OXON Racquets Junior Open – bronze sanctioned event, Saturday/Sunday, February 25/26, at The Racquets Fitness Centre, Thame.
Follow the LINK for more information.
Author: Sonja Francis
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22/02/12…Buildings design competition open for business
THE search is on ONCE 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 the work they have done 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.
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, or to prevent progress, but we do believe that new buildings in the Chilterns should fit in with the character and scale of their environment.”
It isn?t just new houses that are eligible for consideration. Industrial and public buildings are also eligible, as are conversions of existing buildings.
Last year two properties were jointly awarded the top prize. One is a restored Victorian model farm near Chorleywood in Herts which houses a business servicing and restoring classic Ferraris. The other is a sympathetically-extended cottage in the hilltop village of Speen near Princes Risborough.
The closing date for entries or nominations is March 1st 2012. 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/fax: 01494 771250, email office@chilternsociety.org.uk
PHOTO: Kingsford Cottage, Speen, Joint winner 2011
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22/02/12…..Countryside campaigners set out new vision for farming
A new survey by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has found that over four out of five British adults (84 per cent) believe that farmers have a responsibility to look after the landscape and wildlife for future generations.
The countryside charity has also published its own Vision for the future of Farming, which outlines the changes to farming practices and agricultural policy it would like to see by 2026.
Farming has a major impact on the Oxfordshire landscape, with nearly 200 farms across the county and a total of 78% of the land in Oxfordshire under agricultural management.
The CPRE survey has found that fewer than a fifth of British adults (17 per cent) would accept a more industrialised farming sector and an overwhelming 78 per cent of people want farmers to get more support to carry out environmentally sustainable farming practices.
Helen Marshall, Director of CPRE Oxfordshire, says: ?It?s great to see that people clearly want the environmentally sustainable future for farming set out in our vision. There are huge challenges, including growing populations, increasing demand for land and natural resources, and pressures due to climate change. But we must find ways to cope with these challenges if we are to secure a living, thriving rural landscape.
?The Government, farmers, the food industry and environmental organisations will need to work together over the coming years to ensure that the public?s aspirations are realised.?
In its farming vision, CPRE looks to a future when:
Farmers who adopt new environmental sustainability standards benefit from a price premium that recognises the additional environmental measures they are taking, for example creating wildlife habitats.
Fairer milk prices for dairy farmers help to reverse the decline in traditional, pasture-based dairy farms, and make them more profitable helping to maintain much loved landscapes.
There is a massive increase in the number of community-based horticultural enterprises supplying local vegetables, salad and fruit, strengthening local food webs.
Polytunnels for growing fruit and vegetables have become much less contentious after being brought into a planning system which controls their cumulative impacts on the landscape.
Most pigs and poultry are free range and reared outdoors, which is what the majority of consumers demand.
Farmers in upland areas have capitalised on the environmental and cultural services these areas provide by, for example, managing water and soils sustainably and creating beautiful landscapes.
Nearly all farms in England are producing renewable energy through sensitively designed and located small-scale schemes, such as anaerobic digestion plants which generate energy from farm waste.
SOURCE: Contributed
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22/02/12….Thame prepares for Jubilee weekend celebrations
THAME Town council is gearing up for a great weekend of events to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee over the first weekend in June, which is a public holiday.
At a planning meeting on Tuesday (21/02)for anyone who wanted to be involved, the Mayor, David Bretherton, asked if the town centre shops and businesses would play their part in getting into the spirit of things, by decorating their windows with a relevant theme.
Chair of Thame4Business, Sonja Francis, said: “A suitable prize will be offered by Thame4Business, and presented by the Mayor, for the winning window. I do hope the town centre businesses will rise to the occasion and make the high street even more attractive to both visitors and the locals.
“Let’s take this opportunity to really ‘big up’ Thame’s shopping offer and celebrate in style!”
Events planned in the town for that weekend include a Beacon in the Upper High Street, The Big Jubilee quiz on the Saturday night, mass Sunday lunch, bring and share picnic in Elms park, The Big Sing – also in Elms park, all culminating in fireworks at Elms Park.
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21/02/12….Diamond Jubilee Celebrations: Meeting
WHEN: Tomorrow 21.02.2012 – 7.00-8.30pm at Thame Town Hall. To discuss Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.
All are welcome to attend.
Find out more about what is planned nationally for the celebrations of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at http://www.2012queensdiamondjubilee.com/diamond-jubilee-events
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21/02/12…Thame High Street bucks the trend
A NEW survey has revealed that South Oxfordshire continues to buck the national trend of high streets in decline – and Thame is tops with the least number of empty shops.
In stark contrast to the national picture, the district saw an overall increase in the number of shops that were trading in its market towns during the last year.
The survey, an annual count of shops on a single day in January, identified that 95.2 per cent of shops across South Oxfordshire?s market towns were occupied, up from 94.9 per cent a year ago. This compares extremely favourably to the national situation, where an average of 85.5 per cent of shops are occupied currently on high streets throughout the country.
The biggest success locally has been Thame where the high demand for retail units has meant that all but four shops in the town centre are now occupied, while Henley and Wallingford both maintained the same high occupancy rate as last year.
Sonja Francis, the current Chair of Thame4Business, said: “This finding proves once again how working together with businesses, local groups and the town partnership to create events and attractions that create a buzz in the town and give people a reason to come, reaps rewards.
