengthen the system.

    FRAGMENTED AND UNCO-ORDINATED

    The FSB has said in a statement today that, based on evidence provided by the respected Enterprise Research Centre (ERC), the report reveals that current support is often ineffective, holding back the growth prospects of businesses in the English regions. A number of significant issues are cited as causing problems, notably the fragmented nature of the offer, with too many schemes in place without enough critical mass to make an effective contribution, and lack of co-ordination between various schemes.

    The report argues that Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), working alongside newly formed ‘Growth Hubs’, are ideally placed to make improvements to the business support in their areas, and thereby boost growth. Their unique strategic position allows them to understand their local economies and the needs of their business communities.

    MORE FOCUS AND MONITORING

    The FSB is therefore calling on LEPs to provide much needed co-ordination and leadership, and provide much greater focus to the offer in their area, including regular monitoring of the effectiveness of schemes. As part of their upcoming reviews of business support, LEPs should therefore seek to follow the recommendations set out in the report, each of which is based on a sound evidence base and the expert insights of the ERC as to what works best.

    David Hawes, Thames Valley regional Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “This report highlights the great potential of LEPs to energise small firms in England – but only if the right steps are taken to improve the design and delivery of business support. This could be achieved by cutting duplication, better co-ordination of support at the local level, and robustly evaluating schemes on their effectiveness. The FSB therefore calls for LEPs to work with newly formed ‘Growth Hubs’, and make improvements to local business support an absolute priority.

    “Ninety nine per cent of all UK firms are small businesses, so growing those firms through better business support can make a real difference to the ­­Thames Valley economy, helping in the rebalancing of growth outside London and the South East. Growth currently compares well with other G7 countries, but the economy lags noticeably in key areas such as our exporting performance and labour productivity.

    “There is no ‘magic bullet’ solution that will work across the country, because every locality including ­the Thames Valley has unique needs that individual LEPs must satisfy. But a long-term approach based on proper evaluation of initiatives, co-ordinating plans nationally and focusing on fewer, more targeted initiatives will all work to raise business performance.”

  • UPDATE: ‘Dangerous’ skate park closed by council

    Thame skate park has been declared unsafe by Thame Town Councillors tonight, and closed with immediate effect.

    skater_silhouette (400x271)

    The decision to close the facility, just days before the half-term holidays, a peak period for skate park use, was made by Thame Town Council’s Community, Leisure and Recreation committee, after it agreed to fund the £3,000 necessary to make the skate park safe temporarily.

    Work to completely renovate the skate park and replace much of the equipment, cannot begin until the outcome of a Sport England, Inspired Facilities Fund application decision is known  in April, and the finalising of a Capital Grant Award agreement between Thame Town Council and South Oxfordshire District Council.

    Thame’s Mayor, Jeannette Matelot Green, who has the skate park as one of her chosen charities, posted on the Thame Skate park Facebook page tonight, that the council hoped to have the repairs done in time for half-term.

    seans_choice_crendon_bedsSome councillors expressed concern that the skate park funding campagne was struggling to engage the skaters’ parents and the wider community. Cllr Jeannette Matelot Green was optimistic however, that the Sport England grant would be given, as she had understood that the previous application had only been turned down because Sport England were not made aware of a contribution agreed by SODC. She said that the Skate Park working group were currently working to collect the contact details of skaters’ parents to involve them in a series of planned fund-raising event.

    Cllr Linda Emery had earlier in the meeting reported that the skate park was to be one of the local charities chosen to be a beneficiary of this year’s Thame Carnival.

    The progress of the Thame Skate Park group can be followed via its Facebook page LINK  – VIDEO LINK  –  You can read about the back story to Thame Skate Park HERE

     

  • Future plans for Thame Skate Park on the agenda

    THAME TOWN COUNCILLORS will decide this evening how to proceed with the refurbishment and replacement work at Thame Skate Park facilities.

    Image courtesy of Aidan North
    Image courtesy of Aidan North

    Members of the Culture, Leisure and Recreation committee will consider the options open to it regarding the condition of the current skate park and the financial implications of progressing the redevelopment.  The committee will also look at agreeing the terms of a Capital Grant Award Agreement from South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC).

