Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 16/05/11….Development plan up for inspection tomorrow

    SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council?s Core Strategy will be examined for the first time tomorrow, Tuesday May 17, when the Inspector holds the first public meeting at 10am in the Council Chamber, South Council Offices at Crowmarsh.

    The meeting is the start of a process that will take place over this summer. An independent planning inspector will examine the council?s long term plans for development in the district. This meeting will provide an opportunity for the inspector to discuss some initial points on which he wants further clarification, before proceeding to the hearing sessions in July. This is a normal part of the process.

    The council submitted its draft core strategy to the Secretary of State on Friday, March 18, and he appointed independent Planning Inspector Roy Foster to scrutinise the document. During the hearings in July, the inspector will examine evidence from the council and other interested parties about how the district should develop over the next 15 years. He will then produce a report, which the council expect to receive before the end of the year. If the final decision is that the strategy is sound, then the council can go on to adopt it in early 2012.

    Adrian Duffield, Head of Planning, said: ?The meeting represents an important first step in the draft core strategy examination process as it will lay the foundations for the public hearings taking place in July. Residents can find out more by visiting our website at www.southoxon.gov.uk/corestrategy

    NB To find out more about the strategy and information on the public examination session, please visit www.southoxon.gov.uk/corestrategyexamination

    The core strategy is a 15 year plan setting out how the council will help deliver housing, opportunities for high quality jobs and thriving town centres across the district.

    The core strategy recommendations for Thame the site to the north west of the town as the site for around 530 new homes (Site F, the old pig farm opposite Lord Williams’s Upper school).

    In the larger villages, some development would be allowed: “..to help limit decline and make them strong enough to sustain day-to-day services.” At present 750 new homes have been identified split across larger villages. The strategy also contains details of the necessary infrastructure needed to support all housing development that takes place.

    SEE: for back stories on the Core Strategy (in date order, oldest at the top): LINK

  • 16/05/11…..Thame Football hosts England Womens’ side

    THE ASM Stadium at Meadow View Park, Thame, played host to the England Womens’ team this weekend including a friendly international match against Sweden.

    The England party trained at the facility on Friday and Saturday, (14/15 May) and the match was played behind closed doors on Sunday with Sweden running out narrow 1-0 victors.

    “Thame Football Partnership were pleased to have been chosen by the FA to stage this event,” said Frank Thompson, “and both countries were delighted with the quality of the facility and playing surface. The match was a warm up for the full international at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday evening which kicks off at 19.45pm and is in preparation for the England Squad who are competing in the Womens World Cup in Germany in June this year.”

    Manchester United legends coming to Thame

    Thame United will also be hosting a match against a Man Utd Legends Team at the ASM Stadium on Sunday, August 28. The match will be all ticket with admission

  • 16/05/11……Thame Barns Centre says farewell to John Thomas

    THAME Barns Centre has sent off in style one of the town’s great characters, and the man who has contributed so much to the success of what has become one of Thame’s most popular venues.

    Staff and friends joined John for a party at the centre last Friday evening to say ‘thank you’ to John Thomas who retires having been Manager there for the last 10 years.

    A substantial collection had been made towards John’s retirement gift and a donation was presented by Rosalie Gibson, one of the Trustees, towards one of John?s hobbies – cycling.

    Rosalie made a fitting speech of thanks to which John was the first to lead the applause and to which he was delighted to respond in his own inimitable way, as well as wishing the new Manager, Karen Clark, and the Events Co-ordinator, Patsy Baker, every good wish for the future.

    John had a career in construction before he came to the Barns Centre in July, 2001, at which time the Centre was in need of final completion and ?some atmosphere?. It has since become home to numerous regular user groups such as Keep Fit and Yoga, Ballroom Dancing classes, Toddler Groups, Historical Society and Martial Arts to name but a few.

