Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 19/11/10…Council approves Core Strategy (paragraph added 21/11/10)

    AFTER a very long and at times, acrimonious meeting of South Oxfordshire District Council last night, the council has approved the draft Core Strategy for submission to the secretary of state. This is the document that sets out how the council will help deliver future housing in the district, including 530 new homes for Thame.

    Much of the almost two hours of debate, centred around the various sites for Wallingford, with one councillor proposing an amendment that the chosen site in the Core Strategy be send back to Cabinet to be re-considered. Much argument ensued as to whether this would be a major or a minor amendment with one councillor, Cllr Turner, criticising the Cabinet system itself: “This shows the folly of the cabinet system, with powere in the hands of just a few!”

    Thame was only mentioned in passing with Cllr Mike Griffin saying that he could see merit in site D in Thame over site F, and another councillor pointing out a negative point identified for site D in Thame, was used as a positive in the site chosen for Wallingford.

    ADDED 21/11/10 – Neither Thame Disttrict Cllr David Dodds nor Cllr David Bretherton were present at the meeting. CClr Ann Midwinter was present and declared an interest as District Councillor for Thame.

    Many councillors had obviously become aware of the public disquiet about the consultation process itself with Cllr John Cotton, saying: “We are out of step with public opinion.

    Cllr John Cotton summed up the council’s predicament, saying: “The problem is that we are stuck between new and old government legislation.”

    Councillors voted 25 in favour, 8 against, with 1 abstention. A recorded WEbcast of the meeting by visiting www.southoxon.gov.uk/webcasts

    There will now be a further public consultation period, where people can comment on the soundness of the document. SODC expects to be in a position to submit to the secretary of state in late March 2011.

    The secretary of state will appoint an independent planning inspector to scrutinise the strategy. The inspector will hold a series of hearings next summer to examine evidence from supporters, objectors and the council. The inspector will produce a report, which we expect to receive before the end of 2011. If the inspector decides the core strategy is sound then we can go on to adopt it in early 2012.

    Angie Paterson, Cabinet member for planning, said:

    “Council’s decision last night to approve the Core Strategy is a step in the right direction for securing a successful future for South Oxfordshire. Having thoroughly investigated and consulted on the options, and where possible anticipated future changes, we have arrived at these informed recommendations. The good news is the strategy can now move on to the next stage for submission to the secretary of state.”

  • 18/11/10…High Sheriff sings for war hero’s 98th birthday

    ARTHUR Staggs, Honorary Citizen of Thame and holder of the Legion D’Honneur, celebrated his 98th birthday with friends and family at The Spread Eagle, Thame, last night.

    Arthur regaled the party with stories of his exploits during the war and spoke of how different the fare served up by the Spread Eagle was, compared to that served by the Gestapo was when he was under their care for two months! Arthur joined the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, Marie-Jane Barnett and last year’s Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, to sing some French songs around the piano.

    His daughter and son-in-law, Anne and Jon Freeman, travelled down from Lytham St Annes and his granddaughter, Alice, travelled from flood-torn Cornwall to be with Arthur and some of his closest friends for this very special occasion.

    To read Arthur Staggs’ amazing story, LINK HERE
    PHOTO: Arthur Staggs with his daughter, Anne Freeman

  • 17/11/10…..Core Stretegy – Cabinet approves Site F for Thame

    THE controversial document that will determine where 530 new homes will be built in Thame in the next 16 years, has been approved by South Oxfordshire District Council’s Cabinet.

    Representations were made by Mr Ray Powell and Mr Roger Cooper from Thame, who both spoke against the choice of Site F, Mr Smallman, who spoke on behalf of the landowner of site B, east of Thame, Helena Fickling of Moreton, who supported moving Lord Williams’s lower school up to site F, David Hignall, Land Agent for the owner of site F, and two speakers representing Banner Homes, in support of site D.

    Councillors voted according to the recommendations of their Scrutiny committee to recommend the Core Strategy to full council, tomorrow, November 18, including the inclusion of site F, for Thame.

