DESPITE a difficult first half of the football season, Thame Youth, Under 11s team has reached the final of the South Bucks Mini Soccer Conference (White Division).
Since Christmas, the team’s fortunes have turned around, and it has won eight of nine games played. The boys are now top of their division, and will play the second-placed team, Aylesbury United Juniors, in the final at the ASM stadium, home of Thame United, at Meadow View Park, on April 27.
Team Manager, Mark Britton, said: “It’s been really pleasing this season to see how the whole squad has developed. We have a very talented and committed group of players, and they really deserve their chance in the final. I’m confident they will do themselves proud.”
Player, James, aged 10, nicknamed ‘Jammy Dodger’, said: “I’m really looking forward to it, but I think it will be a hard game. We have played really well this season, and scored lots of goals, so I think we will do well in the final.”
THE annual spectacle of swathes of beautiful bluebells in the Chilterns has arrived early this year and the woods are becoming covered with carpets of blue, and the next couple of weekends are the best time to get out and enjoy them.
This year the bluebells are slightly early because of the warm sunny weather of recent weeks. In the next few days many local woods will turn into a sea of blue, so get out there and make the most of them – they will be at their peak for the next two weeks. Half of the world’s bluebell woods are found in the UK so this is a spectacle that is very special to this country.
Some of the best bluebell woods in the Chilterns are:
· Wendover Woods, near Wendover · Adams Wood, near Lane End · Bradenham Woods, near High Wycombe · Ashridge Estate, near Berkhamsted · Cowleaze Woods, near Watlington · Ipsden Heath, near Henley-on-Thames
It’s a fantastic time of year to make the most of our beautiful local countryside and enjoy all the signs of spring. You can find lots of information on the best places to see bluebells in the Chilterns, plus details of walks and bike rides, at www.chilternsaonb.org
A professional economist who has worked for HM Treasury, has been selected as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Henley Constituency which includes Thame. Sam Juthani, 26, was selected at a recent meeting of the Henley Labour Party in Benson.
Sam Juthani, Labour Candidate for the Henley Constituency
With degrees from Oxford University and Barcelona School of Graduate Studies, Sam Juthani has previously worked at HM Treasury where his responsibilities included tackling child poverty, the Eurozone crisis and Budget coordination. He currently works in Oxford as a professional Economist.
Sam is a school and college governor in the constituency and is a keen runner, cricketer and chocolatier in his spare time.
After his election, Sam Juthani said: “Henley is a fantastic constituency. I am proud and excited to be standing for the Labour Party here and will work across the seat to spread our positive vision for South Oxfordshire. I will stand up for the ordinary people of Thame and support vital public services that are suffering from Government cuts.”
Thame’s current Member of Parliament is Conservative, John Howell, who replaced Boris Johnson as MP when he became the Mayor of London.
PLANS to replace the aging skatepark on Tythrop Way, Thame, have been approved, which means that fund raising for the £250,000 needed to complete the project, can now begin in earnest.
The final plans gained the support of skate park users and the local community including Thames Valley Police, Lea Park Residents Association and District Councillors. Various fundraising events are planned for the coming year for the new skatepark facility which, says Thame Town Council, “.. will provide a safe, contemporary space for current and future users to exercise, spectate and socialise. ” The town council is contributing funds to the project.
Image courtesy of Aidan North
The skatepark users themselves have already raised over £2,000 towards the project, including a marathon trip on skateboards and BMX bikes from Trafalgar Square in London to Thame, back in October. See LINK
The design, which was inspired by the skaters themselves, will cater for all ages and abilities. Click here to view the application and the future vision of Thame Skatepark.
For more information about the Thame Skatepark Project visit the Facebook page or see what the skaters get up to down at the park by watching one of their videos. VIDEOS LINK HERE
PUPILS of Lord Williams’s Upper School in Thame, have been compelled to act following the plight of Nathanael Armstrong, a fellow student who could die unless he receives the right treatment. The team of teens are carrying out multiple fundraising events to raise money towards his treatment that is costing £1,700 per week.
Chloe Morris in full cake-selling mode, raising funds for her friend, Nat Armstrong
Rachael Bancroft, Jessica Lynch, Daniel Kovac and a group of Nat’s friends organised a ‘wakeover’ (staying awake all night) on April 15, to raise more money to help towards his treatment.
Chloe Morris, a Year 11 pupil at Lord William’s School and friend of Nat’s, raised £132.75 through a cake sale held on Saturday, March 29, in the Cooperative store in Thame. “People have been so generous and supportive,” said Chloe. “It’s also great that the Co-op allowed us to carry out the sale in their store.” The cake sale is just one of many fund raising activities for Nat. Natalie Watson is shaving her hair off, while others dare walking, jumping, swimming and carrying out extreme activities, like Genny Stephenson who will be sky diving to help raise money.