    In 2003, the Commercial kitchen was finally commissioned for use and the Centre was registered as a Food Business. Since then, the venue has hosted and catered for hundreds of receptions such as Weddings, anniversaries, parties and wakes as well as hosting the Twinning Celebrations with Montesson and Thame Town Council Civic functions. Businesses both local and from far afield regularly use the venue for meetings and corporate days.

    An immensely popular, fortnightly afternoon Tea Dance was held May 11, at which The Dancers showed their appreciation for John and The Centre.

    “We all wish John, and his long suffering wife Val, a long and happy retirement!” concluded Karen Clark, who follows in John’s footsteps.

  • 16/05/11…..Thame shopkeepers encouraged to front improvements

    SHOPKEEPERS in and around Thame are being encouraged to help brighten up their surroundings by taking advantage of a shop front improvement scheme.

    Funding is available to assist shops in Thame and the nearby Oxfordshire villages improve their shop fronts and help make a real difference to the local shopping area.

    The scheme is open to all freehold owners, lease holders (with at least five years on their lease) and tenants of premises in Thame and its catchment area (including Chinnor and Wheatley) with commercial shop fronts. These include:

    shops ? including hairdressers, beauty salons, funeral directors, laundrettes, dry cleaners etc
    financial and professional services ? banks, building societies and estate agents
    restaurants, pubs, cafes and takeaways.

    Funding is available towards work ranging from entirely new shop fronts and large scale replacement and repair work, to painting, signage, displays or lighting.

    Shop fronts are the most noticeable part of a building and make a big impact on a town centre. They contribute to people?s first impressions and can dramatically affect a town?s image. High quality shop fronts make a town feel more welcoming to local residents and visitors; they help to give a place a sense of identity; and, most importantly, they encourage more people to visit the shops.

    Applications must be received by June 30, 2011, and work completed by September 30, 2011. Priority for applications will be given to premises in High Street, Cornmarket, Butter Market, Upper High Street and North Street in Thame.

    The scheme is being administered by 21st Century Thame, a partnership of representatives from Thame Town Council, businesses and community groups, South Oxfordshire District Council and Oxfordshire County Council and is being funded by South Oxfordshire District Council and the South East England Development Agency?s Rural Towns Programme.

    The scheme can provide up to 50 per cent of the total expenditure on the project, with each project required to match the funding by 50 per cent. A maximum of

  • 16/05/11….Invitation to help Haddenham area make the transition

    DEAR Editor, I read in the paper today that gas prices are expected to rise by 20% this year and electricty similarly. This must change the business case for renewables…

    I was also fascinated to read how progressive communities in Gernany are taking responsibility for their own power supply..and taking on the industry giants (some lessons to learn here!) – see:

    LINK

    And of course Transition Town Lewes has been instrumental in setting up a power station in the town: see
    LINK

    …nearer home in High Wycombe they have a a buying club for renewable energy systems:
    LINK

    I attended my first Haddenham Parish Council meeting as a councillor recently. I was disappointed to hear that the council had previously turned down planning permission for a ‘maverick’ farmer to erect a wind turbine in Ford. I expect there will be further requests for renewable energy installations which the less progressive majority will object to…we don’t see many solar panels within the conservation area of the village! Suggesting we encourage renewables in the village would be met with incredulity!

    There are still two vacant seats on the council …and the planning committee needs people – if you live in Haddenham and are interested in steering our community towards local resilience and a low carbon economy you can’t do much better than get on the council!

    For anyone who doubted the resource crisis/energy crisis that has been predicted, the evidence is clear to see…you can be like the three wise monkeys and try to ignore it…but it is still happening and will affect you in the comming year or two.

    Energy descent is not just desireable, it is inevitable: best to ride the wave than be engulfed by it!
    Come along to our next meeting and lets talk about it!
    regards
    Dave Lyons
    on behalf of

    Haddenham in Transition
    LINK

  • 16/05/11……..Stantonbury proves lucky for Thame swimmers

    THAME swimmers were in action again recently in the Leighton Buzzard SC L4 open meet at the Stantonbury pool in Milton Keynes, on Saturday, May 7, 2011. This was the very first gala Thame competed in back in 2009 when the club was launched and has traditionally been a good gala for Thame SC.

