Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Trouble with bailiffs?

    THERE has been quite a bit of bad press and TV programmes recently about badly behaved bailiffs. Thame’s Citizens Advice Bureau has there come up with some useful information about your rights if you are visited by bailiffs and what to do is you think they are not treating you fairly or correctly.

    Image courtesy of empireclaims.co.uk
    Image courtesy of empireclaims.co.uk

    Question: I’ve received a letter from a bailiff firm saying that they are going to come and collect an unpaid parking fine. I’ve seen stories in the news about how bailiffs have been treating people badly, and I’m worried that they will come to my house before I can sort out a repayment plan. Is there anything I can do to protect myself?

    The advice from Thame’s CAB:

    Citizens Advice Bureaux have helped thousands of people who have fallen foul of bullying bailiffs.  We see evidence of bailiffs breaking the rules, so it’s important that you know your rights if a bailiff turns up on your doorstep. At the beginning of April this year, the government introduced new regulations to give people better protection and make bailiffs clean up their act.

    The new rules should reign in some bad behaviour by bailiffs. They have to write to you to tell you that they have been told to collect the debt so that you have the chance to arrange payment. Bailiffs are no longer allowed to enter your home between 9pm and 6am, when there are only children under 16 or vulnerable people present, or through an open window.

    Vulnerable debtors are also given more protection, as they must now be given an opportunity to get advice and assistance from an organisation like Citizens Advice.
    Bailiffs do have the right to charge fees, although there are now set fees that they can charge you at different stages of the process. Your debt could just get bigger if you ignore them. An advisor can help you to check what the bailiff is allowed to take and how much they can charge you in fees.

    If a bailiff is behaving badly, you can complain to the bailiff firm or the company you owe the original debt to. You might also be able to complain to an Ombudsman.

    If you believe a bailiff has broken the law or you think they should be struck off, you can complain to the police or the County Court. The bailiff’s certification may then be withdrawn or they could be ordered to give you compensation.
    If you are in a situation where you are dealing with bailiffs then you should go to your local Citizens Advice Bureau in Market Square, Thame. Citizens Advice can then help explain what your rights are, what a bailiff is and isn’t allowed to do, as well as guiding you through the process of making a complaint, should you need to. For more information visit the Citizens Advice website www.adviceguide.org.uk.
    Adviceline: 08444 111 444
    03 00 33 00 650 (Mobile)

  • New cycle parking for rail commuters

    GOOD news for commuters who cycle to Haddenham and Thame Park Railway station. A new cycle park means that spaces have now been increased from 38 to 110. The cycle park has been jointly funded by Buckinghamshire County Council’s Access to Stations project, Chiltern Railways and the sustainable travel charity, Sustrans.

    L to R - Misha Lund (Project Officer, Sustrans); Mike Barber (Travel Advisor, Sustrans); Roderick Floud of Haddenham Safe Walking & Cycling Group prepares to cut the ribbon to open the new cycle park; Mark Pateman (Regional Manager, Chiltern Railways)
    L to R – Misha Lund (Project Officer, Sustrans); Mike Barber (Travel Advisor, Sustrans); Roderick Floud of Haddenham Safe Walking & Cycling Group prepares to cut the ribbon to open the new cycle park; Mark Pateman (Regional Manager, Chiltern Railways)

    Haddenham & Thame Parkway is one of four stations in Bucks in the Access to Stations project where cycle parking capacity has now been doubled to encourage less car use and more cycling by commuters.

    Sustrans’ Area Manager for the Thames Valley, Peter Challis, is currently writing travel plans for the four stations, which recommend possible infrastructure improvements to encourage cycling to the four stations, the others being Amersham, Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross.

    Bucks C C intend that by highlighting and improving the travel options available to rail users: “….the project will support the local economy by tackling congestion and reducing journey times. A move away from driving will also lower carbon emissions and improve the health of Buckinghamshire residents.”

  • Angus development ‘Too large & poor design’

    THAME Town Council has recommended that a proposal to build an additional 28, one and two bed apartments in three blocks on the site of Angus House, Wenman Road, be turned down by the local planning authority. Rectory Homes want to build the additional blocks on the site of the old Angus building car park, where they already have permission to convert the old office building into 44 apartments.

    angus_flats (400x168)The proposals include 40% affordable homes, a central community garden, parking for 158 cycles and car parking. The town council considered that the car parking provision is inadequate for the number of homes and for visitors, and that the proposal was too large for the site, and of poor design.