Nat himself has been very moved by the support he is receiving. He said: “I’m finding it difficult to tell people how much it all means to me; it’s not just the money, but caring. That’s what really matters. The money thing worries me, because I don’t want my Nanna and Granddad having to pay for my treatment and that makes me angry.”
Nathanael, or Nat as he is known to his friends, lives in Thame with his grandparents. He has been struggling with a rare allergy for a number of years, which means that he can’t eat most proteins or sugars. By the age of nine, he was one of the most gifted swimmers in his age group in the country and he is also a talented musician. However, by the time he was 14, he was told that he was allergic to a wide range of foods and was placed on an artificial liquid diet.
Recent tests have confirmed that his problems started with his allergies. However his treatments and basic condition have jointly conspired to produce an infection of Candidiasis. This is a yeast-type infection, one of the most common forms being Thrush. However in Nat’s case it is rampant throughout his body, organs and blood. Nat has been told that his whole system is at the point of collapse. He was also told that the treatment was very expensive and needed NHS funding to be affordable. Nat currently lives with his grandparents in Thame who are helping to fund his much needed treatment.
THAME’S Music In The Park is now less than three weeks away from transforming Elms Park into a throbbing, rocking melting pot of people, music, dance, picnicing, beer and fun!
Leading Madness and Two-tone tribute act, The Skasouls UK, will be headlining on Sunday, May 4, and guaranteed to get the crowd dancing along to songs from the likes of Madness and Bad Manners. In total more than 30 acts will be performing, covering all tastes including rock, folk, indie, rap, big band, choir and harp, as well as a spectrum of dance acts.
Skasouls UK
Tickets are on sale from: Vintage & Modern Guitars, Wally’s Toy Shop, Fore Golf, The Cross Keys, The Falcon and Thame Town Hall, or online at www.wegottickets.com/event/265557.
Advance tickets cost: Adults – £7; concessions (students, under 18s, senior citizens) – £4; family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 concessions) – £20. On-the-door prices are £10, £5 and £25 respectively. Under 5s go free.
With a wide variety of music and dance on offer, there’s sure to be something for everyone. Music In The Park features two main stages with live music and dance, and an acoustic stage. So, have fun dancing the day away or chill out with a leisurely picnic.
Of course, there’ll also be all the usual goodies you’d expect at a festival (except hopefully, wellies and brollies), including real ales, a wide variety of delicious foods, fun activities for children and adults, and a range of trade stalls.
THE first new, large-scale house building in Thame, since the publication of its Neighbourhood Plan, is likely to begin in the not-to-distant future, following the news that a detailed planning application for 79 homes, including affordable housing, is likely to be submitted very soon.
Concept Vision diagram of the proposed development of land at The Elms (Image courtesy of nashpartnership.com)
News of the progress of the proposed development, on the Western side of what is known as Site C in the Thame Neighbourhood Plan (the area closest to Thame Park Road), was given at a recent meeting between Thame Town Council and the various Residents Associations, to discuss the TNP Draft Monitoring and Delivery Report 2013-14.
The council reported that: “It is anticipated that the balance of housing (108 dwellings), on the eastern part of Site C, will be submitted, in outline, as part of the same planning application.” If approved, this part of the site is likely to then be sold on before being developed.
Housing Development on land at Lord Williams’s Lower school
REFERRING to the allocation in the TNP for 135 homes at Lord Williams’s Lower School, the council reported that the school is currently assessing feasibility plans but is not yet ready to go out to consultation. It is, however, “fully committed” said the council, to involving all the relevant Residents’ Associations in discussions, once the plans are available.
Land at The Elms
THIS ‘controversial site’ has, reported the council, been the subject of many meetings and discussions between the council, the developer, Rectory Homes, and English Heritage.
“At this stage, there is nothing on the table about the final numbers,” the council reported, “or where on the site the proposed houses will go. (The TNP allows for a maximum of 45 homes, whereas English Heritage is calling for no more than 35, and none to interrupt the view South from the main house, The Elms.)
The Clerk said that as the plan comes forward, it will be discussed in public at a full council meeting, and that if planning permission was granted, there would need to be detailed public consultation about any proposed associated changes to the public open space next door, Elms Park, itself.
Later in the meeting, Barry Yates, Chair of the Oxford Road Residents Association, was concerned about possible traffic problems in Nelson Street, should development take place at The Elms. The Clerk, Helen Stewart, said that a Transport assessment would have to be part of any planning application, and that so far, no objection had been made by Oxfordshire County Council.
The town council stated that it will publish in full, the details of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan Monitoring and Delivery Report 2013-14, in the near future.