    This year was no exception and Coach Darren Talbott supported the swimmers who, in Darren?s own words had: .”a wicked time.” Many swimmers went home with medals and speeding tickets, though as usual those with speeding tickets would have rather had medals.

    Amy Haarburger took home speeding tickets in the 50m backstroke, breaststroke and 100m IM. Emma Briars took home a silver medal and Ben Williams went home with four speeding tickets. Rebecca Brightling picked up silver 50m freestyle. Jessica Russell picked up the gold medals in the 100M IM and 50M freestyle and a bronze in the 50m breaststroke whilst William Finch took home two silver medals (Freestyle & Butterfly).

    Liam Talbot took the gold in the 50m butterfly whilst boys squad captain, Jamie Goetz, stormed in to take a speeding ticket with a Personal Best of over three seconds. His brother Thomas took home a set of medals, taking bronze for the 50m freestyle with a two second Personal Best, a silver in the 100m IM and a gold in the 50M butterfly with another PB.

    Thame SC?s squad is in full training for the competition season at Thame Leisure Centre and new sessions are starting at Risborough Springs; details on LINK Thame SC will be back in action on May 14, for the Wycombe Sprint meet.

  • 16/05/11……The cups floweth in for Chinnor RFC

    THAME-based Chinnor RFC’s silverware continues to mount up, with yet another Cup retained this season with the Vets team’s convincing win over Harwell RFC.

    What make a Vet? Teachers, doctors, plumbers, logistics, IT consultants, marketing experts etc all over the age of 35. All proving you are never too old for a bit of rucking and mauling.

    This victory completes the most successful season for Chinnor RFC with the list of County champions being U11s, U14s, U16s, U17s, 1st Team and Vets. All deserve a few weeks break with senior training starting in July. Youth rugby starts on Sunday September 4. ALL welcome.

    For more information visit the club?s web-site LINK

    Ground Force

    During the weekend of June 11 & 12, the club will undergo a 48 hour makeover supporting the RFU?s Ground Force weekend designed to encourage club members to spruce up their club in preparation for next season. ALL welcome. LINK

  • 15/05/11…..Talented people wanted for musical

    THAME and district people will remember well, past Interchurch Productions’ memorable shows like Godspell, Sound of Music, Joseph etc. (To refresh your memory and to know more, look at ICP’s website: http://interchurchproductions.com

    ICP is currently getting ready for a new production – ‘CHILDREN OF EDEN’ planned for October half term and are looking for enthusiastic people – no previous experience is necessary but they do need all the talented people required for a musical, actors, singers, scene painters, technical whizz kids, dress makers etc

    Visit the website for contact details and more information about auditions.

  • 15/05/11…Tetsworth Farmers Market revived from this month

    TETSWORTH Farmers Market is being revived, starting on Sunday, May 15. Profits will go towards imrovement work for Tetsworth’s village hall.

    The market will be held the 3rd Sunday of the month, 10am – 12.noon.

    Easy to find, located opposite The Swan.

    www.tetsworthparishcouncil.co.uk

  • 14/05/11……Thame Concert Band launches season of concerts

    THAME Concert Band is an enthusiastic group of wind players who are now rehearsing for a new year of exciting music, beginning on May 14, with a programme that will include Music from My Fair Lady and Michael Jackson.

    The concert will be held in St Mary’s church, Thame, and will also include a quarrelsome pair of opera divas, a couple of contrasting folk song arrangements, a tribute to John Barry and much more; all arranged for concert band.

    The band will be joined by the Thame Chamber Choir 2, under the direction of Duncan Aspden, as well as singing some numbers on their own. The whole evening will be rounded off with a popular jazz waltz. It promises to be a very enjoyable evening.

    Tickets will be on sale at Tickets Anywhere in Thame and Bloomin Fruity in Haddenham, priced at