    Rectory Homes’ representative, Henry Venners, had told the council during its meeting on Tuesday that the proposal would be ‘an improvement to the Southern approach into Thame’, and that it would meet the need for smaller housing units.

  • Town hall renovation costs soar

    THE cost of the renovation work currently underway to Thame Town Hall is soaring, after it was discovered that the building is in a worse state than was previously thought before the scaffolding went up and a closer examination could be made.

    town_hall_in_plastic_April2014 (500x438)Structural archwork above a window at the front of the building needs urgent attention at an estimated cost of £12,000, as well as rotten window frames at the top floor level needing repair – and a crumbling stone ball on the clock tower was found not to be attached! Also, old street lighting fixed to the building, which will be completely removed, has created water damage.

    In total, the work will cost an extra £28,373 which, unless the town council can get from South Oxfordshire District Council, it will have to fund itself out of general reserves.

    Speaking at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, Cllr Nigel Champken Woods remarked: “We don’t have a lot of choice but to have the work done. It’s a shame we didn’t let Oxfordshire County Council have it as a library a few ago, then we wouldn’t have this problem.”

  • Counting down to Carnival capers

    THE countdown has begun for Thame Carnival 2014, which will showcase the amazing variety of  provision for sport and recreation in the town, on June 14.  The number of floats and arena events continues to grow, with this year’s promising to be one of the best Carnival parades and grand fetes for several years.
     
    little_thame_carnival (362x400)For the first time, all the Thame primary schools will be joining together to parade through the town as one walking entry, and the organisers have a few surprises up their sleeves! Local company, Kubota, will be fielding two floats, one with music and dancers aboard, and the other with a golfing theme. The company is also sponsoring a Routemaster, red double-decker bus to provide transport from FREE car parking at Chinnor Rugby Club.
     
    One of the arena events planned is a Tug-of-War tournement between eight teams from local clubs and organisations. Carnival Committee Co-ordinator, Sue Martin Downhill, wants to hear from local groups, clubs or businesses who would like to field a Tug-of-War team. Contact Sue either via the Carnival 2014 Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ThameCarnival2014 or by email:clubsofthamecarnival2014@gmail.com 
     
    There’s still time to enter YOUR group in the Carnival Parade or to demonstrate what your sport or recreation organisation has to offer, by taking a stall at the fete, which will be held at the Southern Road Recreation ground, once the parade has finished at around 1.30 pm. Contacit via the Facebook page or email:  clubsofthamecarnival2014@gmail.com

  • Could you help the elderly to make new friends?

    AN organisation that helps combat loneliness among the elderly by offering tea parties, is well on the way to setting up a group of volunteer hosts and drivers in Thame, but desperately needs a Coordinator.

    Car_elderly (327x400)The group, Contact the Elderly, operates nationally by setting up groups that offer tea parties for 6-8 elderly people once a month to make friends and combat loneliness. They do this by having 12 volunteers who offer their house, two or three drivers who pick up and take people home, and one coordinator who helps oversee the group with lots of support from Contact the Elderly.

    If you would like to make a real difference to the lives of lonely, older people and have organisational skills, why not join Contact the Elderly in the important and very rewarding role of group coordinator? The coordinator arranges the monthly outings, rebooking the annual host schedule and is the main contact for the group’s volunteer drivers and hosts. The coordinator welcomes new volunteers into the group, ensuring they understand their roles and responsibilities, and meets and assesses new older members prior to them joining the group.

    To find out more about Contact The Elderly, and how to volunteer, visit the website: http://www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk/become-a-volunteer/

  • All-girl new team at the top

    THAME’S new Mayor is Cllr Jeannette Matelot Green, and her deputy is Cllr Nicola Dixon – the second time that these two councillors had been appointed to lead the town council. It was back in 2009 that the same two councillors were elected by fellow town councillors.

    Thame's new Mayor, Jeannette Matelot Green (Right) & her Deputy, Nichola Dixon
    Thame’s new Mayor, Jeannette Matelot Green (Right) & her Deputy, Nichola Dixon

     

     

    Cllr Matelot Green Green has been particularly involved with the team leading the plans and fund raising for a new Skate Park in the past year, and has announced that the Skate Park will be her chosen charity for her mayoral year.

