Author: Sonja Francis

THAME’S CMAG (Cattle Market Action Group) is delighted with the ‘overwhelming’ response to its Community Needs survey of local community groups who meet in and around Thame.

More than half of the 111 local non-sports groups identified so far have contributed to the study. And the resounding message is that there are not enough facilities in Thame and in particular, that the town lacks a place for larger meetings and community events.

Early results

Some key themes are starting to emerge, says CMAG. The preference is for a town centre site, with sufficient parking and easy access, that can be used flexibly by different sized groups. The town needs a performance space for community theatre, rock nights and music concerts. The two large Thame U3A groups, as well as NADFAS (The National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies) have between 250 and 350 members each and are growing. They used the old Windmill Road football club until it was closed down.

Sadly the new venue on the ring road is smaller, with capacity for only 150 people. Also, being on the outskirts of town, people no longer go for coffee, lunch or browse the High Street afterwards. Other groups, like Thame Twins (20 parents and 40 children!), currently meet outside Thame, but would very much like to meet in the town centre. The people of Thame love the town centre and want to meet within, not outside the town.

Next steps

Thame has several excellent smaller facilities, but most are already operating at full capacity, or have restrictions on how or when they can be used. The current study is looking not just at current but also the future needs of Thame. The vision of a multi-purpose assembly rooms venue as a central hub in the town is coming from many groups. The next stage is to work on feasibility for running a community building and the possible site. The fact that the town already has thriving, self-supporting venues such as the Thame Leisure Centre and the Barns Centre, will support the business case, says CMAG.

The future

The future of the Cattle Market is a hot topic. As owners of the site, South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) has a major dilemma. Unfortunately there isn?t enough room on the site for a supermarket and a viable community facility. The community building included in Sainsbury?s plans is “inadequate” says CMAG, having less capacity than many village halls in the area.

“It is good news that the Town Council are continuing their excellent work on the Neighbourhood Plan,” says CMAG. “They have engaged a consultant to carry out a feasibility study on the community needs analysis, which must be allowed to complete before any decision is made on the future of the publicly owned Cattle Market. Have your say, by responding to the Thame Gazette poll, but also by commenting on the Sainsbury’s planning application directly on SODC?swebsite.

The Cattle Market Action Group (CMAG) will be continuing the community needs analysis throughout March, so if your group has not yet been in touch, please do so by emailing: thamecmag@yahoo.co.uk or by writing to CMAG at 39 North Street, Thame OX9 3BJ.

IMAGE: A artist’s concept of what the entrance to a possible community building could look like.

[M 29/02/044] THIS is a Community Message from Thames Valley Police.DISTRACTION BURGLARY THAME – On Monday 27th February between 18:15hrs and 18:30hrs, a property in Horton Close, Thame, was the target of a Distraction Burglary. Offenders knocked on the window of the property and stated they were police officers and were looking for a burglar in the area.

They asked to look inside the house and were let in. One male entered and went into a rear bedroom, whist a second male waited outside. After a couple of minutes both left and the victim realised cash was missing.

There were two further Distraction Burglaries, one in Princes Risborough and another in Aylesbury on the same day, where two males called on an elderly and a vulnerable resident stating to be police officers in order to gain entry to their properties. Cash was stolen during both incidents.

The offenders are described as two white males, dark hair, wearing dark clothing with one being shorter in height than the other.

Please keep a look out for any elderly or vulnerable residents and advise them NOT to open the door to any unexpected visitors. If someone calls at their property claiming to be police officers, they should ask them to show identification then call the police non-emergency telephone number 101 to verify this. A police officer would be happy to wait whilst checks are carried out.

If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area, or have any information relating to this message, please call the police on the new national single non-emergency telephone number 101 and state you are responding to a Ringmaster message.

Alternatively if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Message Ends.

DETAILS of the crash that caused the closure yesterday of Rycote Lane, for several hours, have today come to light.

According to the Oxford Times a blue Subaru Impreza crashed into a house near the Oxfordshire Golf Club, damaging the front wall, a fence and a parked car.

The Police were called by the house owner at around 10.25am. Fortunately the driver only required treatment from paramedics for cuts and bruises.

Traffic was diverted via the A418 at Waterstock until the A329 reopened at 12.40pm.

No one was arrested.

SOURCE: The Oxford Times

A SPECIAL memorial for the lost youth of Thame, came a step closer on Saturday (25/02) when its design was revealed to the public for the first time.

BBC Oxford was at Thame town hall to record the occasion which was featured in its news bulletins and magazine programmes over the weekend.

Michael Gibbs’s design is based on the concepts of Infinity and Reflection has been created from of a four tonne block of white Carrera Marble and will be located at the narrowing end of the Memorial Gardens in the Upper High Street. The piece will be mounted at floor level, designed to encourage direct interaction, and is intentionally without detailed features so that it can represent whatever is in the mind of the beholder.

Semi circular benches in the area have been designed to work with a water feature which will be situated at the centre of the seating area to encourage groups to sit, engage with each other, share their thoughts, their experiences and possibly, their loss. The water feature will have a seating platform around its outer edge made from the same honed stone used for the floor paving, as if it was risen from the floor.

The water feature will contain a black granite top with the water pumped from the centre, trickling gently over the surface – much like an Infinity pool- returning to a recirculating tank. The walls will be constructed from the same contrasting natural stone planned to be used to pave the access pathways. An Infinity Memorial band will encircle the water feature.

Inlaid within the natural stone, the granite Memorial band will be segmented and engraved at the request of affected families wishing to remember their loved one in this way. The same granite is used for the water feature and the Memorial band, ensuring that the visual impacts are of the pieces themselves. Within the smaller loop of the Infinity Band will be a stone engraved with ?Thame Youth Memorial? and the date that it was established.

To read more about the memorial, its history and the ethos behind the establishment of a Thame Youth Memorial, visit the charity’s website: http://thameyouthmemorial.org/

THAME Police are hoping that witnesses will come forward after thieves smashed a plate glass shop window in the town and stole photographic equipment.

The burglary, at the Fuji Image Centre, in Buttermarket, Thame, took place around midnight (Thursday/Friday) February, 24.

The thieves gained access by smashing their way into the shop window with a large implement.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Thames Valley Police via the non-emergency number 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 crimestoppers-uk.org.

PHOTO: The manager of the Fuji Image Centre, in Thame, surveys the damage to his shop