Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 15/07/10….Thame MP’s influence grows with new government

    THAME MP, John Howell’s influence on policy making with the new coaltion govertment continues to grow. He has been asked to help steer fundamental reforms of the planning system through parliament.

    The MP has been given the job after producing a blue-print for a reformed planning system before the election, called Open Source Planning. It is this document that will apparently underpin the reforms. The bill will be introduced in Parliament later in the year. See: http://tiny.cc/qgsk6

    John will now join Greg Clark MP, the minister responsible for planning, as his parliamentary private secretary (PPS) on a temporary basis to help take the reforms forward. This appointment is in addition to John’s recently announced appointment as PPS to the Leader of the House, Sir George Young, which will continue. John already chairs the sounding board on planning reform set up by the Conservative Party before the election with the development industry.

    John said: “The current planning system is bureuacratic and highly centralised. Many people feel that they have no say over development taking place in their areas and that their views are ignored. What is required is not a piecemeal tinkering with the system but radical reform that will decentralise and streamline the planning system. I am pleased to be helping to introduce these reforms.”

    On July 6, the MP was also appointed a Vice-President of the Local Government Association (LGA) in recognition of his championing of local government.

  • 15/07/10….Good and bad retail news for Thame

    FIRST the bad news. The gift shop, Thame Trading, in Cornmarket is closing after eight years management by Di Bone, and Essence in Buttermarket is also closing.

    The proprietor of Essence, Keith Slater, will not be renewing the lease which ended at the same time as the building changed hands for a sum in the region of

  • 15/07/10….Thame fair dates unchanged

    THE traditional Thame Fair, which normally visits the town at the same time as Thame show, will still be held in September and will not be affected by the change in the Thame Show date.

    After 120 years, the Oxfordshire County and Thame Show will be changing the show date this year from the traditional third Thursday in September to Saturday, July 31, 2010.

    Although the Show will be moving to July, the dates of the traditional Fair will not change and this year it will be held from September 16 to 18, in Thame town centre as usual.

  • 14/07/10…Planning recommendations fromThame Town Council

    PLANNING Applications Considered by Thame Town Council?s Planning Committee on Tuesday, July 13, 2010.

    8760
    P10/E0822 THAME MASONIC HALL, 14 HIGH STREET
    Extension to front of building facing the High Street.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8761
    P10/E0893/A MARKET HOUSE, NORTH STREET
    Two non illuminated fascia signs.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8762
    P10/E0894/LB MARKET HOUSE, NORTH STREET
    Improve client waiting area and interview room in ground floor space behind existing shop front. Install demountable partition and replace door which has been removed from bottom of staircase.
    Addition of new signage.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8763
    P10/E0747 34 MAPLE ROAD
    Single storey rear extension. (Revised application number P09/E0989).
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8764
    P10/E0900 7 HAWTHORN AVENUE
    Front and rear extensions. Pitched roof to replace existing flat roof.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8765
    P10/E0959 THE BUNGALOW, CHILTERN GROVE
    Bay Window.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8766
    P10/E0996 SPREAD EAGLE HOTEL, 17 CORNMARKET
    Alterations and refurbishment to the carriageway and 16 Cornmarket.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8767
    P10/E0997/LB SPREAD EAGLE HOTEL, 17 CORNMARKET
    Alterations and refurbishment to the carriageway and 16 Cornmarket.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

  • 14/07/10…..Local projects to benefit from council grants

    A LOCAL activity centre for children with special needs is among several projects to benefit from a

  • 14/07/10…Counting down to Thame’s real food event – 8 weeks to go!

    A sense of excitement is building for this year?s Thame Food Festival which promises to be one of Oxfordshire’s best real food events.

    This, the third consecutive Thame Food Festival, will be held in the centre of the town on Saturday, September 25, 2010.

    ?There is so much great local food and so many wonderfully dynamic local food producers and retailers in our area. We want to put local food on the map,? says Sally Dickinson, one of the joint organisers of the event.

    Thame’s Town Centre co-ordinator, Alison Isherwood, adds: “In simple terms we want the Festival to help people discover local food, support the cause and boost local food businesses. There?s so much to gain for everybody.

    “The aim is to build a real food event that Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties can be proud of. All food producers are encouraged to take a stand as it is a great chance to showcase and sell their wares.”

    As well as street entertainment, food and drink sampling, real ales, children?s cookery workshops and the opportunity to buy mouth-watering local produce, there will be cooking shows and demonstrations with confirmed appearances from local celebrity chef, Lottie Duncan, and Italian cookery specialist and author, Kate Caldesi.

    Co-organiser, Sally Dorling, said: “Whether you?re local and interested in food or a local food business, you won?t want to miss out.”

    The 21st Century Thame Partnership, which works to promote awareness of the town, is also supporting the event via a grant from the Thriving Market Towns fund.

    The Festival is a free day for all the family but there will also be some ticketed events, including some of the food demos: details available soon from the website.

    A limited number of stalls are still available for

  • Fire company donates special hoses to local steam enthusiasts

    CHINNOR & Princes Risborough Railway have benefited from a donation of specialised new water hoses, following a chance remark from a Thame firefighter’s wife.

    On Saturday, July 10, Charles Boon, who manages Thame makers of fire fighting equipment, Kidde’s Hose and Foam department, presented three new red hoses to CPRR, after his company specially re-jigged a disused loom for the job.