    The full Webcast of last night’s Cabinet meeting, including the full statements made by the speakers from Thame, can be seen at: LINK

    NB There is a slider to enable the viewer to move forward and back to different points in the webcast.

    NNB to view all previous news stories on this item, put Core Strategy in the Search box (top right)

  • 17/11/10…..Flattering score from Thame United

    LEAGUE GAME: 13/11/10 – Fairford Town 2, Thame United 5
    MATCH REPORT from Bob Dixon:

    Thame travelled to bottom of the league, Fairford Town on Saturday and recorded a 2-5 win. United were however slightly flattered by the score. Two of their goals came from goalkeeping errors and United?s goalkeeper, Milan Barisic saved a penalty. The visitors however, who were behind at one point, were the better side. United were without Adam Rhodes, whilst Ben Connelly, who is recovering from injury, spent most of the game on the bench.

    After an even opening 10 minutes Thame started to gain the upper hand and, following a corner, Sam Cowan was unlucky to see his header hit the crossbar. He has two more close range heading chances in the next 10 minutes, both of which were high. Fairford seemed content to hit long-range shots and, against the run of play, went ahead in the 25th minute when James Skinner hit a well-placed 25-yard shot into the bottom right of the Thame goal. The visitors equalised 2 minutes later when a Luke Ricketts free kick from the right found Nik Rhodes at the far post who somehow bundled the ball in. United went behind again in the 36th minute when the ball crossed the goal line during a goalmouth scramble. Four minutes later a good ball from Stuart Barr found Luke Rickets in space on the left, and his confident 15-yard shot gave the keeper no chance. United took the lead just before half time when a Ricketts cross was knocked back to goal by Alex Stuart to Barr, who headed in from close range. The home players and supporters shouted handball, but the goal was awarded.

    United?s fourth goal came in the 60th minute when the home keeper miss-kicked a pass back and the alert Stuart pounced and buried the ball. With 12 minutes to play, substitute Connelly increased Thame?s tally to five when he intercepted another back pass and finished well. A few minutes later Connelly was clattered, and limped off shortly after, reducing Thame to 10 men as all subs had been used. In the dying minutes Fairford were awarded a penalty, which was well taken but the on-form Barisic dived low to his right to make an excellent save.

    Thame United: Barisic, N Rhodes, Newell (J Way), Saulsbury, Brown (Mitchell), Cowan, Barr, Hunt (Connelly), Stuart, Braun, Ricketts.

  • 17/11/10…….Bonus point win for Chinnor RFC (Contributed)

    NATIONAL 3 SW game – Saturday, November 13: Cleve 12, Vs Chinnor 38. MATCH REPORT

    CHINNOR’S young bucks earned themselves a bonus point win against Cleve from Bristol on Satgurday, winning by 38-12 in an eventful match.

    Chinnor were still on the bus as a simple passing move saw Cleve go 5-0 up in the 2nd minute courtesy of an unconverted try from full back Luke Fletcher. As Chinnor began to find their feet, a no arms tackle from Cleve?s Shack Ajuwa left Chinnor?s Ben Hewitt out cold. Referee Ed McWalter converted the original yellow card against Ajuwa to red for subsequent dissent. Hewitt was sent to hospital to be replaced on the field by Ben Farr.

    A surging midfield break from Hastings fed Serrano for Chinnor?s first try, converted by Cathcart. On the 19th minute, Cathcart increased Chinnor?s lead to 10-5 with a penalty goal. The lead increased some three minutes later when, after good midfield play from Morgan, Corpe sliced through the home defence at great pace for a try, converted by Cathcart. Chinnor?s tactic of using their wingers paid dividends again as Serrano scooted over for a try, again converted by Cathcart. With a 25-5 lead, the remaining action of the first half was a yellow card for Chinnor?s Tattersall, infringing at a ruck.