    The council will consider three options:

    Option 1 – Undertake repairs at a cost of £3,000 to equipment to keep the Skate Park in use until the funds have been raised for the new installation

    Option 2 –  Close the Skate Park immediately and wait for the Inspired Facilities Fund decision in April( though a successful application is not guaranteed

    Option 3 – The Council has committed £65,000 towards the project, to consider underwriting an additional amount of up to £80,397 which would be released from Council Investments

    The meeting is at the town hall, and begins at 6.30pm.

  • New funding for high speed fibre broadband for Oxfordshire

    AROUND  6,500 additional homes and businesses across Oxfordshire will be able to receive high-speed fibre broadband following additional £5.1 million funding announced today.

    Image courtesy of itpro.co.uk
    Image courtesy of itpro.co.uk

    The project will extend the Better Broadband for Oxfordshire partnership roll-out, which began connecting the first homes and businesses to faster fibre broadband just over a year ago. Since then it has enabled more than 30,000 premises to have access to high-speed fibre broadband.

    The partnership is part of the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) programme, which today announced two million homes and businesses around the country are now able to connect to superfast broadband as a result of BDUK.

    The new deal injects further funding into the County Council’s contract with BT, adding £1 million from South Oxfordshire District Council, £500,000 from Cherwell District Council, £250,000 from the Vale of the White Horse District Council, £200,000 from Oxfordshire County Council, £1.2m from BT, and a further £1.95m from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Superfast Extension Programme (SEP).

    When complete, it will increase the percentage of homes and businesses able to access high-speed fibre broadband in Oxfordshire to around 95 per cent, when combined with the first phase of the Better Broadband for Oxfordshire roll-out already underway and the private sector investments.

    Image courtesy of itpro.co.uk

    More details about the communities to benefit from this new funding will be announced later this Spring and local people will be able to follow its progress via the Better Broadband for Oxfordshire website: www.betterbroadbandoxfordshire.org.uk You can find out about the coverage in YOUR area here: LINK

  • Chinnor Neighbourhood Plan

    THE people of Chinnor will soon start working on their Neighbourhood Plan, following the examples of Thame and other towns and villages across the UK.

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    Image courtesy of ramblefest.com

     

     

     

     

     

    Chinnor Parish Council wants to gauge community engagement and are holding an initial meeting at the Parish Council Offices, 36 Station Road, Thame, February 11, at 6.30pm.

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    Anyone can attend the meeting and for more information, contact: chinnorpc@btconnect.com or call: 01844 353267

  • More time to comment on Elms development, Thame

    THE amended planning application for land at The Elms, in Thame, has once again had to be delayed for consideration by Thame Town Council, until March 3, at 7.15pm.

    The Elms_concept (400x287)

    The extra time is to allow the planning authority, South Oxfordshire District to fulfill the required consultation period, following the loss of data during the massive fire at SODC’s headquarters in Crowthorne, following an arson attack.

    The full application can viewed at http://tiny.cc/9pkntx and comments can be made here: http://tiny.cc/k7kntx

  • Design competition open for business

    THE search is on again for the best new and restored buildings in the Chilterns.

    The annual Chilterns Buildings Design Awards competition is seeking entries from home-owners, architects and developers who are proud of what they have built in the Chilterns. The Awards are offered by the Chilterns Conservation Board and the Chiltern Society, two organisations dedicated to safeguarding what’s best in the Chilterns, one of the most outstanding areas of countryside in England, and to encouraging high standards for new development.

    Lower Farm, Church Lane, Britwell Salome, Owners and architects – Mr. and Mrs. Paul and Fiona Sargeantson; Builder – Paul Sargeantson, Britwell Salome; Awarded for - The construction of a very worthy building which sits calmly and comfortably within the context of the overall farmyard
    Lower Farm, Church Lane, Britwell Salome, Owners and architects – Mr. and Mrs. Paul and Fiona Sargeantson; Builder – Paul Sargeantson, Britwell Salome; Awarded for – The construction of a very worthy building which sits calmly and comfortably within the context of the overall farmyard

    Last year one of the award winners was a new barn at Lower Farm in Britwell Salome near Wallingford.