NEXT month, May 2014, will see a couple of great shows coming to the Players Theatre, in Nelson Street, Thame. The first is the comedy, Wife After Death by Eric Chapell, from Tuesday, May 6 to Saturday, May 10, at 7.45pm.
SYNOPSIS – Dave Thursby’s friends are gathered at his funeral. Their memories of him are very different and often clash. When the mysterious Kay arrives to drop her bombshell, everyone endeavours to keep up appearances for the sake of the widow. Later, when the time comes to dispose of the ashes and Dave’s secret life is finally exposed, tempers and ashes fly.
Tickets: £9 and £8 (£1 off for concessions)
THE second date for your diary is Saturday, May 17, 7.30pm, when Towersey Festival presents…..
‘A night of great acoustic music to celebrate the launch of your local Festival in its 50th year’
BBC Award winner and Radio 2 play listed artist, Megan Henwood, from just down the road in Henley, has been heralded by The Guardian and Mojo Music Magazine as one of the brightest stars of the acoustic music world with her debut single being played regularly on BBC Radio 2. Stunning and heartbreaking song writing and a pure voice, coupled with brilliant and intricate guitar playing will have you transfixed from the first note.
With just over 100 seats this promises to be a beautifully intimate night of acoustic music, with support coming from another great local artist Evette Judge who delivers folksy acoustic rock through her own songwriting and covers. The evening will be introduced by Towersey Festival Director Joe Heap who will show a short film about the event and some of the best pictures from the last few years, to get us all in the festival mood.
Tickets £12 (concessions – Over 60’s and Under 16 years £10) Tickets online from www.thameplayers.co.uk (10% booking fee applies) or Tickets Anywhere, Greyhound Walk, Thame 01844 217228
ORGANISATIONS in South Oxfordshire have just weeks to apply for up to £100,000 each to fund community projects like improvements to buildings or new equipment.
The funding is available through the district council’s Communities Capital Grant Scheme. Any community-based organisation, including parish and town councils, can apply.
Previous projects the council has helped fund through the scheme include new heating and lighting at Thame Players Theatre, refurbishment works to the community pub in Marsh Baldon and the creation of a new play area in Chalgrove. So – if your community needs a boost, now’s the time to put a plan into action!
The funding is available for capital projects such as new or major refurbishments of community buildings, or the purchase of equipment. It can’t be used for normal running costs.
Councillor Ann Ducker, leader of the council, said: “This really is an exciting opportunity for community groups in the district. I’d urge any organisations who think there may be potential for investment in their community to apply.”
The scheme closes on April 23, with decisions being made in July. For more information and details of how to apply, visit www.southoxon.gov.uk/grants
RECENT changes in National Planning Guidance, are undermining the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.
This was a view expressed at a recent meeting between Thame Town Council and various Residents Associations, to review the progress of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.
Image courtesy of ktminiatures.blogspot.com
The changes have meant that office buildings can be converted for residential use, without formal planning consent, as was the case of the 46 additional dwellings to the 775 agreed in the TNP, at the old Angus Fire Armour building, recently given planning consent to be turned into apartments.
Discussing so-called ‘Windfall sites’, the council reported in its draft Monitoring and Delivery report that it expects more planning changes from the Government this year, including allowing for shops to be converted into residential without planning permission. However, it is expected that this will exclude Conservation Areas, of which most of Thame town centre is, so should have limited effect.
The Government has advised that permitted development will also be extended to allow agricultural buildings up to 450 sqm to be changed, to provide up to three new homes. This may therefore result in further development in the Thame Parish area which includes a number of farms.
The draft report stated that there continues to be a number of ‘windfall’ sites coming forward for planning permission, that the council stated “will be considered and assessed” in the context of the TNP policies and the adopted Local Plan. (Thame Town Council has asked the Minister, Nick Boles whether ‘windfall sites’, that is those not planned for, but which come forward for planning permission during the period eg ‘in-fill’ on private land, may be counted in Thame’s allocation. But he had to date not responded.)
Bob Austin, who represents Towersey Road Residents Association, said that he felt these windfalls were: “….substantially altering the Neighbourhood Plan in regard to infrastructure. It is entirely feasible that the number of dwellings required of Thame could increase by a third and the subsequent increase in the population all adding to the pressures on the town.
“We’re being dumped on!” he added.
In response, Jake Collinge, the town council’s Planning Advisor, said: “No one could argue with what you have said.” He then went on to explain how CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) payments, soon to replace developer contributions via Section 106 agreements, may be used to fund new community facilities through community loans, or used to provide for things like extra parking. At present, developer contributions do not materialise until after detailed planning permission has been granted.
DESPITE a difficult first half of the football season, Thame Youth, Under 11s team has reached the final of the South Bucks Mini Soccer Conference (White Division).