“The volunteers of the 21st Century Thame Partnership and some of its local authority representatives, have worked particularly hard to seek out funding for projects like our Shop Fronts Improvement scheme and the Loyalty Card project which have no doubt contributed to the town’s economic and social vibrancy.
“But we are not complacent, and despite the loss of our valuable and hard working Town Centre Co-ordinator who did so much to help drive forward these projects, we continue to look for future support and funding to keep up the momentum and help Thame keep its reputation as a top notch shopping and attractive visitor destination.”
In Wallingford 131 of the town?s 140 shops were in use at the time of the latest survey, while 270 out of a total 287 were occupied in Henley.
Even more encouraging for Henley is that 15 new niche businesses opened last year, further boosting the variety on offer in the town, and with three of the unoccupied units set to reopen in the coming months the situation should improve even further.
In the coming year, South Oxfordshire District Council, which carried out the survey, has promised to continue to promote retail opportunities in the market towns with the aim of keeping occupancy rates among the highest in the country. Any retailer, business person or entrepreneur interested in finding new retail premises in the district should contact: economic.development@southandvale.gov.uk.
Cllr Judith Nimmo-Smith, cabinet member of economic development, property and technical services, said: ?The results prove that South Oxfordshire is continuing to do significantly better than others part of the country in terms of having a thriving local economy. Henley, Thame and Wallingford have some really enticing independent retailers who contribute to the towns? unique selling points and help to bring people to the town centres.
?Our close co-operation with the town business partnerships and town councils has also played a large part in the continued success of the area.”
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21/02/12….Sheep butchered at local nature reserve
THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after five sheep were killed and butchered at Aston Rowant Nature Reserve in Watlington.
Sometime between Sunday (5/2) and Thursday (16/2), the sheep were professionally butchered and slaughtered and the meat was stolen, leaving behind the skins, feet and internal organs.
PC Jon Simpkins, from Thame police station, said: ?The sheep were in a remote field on Aston Hill along the A40 Lewknor and the offenders would have had to park a vehicle in a nearby gateway.
?To have butchered the sheep would have taken in excess of two hours and they would have had to carry about 200 kilos of meat to their vehicle.
?The job was professionally done and I believe the offenders may have previous experience of butchering animals and used professional butcher or chef knives.?
Anyone with any information about the incident, or who noticed any suspicious vehicles in the area should contact PC Simpkins via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police Enquiry Line 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 crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
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21/02/12….Proud Thame school’s ‘Eco flag’ status renewed
THE pupil Eco Council at John Hampden Primary School in Thame, has been successful in renewing their hard earned Eco Flag which has been flying high for over two years.
An Eco Schools assessor inspected the school grounds and interviewed the Eco Council, and was very impressed! The passion with which the children spoke of their school and the depth of their knowledge about environmental issues wowed the assessor!
John Hampden Nursery School and Early Years were also commended for having developed and maintained a wonderful environment in which younger children can explore the natural world and are supported in discussing environmental issues like water conservation and biodiversity.
Future projects for the school include creating a wild flower meadow, which will support the creatures living in the Bug Hotel, and the future residents of the new Bog Garden which is being built by David Wilson Homes.
Congratulations to the staff and pupils at John Hampden School for being such admirable Eco Warriors!
SOURCE: Contributed
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21/02/12…Thame musicians premier Olympics Ping Pong music
A PIECE of music commissioned by the London Olympics to celebrate Table Tennis, has been composed by a Thame musician. Next month, The Coull quartet, which includes two Thame musicians, Nick Roberts and Rose Redgrave, will play Joe Cutler’s piece in public for the first time.
Warwick Arts Centre will be celebrating the Cultural Olympiad on March 3, in an afternoon of music and table tennis, with a Musical Promenade culminating in the premiere performances of Joe Cutler?s new work for the Coull Quartet and four table tennis players, with film by Tom Dale.
TABLE TENNIS ROBOT
The Arts Centre will be filled with fun activities on the themes of Ping! So, go along and try your skills against the table tennis robot, watch a tournament, or join a table tennis workshop with some of England?s top players.
Musical Promenades will take place at 12.00, 2.00 and 4.00 and will last about an hour. To book your free places on the Promenade please contact the Warwick Arts Centre box office on 02476 524 524 or visit their website at www.warwickartscentre.co.uk
Further performances of Ping! are scheduled for May 6, at AE Harris, Birmingham. http://livebrum.co.uk/2012/05/06/the-voyage and June 16, at the HAKA Sports Centre in Bromley, Kent.
The final performance of Ping! scheduled so far will take place at London?s South Bank Centre during a special event to celebrate the Cultural Olympiad that will take place between July 13 – 15.
Click on the LINK to see artist Tom Dale?s impromptu edit of footage taken at the first Ping! workshop on April 15, last year.
Photo: Ed Moore
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20/02/12..Volunteers inspire reluctant readers
EVEN in a prosperous area like Oxfordshire there are many children who have trouble reading and a group of volunteers is making a huge difference to the reading levels of reluctant and struggling readers here in Thame schools.
But they need more willing volunteers to come forward to help them expand the service throughout the county. ARCh (Assisted Reading for Children in Oxfordshire, help children who have lost confidence because they?ve fallen behind, others who may be shy and don?t communicate well, some who have missed out on the development of vital skills in early childhood, children who may have difficulty concentrating, some who don?t speak English at home and others who just need a boost to help them catch up.
What do the volunteers do?
They help in a primary school for 1