    Thame firefighter Andy Ford’s wife Nicki had earlier joined Kidde employers and their families for a steam train ride on the old GWR engine 1369. She explained how the donation came about:

    “I happen to be Charles Boon’s PA at Kidde,” she explained, “and one day I just happened to be discussing an exercise Andy and the other Thame fire officers had been involved in, on the line near Chinnor station. I related how Andy had noticed that the Railway’s water hoses were looking a bit threadbare and leaky and obviously Charles had picked up on this and was soon organising for Kidde to make some replacements.”

    So now CPRR had three spanking new, red hoses that should last as least as long as the ones, which were themselves second hand in the 1960s.

    The CPRR line and station has been used as a film location on many occassions including an episode of Midsomer Murders, called Death by chocoalate box, an episode of Miss Marples, and recently a film involving actor, Brian Blessed. Filming is a useful income for the CPRR.

  • 13/07/10….Thame-Sinaia Friendship Association launched

    THE inaugural meeting of the Thame-Sinaia Friendship Association took place at Racquets, Thame, on Friday evening 09/07/10, and the constitution of the Association unanimously approved by the participants.

    David Bretherton was elected Chairman, and Nigel Champken-Woods, Deputy Chairman. The new committee includes Jeannette Matelot Green as Fundraising Officer, James Green as Treasurer, and Marius Ciortan as Secretary.

    Jeannette Matelot Green, former Mayor of Thame, said: ?Our first meeting was a great success. Everyone who came was enthusiastic and full of ideas for future ventures with Sinaia. Thame has a thriving group of snowboarders and one of their members, Nick Wynd, was keen to hear about snowboarding possibilities in the Sinaia ski resort. Our aim is to include as many associations and clubs as possible to be involved, as this new Friendship Association should include representatives of the whole community.?

    Marius Ciortan, one of the Association’s initiators, said: ?We hope people and families from the Thame area will join our new group and visit Sinaia, also known as the ?Pearl of the Carpathians? during a long weekend planned for November.

    “There are plenty of things to be done there: walks in the mountains and relaxing, whilst visiting the Peles Castle is a must. For the brave ones, there are plenty of opportunities too: they can do trekking, mountain biking during the spring, summer, or autumn, and skiing and snowboarding during the winter, as Sinaia?s ski slopes go to over 6,500 feet (2,000 metres) altitude.?

    Bert Ingram, Chair of Thame & District Classic Motor Club said: ? I talked with Vlad Oprea, the Mayor of Sinaia, on his visit in April and, whilst it is a bit far for most of us to drive in our classic cars, they do have a fantastic Rally during their festival and we may be able to get to watch that. We may, however, get some brave souls to drive there, never say never!?

    Nigel Champken-Woods, past Chairman of the Thame & District Twinning (Montesson) Association said: ?Whilst the numbers involved with the Sinaia Friendship Association are relatively small at the moment, when the Twinning with Montesson started, we only even had five or six members and look how that has flourished over 10 years. I am sure this new Friendship Association will be equally as successful.?

    The next meeting of the Friendship Association is expected to take place at Racquets on Friday, September 3, at 7 pm. To join the Association is very easy and the annual membership fee is only

  • 12/07/10…Thame landmark restaurant gets a make-over

    THAME business representatives, town dignitries and regular customers gathered at Thame’s landmark hotel on Thursday, to see for themselves the latest stage in a major refurbishment programme.

    The Mayor of Thame, Adam Buckland, last year’s Mayor, Jeannette Matelot Green and ithame founder, Andy McDonald were among the guests at the Spread Eagle Hotel to see the transformation that has taken place in the hotel’s Eden restaurant.

    The new black, grey and silver colour scheme, all agreed was a success, combining an italiate-style sophistication with the welcoming, traditional elements that the historic hotel has been known for.

    The Spread Eagle has played host to Charles II, French prisoners from the Napoleonic wars, famous politicians and writers such as Evelyn Waugh and John Betjemin and in more recent times, to Bee Gee, Robin Gigg and his wife Dwina.

    The hotel’s reception area, which includes a magnificent purple chandilier, has almost been completed and work continues on the remaining 14 bedrooms in the hotel to receive complete make-overs.

    PHOTO: Left to right: Sineod and Adam Buckland, Jeannette Matelot Green, Trish Wright, proprietor of the Lingerie shop, Elegance, Peter Farquar, Manager of the Spread Eagle Hotel, Anna & Andy McDonald

  • Thame business gives minibus and sponsorship to football partnership

    THAME Football Partnership has announced details of a three-year sponsorship agreement with sales development company CPM. The agreement sees the locally-based business, which is the global leader in providing integrated sales and marketing solutions, provide a club sponsorship for TFP and a brand new 17 seat minibus for the club over the next three years.

    Martin Ryan Managing Director of CPM, commented: ?We are always keen to provide local support to community organisations and with the new stadium complex being constructed right on our doorstep it felt appropriate that we support the youth of the town in some way.

    ?Having seen the facility at an early stage and heard the plans for the future and what Thame Football Partnership are doing locally for the community, we wanted to be part of this and help support the football partnership through this sponsorship.”

    TFP?s Frank Thompson said: ?We are really pleased to have CPM as our club sponsor and the addition of the mini-bus for the Club is a most welcome and much needed resource. CPM is going to be providing us with fantastic support and we look forward to a long and successful partnership with the clubs.”

    The deal not only involves the provision of the Club mini-bus but will also see all playing members provided with branded CPM tracksuit tops for the start of the new season.

    12/07/10