Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 16/06/10..CPRE warns against policy vauum in planning reforms

    CPRE, The Campaign to Protect Rural England, Oxfordshire, has welcomed the abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies and more say for local communities, but urges action to avoid a policy vacuum.

    In a recent statement, CPRE Oxfordshire said: “The Government proposal to abolish Regional Spatial Strategies had been expected [1] and the CPRE Oxfordshire Branch welcomes the move to reform planning and give back greater control to local communities to shape their own lives.[2] But we all need a clear and effective planning system to replace the unloved ?top down? targets for housing and deliver genuinely sustainable solutions which local people can support, with adequate protection for the countryside, the Green Belt, important landscapes and sensitive habitats.”

    Dr Helena Whall, Campaign Manager, said: ?With all five Districts in the midst of their Core Strategies, the last thing Oxfordshire needs is a long period of uncertainty and a virtual policy vacuum as this will only encourage speculative planning applications.

    “We should not throw out the ?baby with the bathwater? when it comes to regional planning, as much of the South East?s infrastructure – transport, waste, minerals and water etc – has to be organised on a large scale and crosses county boundaries. By all means reduce the bureaucracies but the Government needs to retain some strategic expertise in these matters.?

    She continued: ?We would urge the Government to expedite new planning arrangements after full consultations with local authorities and communities, and to provide effective national guidance which does not ride roughshod over local concerns.

    “With SE Plan targets removed, we would urge the five Districts to reconsider their housing plans to 2026 and formulate Core Strategies which are more sustainable and more in tune with local views.

    ?Finally, this should not be a green light for the City to renew their ambitions to expand into the Green Belt. This is not a sustainable answer. CPRE recognises that Districts cannot solve future development pressures alone and that Oxford is the heart of this County. The Central Oxfordshire planning strategy is designed to maintain the city as a vibrant centre, while creating more jobs investment and infrastructure in towns such as Bicester and Didcot to relieve the pressures. We call on the five Districts and County Council to now work together responsibly to give new life to the Central Oxfordshire concept, to address Oxford?s pressures and to protect the Green Belt.”

    Dr Helena Whall concluded: ?If we get this right, it is a golden opportunity to deliver sensible, sustainable planning more in tune with local people and the environment – and to reduce the complexities and central diktats which have bedevilled the current system. But it is not an invitation for the City to carry on with their old growth plans ? in our view Oxford needs a much smarter sub-regional solution which fully respects the Green Belt and the qualities which make this ancient City so special.?

    PHOTO: Dr Helana Whall – Courtesy of Witney Gazette

  • 16/06/10….Book the date for the opening of Thame’s new library

    ALMOST exactly 50 years after Thame’s Library in Southern Road opened its doors to the first lender, the town’s state-of-the-art new library will open on August 2, 2010.

    John Ansell, Spokesperson for the Friends of Thame Library, commented: “On July 11, days before it closes there, Thame Library will have been at its existing Rooks Lane/Southern Road site for 50 years.

    “Amazingly, we have been campaigning for a new library for over a third of that time. Our group identified the new library site when it became available, and Oxfordshire Libraries then moved smartly to secure it. We are absolutely delighted to see everything now coming to fruition.”

    The existing library in Southern Road will close at 4.30pm on Saturday, July 24, and the movement of stock and equipment to the new library will take place during the following week.

    The new library, at 3 North Street, Thame, will be the first new library in Oxfordshire for some years, and it will not only be significantly larger than the current premises, but will also be better sited and have many more books, state of the art equipment and self-service.

    The new library will open at 10.30am, on August 2, and during the day it is hoped that there will be a family storytelling event or an author visit to mark the opening. The formal opening will take place in mid-September.

    For current members, no items will be due to be returned during the closure period and they will be able to use neighbouring libraries such as Chinnor, Watlington or the South East mobile library ? opening hours can be found at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/libraries

    PHOTO: Friends of Thame Library, John Ansell (left),Beatrice Dobie and Hussein Mirza, who have worked tirelessly towards a new library for Thame.

  • Funeral date set for Thame biker

    THE funeral of the Thame motorcyclist who died after a crash at a Bicester roundabout will take place on Friday 18/06/10).

