Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Call for ‘postal referendum’ over The Elms

    DEAR Editor, Previous letters to Thame residents have said that the fact that Elms Field is in the Thame Town Plan as a development site, limits the ability of SODC, the planning authority, to determine the suitability of the site.

    SODC in 2006 declared that Elms Field and Elms Park were, together, Important Open Space, and extended the conservation area to include both. Following a review by English Heritage, this important conservation body declared that development would be Deeply Damaging,

    Now, thanks to MP John Howells supposedly democratic Localisation Act.and elements in the Town Council, SODC find they can only “negotiate “ with the developer/owner of the field, but what does negotiation mean?

    From being important open space, does the field get newly defined as unimportant open space? Does deeply damaging become somewhat damaging?

    As for the so called “improvements” to the adjoining park, do these get negotiated down to simply “changes” to recognise the fact that they all favour the developer’s project and do not in any way favour the owners and users of the park?

    Meanwhile, the council sits quiet. They have not responded to the letter from Peter Howes, which clearly summarised the Council’s failures. Neither has Cllr. Dyer admitted that he was wrong to say that the conveyance of land for the park did not commit the Council to protect the whole of the Elms, including the field.

    The (well over) 2000 signatures petition is against any development in the field and will be resubmitted against all schemes, however they are amended.

    The simple solution is for Thame Council to recognise that they have erred and carry out (if really needed) a simple one-issue postal referendum to all Thame citizens, asking whether they are for or against development in Elms Field.

    The Town Council has already determined how the Elms field houses can be re-distributed to sites C, D and F, so what is their problem? Since the current negotiations involve fewer houses, re-allocation of some number is going to happen anyway, without a referendum. We are only saying, re-allocate the lot.

    Residents and friends of Thame are invited to read the petition on elmspetition.org.uk, and if they agree with it, to add their signatures, which can be done easily from the website.

    Peter Webb
    Thame

  • Thame store remains in Tesco’s sights

    FOLLOWING an announcement today from Tesco PLC that it is scrapping plans for 49 new stores, Tesco has told Thame.Net today that it intends to go ahead with plans to build a new supermarket on the edge of the town, on the DAF site.

    A recent Tesco store in Newmarket
    A recent Tesco store in Newmarket

     

     

     

     

    Dave Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’ve carefully reviewed our planned new store developments across the country and it remains our intention to submit plans for a new store in Thame. We continue to believe that the store will provide a valued service to the local community. The new store will provide a great shopping experience as well as bringing new jobs and investment to the area.”

    The Tesco chief today unveiled a dramatic overhaul of the troubled supermarket chain to save money, including:
    • 43 unprofitable stores to close and 49 planned stores shelved
    • Thousands of management roles to be axed
    • Halfords chief Matt Davies to run UK operation
    • Head office downsized and moved

    As well as falling profits and a sinking share price, Tesco was issued with four profit warnings last year and endured an accounting scandal.

    LINKS to associated web posts: https://www.thame.net/?s=Tesco

  • ‘Proud’ Thame market to welcome royal guest

    THAME’S Tuesday street market, which has been established as market day in Thame since 1183, will be welcoming a very special royal guest in February, when it will be celebrating 800 years since receiving its Royal Charter way back in 1215.

    HRH The Princess Royal - Image courtesy of Offshore Europe
    HRH The Princess Royal – Image courtesy of Offshore Europe

     

     

     

     

    The Princess Royal, HRH Princess Ann, has accepted an invitation from the market stallholders to visit Thame on February 17, 2015. Chris Hurdman, the market traders’ representative, received an unexpected early present when he learned just before Christmas that his application for the royal visit had been successful. He told Thame.Net: “The stallholders of Thame Market are delighted and very proud that the Princess Royal will be visiting Thame Market to help us celebrate 800 years since Thame first got its Royal Charter in 1215.”

    HISTORY

    The earliest record of the Tuesday market dates from the time of Bishop Walter de Coutances (1183–4). The market was then well established and was held ‘by prescriptive right’ (rights established by longterm usage). A royal charter granting a market at Thame was not obtained until 1215, the year of the Magna Carter, from King John. This was a general grant permitting the Bishop of Lincoln to hold markets and fairs in all his manors. Thame is specifically mentioned in a confirmation of the charter in 1227, and was confirmed again in 1229.