    For the second half, as the forwards continued their fractious game, Chinnor stuck with working their speedy young backs into the game. On the 43rd minute, Goode, with neat footwork, crashed over between the sticks. Cathcart again converted to give Chinnor a 31-5 lead. Chinnor then appeared to ease up and a period of great pressure from the home side put the Thame side?s pack under considerable pressure leading to a succession of penalties against the visitors. Referee McWalter objected to the rising number of offences by awarding Cleve a penalty try, converted by fly half, Joe Hall, giving a match score of 12-31 to the visitors and a yellow card for Chinnor?s Smith.

    The last try of the game came from a delightful cross field dink from Cathcart, gathered by the speedy Corpe who fed Farr for a classy sprint to the posts. With Cathcart?s conversion, the game went to Chinnor by 38 points to 12.

    Chinnor did well against a side struggling in the league who play with a tough and physical style and in fly half Hall had a useful kicker whose talents were underused.

    The Chinnor pack did well in a tough encounter with the back row of Hastings, Harrison and Fan coping particularly well. Devine caught the eye with some fearsome tackles. The game was won by the backs with pace of Corpe and Farr?s challenging lines of running a constant threat. Morgan orchestrated well and Serrano was always in the right place.

    Scorers:

    Cleve: Fletcher T; Penalty Try; Hall C

    Chinnor: Serrano 2T; Goode T; Corpe T; Farr; Cathcart 5C, PG

    Chinnor team: Hewitt (Farr 10), Serrano, Goode, Morgan, Corpe, Cathcart, Prescott, Winpenny, Tattersall, Pickett, Hutchings (Devine 50), Smith, Hastings, Harrison (Devine 58), Fan

    Replacements: Cawston, Devine, Farr

  • 17/11/10….Facing the challenge of retailing in Thame

    FACING the challenges of reduced spending on the high street and the attraction of out-of-town shopping centres, Thame’s independent retailers are looking for imaginative ways to help keep the Thame ‘pound’ within the town.

    Thame First, the economy working group of the 21st Century Thame Partnership, have been working hard to come up with imaginative ways to help support the retail vibrancy of this market town.

    Working with Market Town Co-ordinator, Alison Isherwood, they are rallying the local retailers to join them next Wednesday, November 24, at 6pm, in Thame town hall to share some of their ideas.

    21st Century Thame have secured funding from the SEEDA Small Market Towns fund matched by both South Oxfordshire District Council and Thame Town Council to spend on projects to enhance the town’s vitality, including shopping maps in all the main car parks.

    For more information, contact: Alison Isherwood, Market Town Co-ordinator, via:
    alison.isherwood@southoxon.gov.uk
    Mobile:07717 224984

    PHOTO: Last year’s Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, officially ‘launches’ the first shopping map outside Waitrose in Thame, back in 2009.

  • 17/11/10…Goalkeeper isThame’s Man-of-the-match

    GAME: November 16, 2010 – Thame United 4 Vs Clanfield85 0 – MATCH REPORT By Jake Collinge

    WHILST the score line appears comfortable on paper, the fact that the man-of-the-match for Thame was goalkeeper Milan Barisic, suggests a slightly closer game. That said, by the time Barisic was called on to make a number of fine saves, Thame were already ahead in the game and generally in control.

    From the off Thame pushed their West Oxfordshire opponents back in to their own half, and former Thame goalkeeper Chris Brain was forced in to a number of saves. The deadlock was finally broken after 16 minutes. United won a free kick on the right hand edge of the penalty area and with everyone, including Brain, anticipating a cross in to the box, Stuart Barr instead saw a gap at the keeper?s near post and expertly curled the ball around the Clanfield wall and in to the bottom corner. Five minutes later and United could have made it two as top scorer Alex Stewart found himself in space six yards from goal, only to see his goal bound effort well saved by Brain. At this stage Clanfield?s attacks were sporadic but they had a great chance to equalize five minutes from the break when Mark Odom found himself in space five yards from goal, only to see Barisic expertly push the ball wide with his outstretched leg.