    Colin White, Planning Officer at the Conservation Board, said: “We want to encourage better building design, and to encourage architects and developers to use traditional, local materials and designs in their work. We are not trying to turn back the clock, but we do believe that new buildings in the Chilterns should fit in with the beautiful countryside that’s around them.”

    It isn’t just new houses that are eligible for consideration. Industrial and public buildings are also eligible, as are restorations and conversions of existing buildings.

    The closing date for entries or nominations is March 1, 2015. Application forms and further information are available from the Conservation Board office (01844 355500), email: office@chilternsaonb.org) or from the Chiltern Society, White Hill Centre, Chesham (tel: 01494 771250, email office@chilternsociety.org.uk).

  • Police blitz on Thame parking offenders

    THAME’S Community Policing team have been busy over the past month, tackling issues such as unauthorised parking in the town, by issuing Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs).

    Practically a whole row of cars on market day in Thame, are issued with parking tickets in Upper High Street, Thame
    Practically a whole row of cars on market day in Thame, are issued with parking tickets in Upper High Street, Thame

    In just one day, Tuesday, January 27, around twenty FPNs were issued to vehicles parked on double yellow lines or contravening free, on street parking. Three FPNs were also issued to vehicles parked on zigzag lines, an offence that carries a penalty of £60 and three penalty points on the driver’s licence.

    In its monthly Neighbourhood Update, local officers report: “We have been monitoring parking in the town centre as and when we can, and we have been educating offending vehicle owners as well as issuing Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs). This work was well received by local residents and business owners.”

    Offenders brought to justice during January in the Thame sector include:

    A man charged with Battery and Criminal Damage following an incident in Thame town centre in January
    A woman given a caution for Assault on Police following an incident of disorder at The Black Horse Public House in November last year
    A man pleaded guilty at Oxford Magistrates Court for Possession of a controlled drug Class B
    A man pleaded guilty at Oxford Magistrates Court to Possession of 57 grams of Cannabis in May last year, he is awaiting sentencing
    A man summonsed after committing shoplifting to the value of £280 at Waitrose, Thame

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    The full monthly update for February, including dates for local ‘Have your say’ meetings, can be read here: LINK 

  • Racquets boys top national squash ranking tournament

    RISING young squash player, Ben Hedger took his first Under 17s, Open tournament title last weekend on his home turf of Racquets Fitness Centre, in Thame.

    Nick Harbour (Oxon) and Marcus Connor (Bucks)
    Nick Harbour (Oxon) and Marcus Connor (Bucks)

    A total of 60 players of high national rankings and aged 8 through to 16 came from all over the country to compete in one of the England Squash national ranking tournaments.

    There were concerns before the tournament as Ben had been suffering from an injury that was stopping him from training and meant that he had to take a month off. He started playing again just three weeks before the tournament. Despite this, Ben played extremely well throughout the tournament, particularly having to dig deep in the semi-final against Wycliffe, England International, Nathan Mead, after being 2 games to 0 down.

    The final was a very close fought game where Ben overcame Cameron Haddow from Suffolk in an exciting match, 3 games to 2. Ben’s coach, Simon Martin, said: “Ben really showed he has the talent to win Under 17 open tournaments and we hope he will take this win with him to the next one and make winning them standard practice. Ben plays for the Racquets men’s 1st team in the Oxfordshire leagues which provides plenty of tough match experience to ensure tournament wins in the future.”

    Another one of Racquets’ juniors also did extremely well. Nick Harbour didn’t meet his local rival and Number One seed, Marcus Tranter in the final, as Marcus had been knocked out by Marcus Connor, from Aylesbury Grammar School. Marcus’s technique was excellent but Nick was too clever at the front with great touch and deception. Nick will now hope to move into the top 20 in the country in the Under 15 rankings as a result of this, his first Under 15 Junior Open tournament win.