    In 1219 a licence was obtained by Bishop Hugh de Welles from King Henry III, to divert the Oxford-Aylesbury road so as to make it pass through ‘his town of Thame’. The object of the diversion was to oblige travellers to pass through to the market-place and so increase and facilitate the collection of tolls. The old route was by Lashlake and Priestend, following the course of the river. The new route was the present one—along Friday Street (now North Street) and into the High Street.

    More details of the plans for the royal visit will be published soon.

  • Conservation group fights for its reinstatement

    A Thame advisory group, originally formed to scrutinise planning applications affecting the town’s historic Conservation Area, is fighting to have its support reinstated after it was dismissed as ‘a self-appointed interest group’ by Thame Town Council.

     

     aerial_Thame (400x266)

     

     

    Despite being given, in 1984, a remit to report back its independent views to the town council’s Planning committee, that same committee took the view last May  that the group, the Thame Conservation Area Advisory Committee (CAAC) did not have a formal role, and revoked the group’s free use of meeting space at the town hall.

    Since then, the CAAC has continued to meet in the town hall lobby before planning meetings to scrutinise plans, but claims that since May, its views have not been shared at planning meetings or included in the minutes.

    Speaking at a meeting of Thame Town Council’s Planning and Environment Committee on Tuesday (05/01), Colin Sear, the Thame CAAC’s Chairman, accused the town council of ‘a fait accompli’ by announcing its withdrawal of support without any discussion with his group, and of doing so based on ‘false information’.

    Mr Sears claimed that the town council’s assertion in an email to a member of his committee, stating that ‘Thame CAAC was not aligned or acting on behalf of the Planning and Environment Committee in any formalised way’ and that it is ‘a self-appointed interest group’ was ‘clearly not correct’. He went on to say that the email advised the CAAC that the town council now considers planning applications in light of the Neighbourhood Plan. But, went on Mr Sear, it had not been explained where the relevant sections of the Neighbourhood Plan were that relate to the Conservation Area of Thame, and which set out where the work independently carried out by the CAAC is no longer appropriate.

    He asked the council to reconsider its decision, stating that his committee’s sole interest, as an independent committee, was: “…to represent the interests of the residents of Thame in helping to maintain the hightest standards for the Conservation Area.”

    The Chair of the Planning and Environment Committee, Cllr Helena Fickling, said that her committee had no powers to reinstate free use of the committee room at the town hall to the Conservation Committee, but that it could make a recommendation that would need to go to full council.

    On the point of the status of the Thame CAAC, she said that there seemed to be some confusion at South Oxfordshire District Council over whether the CAAC’s views were those of the town council or of an independent group.

    seans_choice_crendon_bedsCllr David Dodds said: “The Conservation Area Advisory Committee doesn’t have a constitution and is therefore self-perpetuating. Who makes up the membership and who nominates membership needs to be clarified.

    “The group has a very valuable role and it is great that it is independent. I’m sure its members have taken on board what has been said here and I would back a decision by full council to grant it free use of meeting space.”

    The matter will now go forward to full council in February. (RELATED LINK: http://www.thame.net/archives/15317

  • Missing woman found!

    ALICE Thomas, aged 63, from Chinnor, who was missing since yesterday (6/1) has been found safe today (7/1).

    Alice Thomas - missing from Chinnor
    Alice Thomas – missing from Chinnor

    Thames Valley Police would like to thank the media and the public for their assistance in helping to locate her.

  • Appeal for whereabouts of a missing woman – last seen Thame

    THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information regarding the whereabouts of a missing woman in Chinnor. Alice Thomas, aged 63, was last seen getting off the number 40 bus in Thame town centre at about 12.25pm today (6/1).

    Alice Thomas - missing from Chinnor
    Alice Thomas – missing from Chinnor

    Alice is white, of medium build, about 4ft 10ins, with short grey hair. She was last seen wearing a beige jacket and possibly sandal or clogg type shoes. Police believe that Alice may have travelled to Oxford.

    She also frequents Christmas Common near the M40.

    If you have any information regarding Alice’s whereabouts please contact the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

    If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

  • Witness appeal following burglary

    THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a burglary in Little Milton, on Saturday (3/01/15).

    crimeThe incident took place at about 4.30am on Saturday in Haseley Road.