     

  • Red Kites reggae to help give special little boy a lift

    THAME’S Red Kites Scooter Club regularly holds special events to raise funds for charity, and recently members reggaed the night away at The Falcon pub in Thame, to raise funds for a very special little boy.

    george4 (400x284)

     

     

     

    The Red Kites’ annual St George’s party was a free event with ska/reggae/2 tone tunes (vinyl spun) by the club’s own DJ duo, Mike Collier and Dave Deans, and a grand total of £264 was raised from the raffle which will go directly to the charity, Shay’s Miracle Fund. Shay is a very special little boy from Aylesbury, who has a condition called PVL (Periventricular leukomalacia), as well as cerebal palsy and epilepsy. The family have been trying to raise funds for a stairlift, that will hugely help enhance his mobility at home.

    Kites’ member, Serena Chamberlain, said: “It was such a wonder night. Special thanks to Fluff (Lee Poulton) for supplying the speakers and all Kites who helped promote the event and donated raffle prizes. The wonderful landladies at The Falcon, Paula and Chrissie (we are truly blessed to have them) also donated £70 from the sale of hot dogs on the night (which went down a storm with the punters) and we thank them hugely – not only for the donation, but for their continuous support to our scooter club, and for being such great sports along with your fabulous bar staff – all year round – and particularly on busy event nights, with lots of hungry and thirsty Scooterists and locals!

    “A great evening was enjoyed by everybody (we hope !!). It was wonderful to mingle with the pub locals, and special thanks to those who rode over on Scooters, despite the April showers, and those from further afield who travelled too – and a great idea to have the Falcon Marquee in place (just in case) emblazoned with flags and bunting!”

    “We couldn’t have raised so much money without the generosity of everybody who attended and supported,” Serena concluded, “and bought those all-important raffle tickets; we’re truly grateful and ‘thank you’ from the bottom of our hearts, on behalf of the Shay family.

    Donations can be made to Shay’s Miracle Fund via: https://www.make-a-donation.org/charity/shay-s-miracle-fund

  • Twelve Years A Slave at Thame Cinema

    THIS week’s film, Twelve Years A Slave,  is the last one of the season to be show by Thame Cinema 4 All, at The Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame, until after the summer.

    12_yrsThe film will start at 8pm though the doors will open at 7.30pm, on Friday, May 16. Licenced bar available as well as coffee and soft drinks, and confectionary.

    DETAILS: Twelve Years a Slave – UK / USA 2013, 133 minutes, 15 certificate – Directed by Steve McQueen, Starring Chiewetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o, Sara Paulson, Bendedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti.

    Solomon Northrup was born a free black man in New York in the early 19th century. He worked as a musician, living a life of comfort and respectability in the city with his wife and young children. One day, while his wife was away visiting relatives, he was offered the prospect of lucrative work by two white men who apparently praised his artistry and promised rich rewards. He was drugged, chained, and sold into slavery in the south, given a new name, his freedom nullified.

    Based on Northrup’s memoir of 1853, McQueen’s film describes Solomon’s captivity and his experiences at the hands of slave traders and plantation farmers. McQueen is known for unflinching and uncompromising cinema and this is no exception. He treats his subject with the honesty it demands: there is no satisfying redemptive narrative; there are no attempts to evade or obscure what slavery is and how it is perpetrated.

    This is a film that makes you look at brutality and what it means to have your freedom comprehensively withdrawn. But it also shows how everyone is brutalised and de-humanised by cruelty, perpetrators, onlookers and victims alike, how brutality seeps out and perpetuates itself in a cycle of endless self-loathing. Eijofor gives what will probably be the performance of his lifetime as Northrup, dignified, miraculously unbroken, and Fassbender puts in a typically fearless performance as the monstrous sadist slavemaster Epps.

    This is a film that is sometimes very difficult to watch, but it could be argued that this is the only really ethical way to treat the subject, and that this is the first film to ever seriously put slavery on screen. And although this is a representation of historic slavery, it also points to the present, and the plight of all those still enslaved. An incredible story, told with great artistry and integrity, and a film that will surely prove to be one of the most important movies of this – and perhaps any – decade.

  • Don’t miss out on the Thame 10K !

    THE organisers of the CPM Thame 10K road race in June, are encouraging entrants to register as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

    You can register now on-line via Runners World website www.runnersworld.co.uk. There will be NO ENTRIES ON RACE DAY and the race will be limited to 1000 entries to maintain a safe and enjoyable day for everyone.

    Runners will be pounding the course through Thame town centre to Towersey, and back along the Phoenix Trail, on Sunday, June 29, 2014, starting at 9.30amStart10k13 (400x277) from Thame Leisure Centre.