    Simon Martin, one of Nick’s coaches said: “Nick has shown great guts and determination in recent weeks as well as being immensely talented and a particularly polite lad. His parents were very proud, and both myself and Nick’s other coach, club Professional, Will John, have been very impressed with his improvement over the last six months maintaining a regular spot in the men’s teams playing in the Oxfordshire Inter-club league.”

    The third Racquets’ players in the tournament this year was Ollie Coulcher-Porter. The Under 11s representation was extremely strong and despite losing the first round, Ollie went through to win the final of the plate.

    Racquets coach, Sue Martin-Downhill, said: “Ben, Nick and Ollie are great ambassadors for squash and we are extremely proud of all of them. Their behaviour on court was impeccable; they helped run the tournament and marked games whenever asked. Winning the age groups was just the icing on the cake!

    “We’d like to thank the sponsors of the tournament Technifibre and Meritus International Hotels for their prizes for the winners.”

    Racquets is fast becoming a proving ground for great squash players, providing top class coaching here in Thame. Anyone interested in taking up a sport which is fun, but one that can also be taken up seriously, need look no further than just behind Thame’s famous Cattle Market in North Street.

  • Commuter cycle route from Thame?

    THE much needed and longed-for safe cycle route between Thame and Haddenham railway station is looking more promising, following an announcement by Sustrans at the recent ‘pedal-powered’ cinema‘ event in Haddenham.

    cycling_route_Haddenham_aylesbury (2) (400x300)

    Peter Challis, Sustrans’ Area Manager for the Thames Valley, told members of Haddenham In Transition and visiting cinema-goers that as part of a Station Travel Plan he has been working on, Sustrans has recommended the future development of six routes to the station in Haddenham.

    Apart from Haddenham itself, Thame is the main place served by the station and the travel plan recommends development of a cycle route between Thame and Haddenham. Peter explained that there are two, main, alternative routes: one following the road and one following local Rights of Way.

    “The route to Thame crosses the Bucks county boundary into Oxfordshire,” he said. “However, Oxfordshire County Council felt unable to support the Rights of Way route – following local bridleways and footpaths – because of seasonal flooding and land issues. However, both counties have now agreed to pursue a route alongside the Thame Road and the A418. Sustrans will be investigating how a route can be accommodated alongside the road, so that plans can be drawn up, in order to bid for any funding that becomes available in future. Both counties are funding the study.”

    Sustrans’ work in Haddenham has been funded by the Access to Stations project, through the DfT’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

    seans_choice_crendon_bedsSustrans is also investigating what needs to be done to create a cycle route between Haddenham and Aylesbury. From Haddenham, this would follow the Green Lane bridleway, and then run alongside the A418 to Aylesbury. The Haddenham-Aylesbury study was commissioned by the Haddenham Safe Walking & Cycling (HaddSWAC) group, and funded by Bucks County Council. This study, and the Haddenham-Thame study, should be completed in the next few months.

    Better links to stations in Buckinghamshire

    Sustrans is helping to promote pedestrian, cycle and bus access to four Chiltern Railway stations in Buckinghamshire over the next two years in a new project funded by Buckinghamshire County Council through the government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund. The four stations are Amersham, Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross
    and Haddenham & Thame Parkway.

    The plans include introducing local maps and improved signage to promote bus and cycle routes to and around each station.

    What is Sustrans?

    Sustrans is the charity behind the National Cycle Network. It began in 1977, by converting an old railway line between Bristol and Bath into a cycling and walking route. In 1995 the organisation won a major Millennium Commission grant to create the National Cycle Network. This year is the 20th anniversary of the National Cycle Network, which now
    has over 14,000 miles of routes all across the UK, including route 57 which includes the Phoenix Trail between Thame and Princes Risborough.

    The vision is to double the number of short journeys made by foot, bike or public transport to four out of five by 2020.

    Chiltern Rail

    New cycle parking has been installed at all three of the stations, funded by the Access to Stations project, and Chiltern Railways who are also investing in the stations themselves. At Haddenham new catering, waiting and toilet facilities have been installed.