    Offenders gained entry to the property by forcing the kitchen window and then stole a drawer and its contents, including keys to a grey BMW M3 Coupe. The BMW was then stolen.

    A second vehicle, a Renault Clio, was moved by the offenders as it was blocking the BMW on the driveway. The Renault was abandoned outside the property with the engine running.

    Anyone with information about this incident should contact Thames Valley Police via the 24-hour enquiry line 101.

    If you do not want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

  • Thame man fatally injured in collision

     THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information following a fatal collision at Waterstock,  yesterday (5/1).

    police_RTC_sign (400x250)At around 6.10pm two vehicles were involved in a collision on the A418 Oxford Road, Waterstock.

    An HGV pulled out of the nearside lay-by on the Thame-bound carriageway and collided with a green Ford Focus which was travelling along the A418 towards Thame.

    The driver of the Ford Focus, an 81-year-old man from Thame, was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital where he later died.

    His next of kin have been informed.

    seans_choice_crendon_bedsAnyone with information regarding this collision is asked to call the Thames Valley Police enquiry line via 101, quoting URN 1053 5/1.

    If you do not want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or contact then online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org  No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

  • Chinnor prevails in the mud and the murk

    IN a mud caked contest, visitors Chinnor RFC overcame Dorking by the narrowest of margins, prevailing 6-5 at the Big Field. In successive weeks, Chinnor have now beaten the top two teams in the league.

    Jake Olley, ' a beacon of light in an otherwise dull, dank day'
    Jake Olley, ‘ a beacon of light in an otherwise dull, dank day’

    This was a match in which the opposition for both sides was principally the weather and the pitch. The side that understood this best, and played accordingly, was Chinnor whose accommodation in play due to the severe conditions was intelligent. Dorking tried to play in their customary adventurous style but came rather unstuck or perhaps too stuck.

    Dorking scored early on with an unconverted try in the corner from Mike Duxbury. Chinnor played territory with very intelligent use of the boot to keep the home side pinned back in their own half for much of the match. Angell scored from two of his three penalty goal attempts in the first half to allow the visitors from Oxfordshire a 6-5 half time lead.

    Although the rain actually stopped in the second half, the game was largely a grappling contest with Chinnor’s defence resolute with To’oala, Manning and Long particularly industrious. Dorking had little success with any of their kicks, often failing to make an intended touch. The Chinnor side, which in recent weeks has become the Chinnor team, comfortably held out all comers to convert the half time score into the full time score as no points at all were scored by either side in the second half. This was a tough whole team performance by the Oxfordshire boys. However, the positioning, kicking and running of Chinnor full back Jake Olley was a beacon of light in an otherwise dull, dank day.

    SOURCE: Contributed by Bill O’Donnell

  • Cycle path supporters ‘gear up’ for pedal-powered cinema

    A film about cycling, powered by pedaling cyclists, is a treat in store for cycling fans, and part of a not-to-be-missed event for those wanting to know more about the progress of the proposed Thame to Haddenham bike path.

    cycling_cinema (400x400)Haddenham in Transition is bringing bicycle powered cinema to St Mary the Virgin Church, Haddenham, on Saturday, January 17, to show the film, Bicycle The Film, a 90 minute documentary which asks the question, why is cycling and the bicycle back in fashion?

    Tickets on the door will cost £3 for adults, £1 per child – FREE if you arrive by Bike! Doors open 6.30pm for a 7pm introduction and update on the proposed Thame to Haddenham Bike path by Peter Challis of Sustrans. The film will start at 7.30, pedal powered by members of the audience! The film showing is sponsored by Sustrans and powered by Electric Pedals.

    seans_choice_crendon_bedsBicycle The film, which is directed by BAFTA winning director and keen cyclist, Michael B.Clifford, tells the story of cycling in the land that invented the modern bicycle, it’s birth, decline and re birth from Victorian origins to today. The film weaves bicycle design, sport and transport through the retelling of some iconic stories, and features interviews with notable contributors, Sir Dave Brailsford, Gary Fisher, Chris Boardman, Ned Boulting, Sir Chris Hoy, Tracy Moseley, Mike Burrows and many more plus great archive, animation and music.

    Bicycle is a humorous, lyrical and warm reflection on the bicycle and cycling, and its place in the British national psyche.