    The second half was only four minutes old when Thame extended their lead. As a free kick from the Thame left was cleared the ball was put back in to the area where Martin Brown collected the ball and clipped a cross back across the goal with Stewart side footing in from close range. Stewart scored his second, and United?s third ten minutes later when fellow striker Stuart Braun initially failed to get his shot away before winning the ball back and feeding Stewart who, from the edge of the area, hit a powerful drive in the bottom corner of the net. Before the fourth and final goal arrived, Barisic was called on to make at least four fine saves as Clanfield searched desperately to get back in to the game. As it was, it was Thame who scored on a break away in the 82nd minute. Stuart Barr played a fine ball down the line to Stuart Braun who cut inside and crossed to the far post where Aaron Rogers confidently beat Brain. With the game over, manager Mark West made a welcome return to the field of play for the first time this season.

    In the next round United will face an away trip to the winners of the all Hellenic Premier Division tie between Kidlington and Ardley United.

    Thame United: Barisic, N.Rhodes, Newell (Hunt), Saulsbury, Brown (Way), Barr, Rogers (West), Cowan, Braun, Stewart, Meredith

  • 16/11/10…Thame charity bookshop raised

    THE Oxfam Bookshop in Thame, soon to celebrate its 10th anniversary in the town, has raised

  • Latest up-date on policing in Thame from PCSOs Jackson & Thorne

    HEREis the latest Thame neighbourhood update from Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Diane JACKSON and PCSO Lucy THORNE, for November 2010.

    Crime Info:
    Crime mapping shows an increase in Burglary from 4.3 to 6.3 between the period of July-Sept 2009 and the same period for 2010. This is a 46.2 percent increase. We are fully aware of the types of crime that Thame are currently targeted by. To tackle Serious Acquisitive Crime, we deploy the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) device at key points to target travelling criminals coming into our area. We hope this will deter/prevent criminal activity on our areas.

    We also visit vulnerable/elderly residents regularly to offer crime reduction advice, by calling into coffee mornings and conducting home visits. We also continue to carry out high visibility patrols.

    More information on the above crime types can be found on the Thames Valley Police website under local crime mapping www.thamesvalley.police.uk

    Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Info:
    During October, we have had no alcohol seizures in Thame and no Section 59 warnings have been issued by Thame PCSOs. Section 59?s are a useful method for us to stop vehicles being used in an anti-social way. If the individual is caught they are issued with a Section 59 warning; this applies to the person and the vehicle, so if caught again we can seize the vehicle involved or any other vehicle that driver may be driving, under section 165 of the Road Traffic Act.

    PCSO JACKSON and PCSO THORNE are working closely with families where there are ASB issues and Anti-Social Behaviour Contracts are currently being drawn up for two individuals. Warning letters are also being issued to other young people who have been associated with ASB issues.

    PCSO JACKSON and PCSO THORNE are participating in Operation Munitions. This involves carrying out highly visible foot/cycle patrols and patrols in marked vehicles and responding to incidents relating to Halloween and Fireworks Night. We were pleased with how smoothly Halloween passed with no reports of ASB. We worked closely with supermarkets and other businesses to ensure that the sale of eggs and flour was monitored.

    Community Messaging
    This free service provides information to subscribers about crime and police activity in their area via phone or email. It also includes information on what we and our partner services are doing to bring offenders to justice or combat anti-social behaviour, and information on opportunities for local residents to raise concerns with their local policing teams.
    More information can be obtained via our website, and you can sign up here too:
    http://www.tvpcommunitymessaging.org/rmwebportal/startup.aspx.

    Offenders brought to justice:
    In October, there have been 19 offenders brought to justice including:-

    ? 1 Public Decency/Public Nuisance
    ? 6 Theft not Classified
    ? 3 Assault without Injury
    ? 1 Drug Possession not Cannabis
    ? 2 Drug Possession for Cannabis
    ? 1 Criminal Damage to other buildings
    ? 1 Grievous Bodily Harm
    ? 1 Actual Bodily Harm
    ? 2 Shoplifting
    ? 1 Obscene Publication

    We are currently dealing with a young boy in Thame who has admitted to writing the graffiti on John Hampden School premises.

