Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 06/01/11……..Thame action group relaunches website

    THAME Cattle Market Action Group (CMAG), which campaigns to make sure that any redevelopment of Thame Cattlemarket includes community facilities, has now updated and relaunched its website.

    www.thamecmag.co.uk includes up to date information on the organisation, recent news and links to other relevant websites. Particularly useful at this time is a link to SODC?s Proposed Submission Core Stragtegy document page. This document includes a reference to
    the need for further community facilities in Thame. Members of the public are invited to comment before Friday, January 21, 2011 ? this would be an opportunity to write in support of such a facility!

    Find the link on CMAG?s News page.

    CMAG?s main concern is to ensure that, once the cattle market moves, future plans for the town centre site include community facilities for the benefit of the residents of Thame. CMAG?s action plan includes
    dialogue with local councils and interested parties as well as consulting with the people of Thame and the surrounding area about their ideas for the Cattle Market.
    Visit the website or email thamecmag@yahoo.co.uk to find out more.

  • 05/01/11……..Have you lost a man’s watch in Thame?

    A man’s watch was been found in Griffin Road, Thame, yesterday (Tuesday, January 4).

    If you think you may be the owner, email: editor@thame.net and we will put you in contact withe the finder.

  • 05/01/11….Have your say on the future of local transport

    THE County Council’s Draft Local Transport Plan 2011 – 2030 Consultation is currently underway so don’t miss your chance to help shape future local transport in the county.

    The consultation closes at midnight on Sunday, January 9, 2011.

    To find out more and have your say, visit: or call 01865 815093.

  • 05/01/11……..Council apologises for bin collecting disruption

    SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council has issued a statement about the disruptions to its kerb-side waste collections in December.

    Steve Bishop, Strategic Director for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils, said: ?Waste collections were cancelled on Monday 20 December and Tuesday 21 December because of the treacherous conditions on many roads, where compacted snow was unsafe for our contractors? 26 tonne collection vehicles and the icy conditions on pavements were dangerous for collection crews.

    “Collections went ahead as planned for the rest of that week on roads assessed as being safe although further cancellations arose in some of the residential roads which remained treacherous until the thaw. As a special measure wherever possible, on safe main routes, on Thursday and Friday that week crews collected waste from houses that had been missed earlier that week.

    ?We did not attempt to catch up collections from those who had had a missed collection in order to safeguard collections for the majority of residents unaffected by the snow and ice disruptions. Crews worked to the previously agreed and publicised Christmas timetable. This schedule involves crews working the next three Saturdays to catch up with collections missed because of the Christmas bank holidays.

    “Collections in both districts will return to normal on Monday 24 January.

    ?Had we attempted to catch up those two days of missed collections, it would have meant disrupting the Christmas schedule for all 100,000 households across South Oxfordshire and the Vale rather than just the minority of households whose collections were cancelled due to snow/ice.

    ?We do apologise to any residents who we were unable to collect from for the inconvenience this has caused. Anyone who did have a missed collection can put out a reasonable amount of extra side waste with their next collection.?

    For further information, and to check the Christmas schedule for both South Oxfordshire and the Vale, please visit www.morecycling.co.uk or call 03000 610610.

  • 05/01/11…………Thame news review of 2010

    AS we leave 2010 behind and wonder what 2011 holds for Thame, we look back at the highs and the lows of the main news events of the past year.

    The year 2010 began on a very sad note, with the death of popular Thame teacher, Ellie Bongers after the car she was travelling in was involved in a collision on Christmas Eve. Her toddler son, who was seriously injured in the crash, survived for several months but died in May.