    Comments on all priorities:
    The Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) priority for Thame is:

    1. Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) – Key areas are patrolled when on duty and any ASB is dealt with and youths are moved on if necessary. Where needed, home visits are carried out with parents present.

    Partnership Activity:
    During October, we have worked closely with housing associations, carrying out site inspections and home visits to tackle neighbourhood disputes.

    On 13 October, we participated in the Distraction Burglary Event, held at the Leisure Centre in Thame. This was a great day and we were pleased with the number of residents from Thame who joined us for the presentation and refreshments. A video of the day?s event is on our Youtube channel.

    Non Priority Activity:
    PCSO Lucy THORNE would like to take this opportunity to remind young people looking for work, or looking for assistance with finding employment that a Connextions representative is available to speak with at the Young Persons Centre in Thame every Wednesday from 14.00-16.30.

    PCSO THORNE organised for her and PCSO JACKSON to attend John Hampden Primary School where we gave a talk on road safety to a group of young pupils. We thoroughly enjoyed it and were delighted to stay for lunch time with the pupils of the school, eating lunch with them and spending playtime in the playground. We received some wonderful thank you cards, which have been displayed in the Neighbourhood Office at the police station.

    An emergency Pubwatch meeting was held in October, where two members of the public were added onto the scheme, following drug related incidents in a Thame Public House.

    Country Watch meetings are being held quarterly. It is anticipated that the next meeting will be sometime before the end of the year, with the date to be confirmed via Ringmaster following confirmation by the Country Watch Coordinator, PC Gregory.

    Planned Activity:
    There are monthly operations for Country Watch.

    We will continue to deploy the Speed Indication Device (SID) in the area on a monthly basis, on roads which have been highlighted for speeding. We will also be looking to deploy the ANPR device along with the SID to tackle travelling criminals entering and travelling through our area.

    Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) Activity:
    Following consultation with the Thame, Chinnor and Watlington NAG, the group decided to evolve the process through closer contact and liaison with the existing structures of local parish councils and meetings. The NAG therefore decided to disband in favour of this partnership approach. The neighbourhood policing team are currently in close liaison with all the parish council and parish meetings within the Thame, Chinnor and Watlington area.

    Good news stories:
    We would like to thank Sainsbury?s, Waitrose and Co-op for their kind donations towards the Distraction Burglary Event.

    PCSO THORNE reunited a bag of shopping and personal belongings to its owner in Thame.

    PCSO JACKSON was able to secure a number of ?Dog Fouling? signs, which will soon be distributed in appropriate locations where there is a problem with fouling, where dog owners are failing to pick up. We would like to remind members of the public that this is an offence and could carry an

  • Impressive National win for Young Thame Squash player

    WILL John, 18, from Thame, was one of the top performers at the recent British Junior Squash Championships in Manchester.

    Will, who is a member at Raquets in Thame, won five of his six matches to finish an impressive ninth out of 46 entries.

    All of Will?s matches went to five games, giving him the longest on court game time overall for the tournament.

    Starting as a qualifier, Will beat Elliott Knight (Kent) 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-4,12-10 in 48mins. In the main draw top 32 Will beat Ross Brown (Essex) 11-5, 3-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5 in 51 mins to qualify for the top 16 monrad style playoffs.

    He lost to Reuben Phillips (Middlesex) 14-12, 7-11, 6-11, 11-9, 4-11 in 60mins before winning his next three matches against Nick Mulvey (Herts) (57 mins), Charlie Johnson (Herts)(50 mins) and the seeded David Wardle (Surrey) in 51 mins, an overall game time of 317mins for the four day tournament.

    Will is a member of the Welsh National Squad and plays his squash at Racquets in Thame.

    He is now training for a career in squash.