    In Thame, on a very cold day on January 3, 2010, there was a mixture of laughter and tears when street entertainers, music and a helium balloon launch celebrated the lives of all the town?s young people who had died in tragic circumstances, and a special garden of remembrance was dedicated to them in the Memorial Gardens in the Upper High Street. Funds continue to be raised for a memorial structure, the latest effort, a Christmas party at The James Figg, raised over

  • 04/01/2011………Thame United lose at home to Ardley

    LEAGUE GAME: Monday, 04/01/11 – Meadow View Park: Thame United 1, Ardley United 3. MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

    ALMIOST Almost 250 spectators braved a cold Bank Holiday Monday to watch Thame United face league leaders Ardley United at the ASM Stadium. They saw an entertaining, keenly contested game which the visitors won 1-3, a score which flattered them. All four goals came in the second half.

    The opening exchanges were fairly even with both teams looking a little rusty, having not played since early December. Thame first chance fell to Stuart Braun but he scuffed his shot wide. Minutes later a strong volley from Sam Cowan forced a good save from the visiting keeper. Much of the Thame threat came from their on-form wingers, Ben Connelly and Luke Rickets. A Connelly cross was met with a strong downwards header by Aaron Rogers but the keeper just managed to scramble the ball clear. At the other end Thame keeper Milan Barisic was busy, and did well to win a 1 on 1 with visiting winger Danny Bone, by diving and bravely deflecting the ball from his feet. Barisic was in action a few minutes later, reacting quickly to tip a 30-yard shot over the bar. In the final minute of the half, Braun was unlucky to see a defender block his powerful shot on the line with the keeper beaten.

    Thame created two good chances in the first few minutes after the restart but were unable to convert them. The deadlock was broken in the 55th minute. Ardley were awarded a corner and as the ball was cleared referee Murdoch saw an infringement and blew for a penalty, indicating that a Thame player had unfairly pushed an opponent. Ian Concannon took the spot kick well, giving Barisic no chance. Encouraged by the goal, the visitors increased the pressure on Thame and netted their second goal four minutes later when striker Stuart Bridges side-footed in a cross from the right. Ardley continued to push and, on 62 minutes, were awarded a corner on the left. The ball came in close to goal, just below the crossbar, and as Barisic jumped to collect it, he spilled the ball to the feet of Lewis Trovers, who tapped home.

    Thame fought back and scored with 15 minutes remaining. Following a blocked run on the right Connelly played the ball back to Stuart Barr who hit a long ball which Alex Stuart met with a glancing header into the top left of the goal. Manager Mark West brought on 3 substitutes, including newcomer Connor Hayes, but there were no further goals. Ardley played out the final few minutes with some slick passing, keeping the ball, thus denying possession to Thame.

    Thame United: Barisic, Barr, Newell (Meredith), Saulsbury, Brown (N Rhodes), Cowan, Connelly, Braun (Hayes), Stuart, Rogers, Ricketts.

    Thame are again at home next Saturday, 8th January, when Flackwell Heath are the visitors.

  • 04/01/11….Phoenix Trail Flasher sought by police

    THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information after a man exposed himself to a woman in Thame on Friday (31/12).

    The incident happened at 12.30pm as a 42-year-old woman was jogging along the Phoenix Trail, the walking and cycling path that leads from Thame to Princess Risborough.

    The woman was jogging along the trail and was near to the bridge at Thame Park Road when she saw a man standing on a raised platform area besides the trail. As she approached him, he exposed himself to her.

    The man is described as white, approximately 45 years-old, of medium build and with mousey brown hair. He was wearing sunglasses, a white T-shirt, a dark-coloured jacket, possibly brown, and what the victim believes were jeans.

    PC Andy Smith said: ?I would like to speak to anyone who was in the area on New Year?s Eve who may have seen this man about, and might know where he came from or went to.

    ?Perhaps someone recognises this description and knows who this man is? I would urge anyone with information to come forward and speak to me as soon as possible.?

    Thame’s Neighbourhood Sgt, Steve Hookham, told Thamenews.net this afternoon: “As a result of this incident we shall be increasing our foot and patrols and cyle patrols by PCSOs in the area of the Phoenix Trail behind Thame, to one or two per shift.”

    Anyone with information should contact PC Smith via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police Enquiry Line on 0845 8 505 505. Alternatively, you can contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

  • 30/12/10…..Thame Football stadium – official opening

    THAME United have this afternoon announced that the official opening of the ASM Stadium will now take place on January 18, 2011. The event was originally scheduled for December 21, 2010, with a friendly against Oxford United, but had to be postponed due to the weather conditions.

    Oxford United have now confirmed that they are able to fulfill the fixture on January 18, and will send a strong squad for the game.

    Thame Chairman, Jake Collinge, said: “We are extremely grateful that Oxford United have quickly re-confirmed their commitment to the fixture. We were obviously disappointed that the weather caused the postponement of the game in December as well as being acutely aware of the pressures and requirements that Oxford United have as a League Club. However, their willingness to send a strong squad to the game demonstrates their close ties with grassroots football in Oxfordshire.”

    The match will kick off at 7:30pm, with gates opening at 6:15pm. Admission prices will be

  • 29/12/10…….United Gear Up for Busy Schedule (Contributed)

    THAME United go in to the New Year knowing that their biggest challenge for the remainder of the season is not necessarily the opposition, but the prospect of playing a minimum of 26 games in less than four months. This will mean at least two games a week and, despite the postponements already endured this month, it is normally January and February when the weather really hits the fixture list, and so it is likely that there will be additional postponements over the coming months.

    “The postponements over the last month, whilst putting something of a dampener on our return to Thame, have also left us with a fixture pile-up that will require us to draw on the depth of our squad,” remarked manager Mark West.

    United will require all of that depth on Bank Holiday Monday (3rd January, 3:00pm kick off) as they entertain top of the table Ardley United at the ASM Stadium. Ardley come in to the game having lost only two league games all season, one of which was a defeat to Thame on the August Bank Holiday, when striker Alex Stewart scored both goals for the away side in a 2-0 victory. Since then Ardley have only slipped-up against Shortwood United and have a five point lead at the top of the table.

    Although over five inches of snow remained on the main pitch at the ASM Stadium on Monday (27th December) evening, by midday on Tuesday the surface was free of snow, well-drained and frost free. With the long range forecast indicating relatively milder day time and night time temperatures, the Club are not anticipating any problems with the pitch for the match, so at least they can begin to make in-roads into the remaining fixtures as Thame look to lift themselves in to the top half of the table.

    PHOTO: Mark West

  • 27/12/10..Thame fire crew rescues dog from ice

    Earlier this afternoon, fire and rescue crews from Thame and Wheatley were called to reports of a dog stranded after falling through ice in a lake near Tiddington.

    The owner met the first crews arriving in Sandy Lane and led them to the lake which was a about half a mile from the road. On arrival the crews found the dog hanging onto the edge of the ice about 5m from the bank.

    Fire-Fighters using wading poles to break the ice and wearing specialist dry suits entered the lake and were able to break a pathway and wade close enough to rescue the dog which by this time was in some distress. Once the dog was carried back to the bank he was covered using Fire-Fighters’ tunics and placed in a kit bag to keep warm then taken to the owner?s home in the Fire and Rescue Service 4×4 where a vet was called.

    Watch Manager, Andy Ford from Thame, said: “On our arrival the dog was obviously very cold and was not going to be able to hold on for much longer, but fortunately we were able to get to the dog safely using specialist dry suits and get him to shore where the crews started to warm him up by covering him with their tunics.

    “Thankfully the owner and his family had not tried to rescue the dog by going in after it which could have proved very dangerous. There have been a number of similar incidents around the county attended by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and I would like to remind people to take extra care around frozen rivers and lakes and also keep dogs on leads. The ice can be very thin in places and especially now the ice is starting to thaw.”

    Advice for dog walkers:

    * Keep your dogs on leads at all times near frozen
    water.
    * If your dog gets into trouble, do not follow it
    onto the ice.
    * Make no attempt to try to rescue it, you will put
    your life in danger.
    * Call for help – Call the emergency services 999.
    Tell them exactly where you are and what has
    happened.
    * Do NOT attempt to go out onto the ice yourself.