    Robert Thompson, aged 29, who lived at Michaelis Road, Thame, crashed at the Skimmingdish Lane and Launton Road roundabout on Saturday, June 5.

    Robert’s funeral will be held at St Andrew?s Church, in Church Road, Chinnor, at 11am. All are welcome to attend.

    A collection will be made in aid of Epilepsy Research UK, or donations can be made to the Funeral Director, Surman & Horwood, The Green, Crowell, Chinnor.

  • 15/06/10…..Thame United Presented with Hellenic Trophy

    A VERY proud Thame United have officially been presented with the Hellenic League Division One trophy.

    At the Annual League Presentation Awards last week, Chairman Jake Collinge, Manager Mark West and Assistant Manager Frank Thompson received the Trophy from League Chairman, Bob Dalling (pictured).

    Thame United will be playing in the Hellenic Premier Division next season and hope to be playing at their new stadium by the late Autumn this year. The management team have been busy in the close season and pre-season training will be starting on Tuesday?s and Thursday from June 22, 7pm to 8.30pm at Lord Williams’s Upper School, lower sports field. All players are welcome.

    Thame have also lined up some interesting and competitive pre-season friendlies as they prepare for this season starting with a tough trip to Woodley Town from Hellenic Div 1 East. This will be followed by Hellenic Premier side, Old Woodstock Town, then to Reading Senior side, Woodcote and Stoke Row who won the Reading Senior Cup last year.

    Old rivals, Penn & Tylers Green, again from Hellenic Div 1 East and now under the management of ex Thame player Matt Miller, provide the opposition on July 31, followed by a tough encounter against Marlow from the Zamaretto League.

    The Reserves also have a number of fixtures lined up and it is expected that at least two more matches will be added to this line up to complete the pre-season.

    First Team Fixture details:

    Saturday 10th July v Woodley Town, 3pm
    Tuesday 13th July v Old Woodstock Town, 6.30pm
    Thursday 22nd July v Woodcote & Stoke Row, 7pm
    Saturday 31st July v Penn & Tylers Green, 3pm
    Tuesday 3rd Aug v Marlow

    Reserve Team fixture details

    Saturday 10th July v Woodley Town, 3pm
    Thursday 22nd July v RAF High Wycombe, 6.30pm
    Weds 28th July v Grendon Underwood, 6.30pm

    The league campaign is expected to start on August 10, with the fixtures being released towards the middle of July.

  • 15/06/10….Thame MP visits Barley Hill School

    THAME’S MP, John Howell, paid a visit to Barley Hill School on Friday, (June 11) to see the school in action. The MP is progressively visiting all the schools in the constituency.

    During assembly, John watched a modern version of Around The World in 80 Days linked to the number of countries competing in the World Cup. Afterwards he toured the school in the company of Head teacher, John Hulett, and looked at the school’s new extension which is nearing completion. He also had a meeting with the Chair of governors, Paul Nicholas. Pupils at the school then interviewed the MP for a school radio broadcast.

    After his visit, John said: “There is a real buzz about this school and it was pleasing to see that Ofsted too recognised this. There is no doubt that much of this is down to the leadership shown by the Head Teacher, John Hulett, with the support of the teachers, Governors and the PTA. It is not difficult to see why the children I met found the school a happy environment and one in which it was easy to learn. It was a real privilige to visit the school.”

  • Security Company phone scam: Warning

    Hi there, I thought you may want to alert other Thame residents about a sales company who have just phoned me initially claiming to be from a Crime Prevention Team calling because of the high number of burglaries in our area. Having searched the internet it seems to be a nationwide scheme as shown here http://www.campaignseries.co.uk/news/caerphilly/8125753._Don_t_burglar_alarm_system_for___1_/

    They claim to offer security devices for just

  • 14/06/10…Green message wins the day at Thame Carnival

    THAME’s green message was presented in style on Saturday when hundreds of Thame school children, cyclists, dancers, veteran car drivers and businesses paraded their sustainability messages through the town centre.

    The warm, June sunshine reflected the mood of a serious theme, Green Thame, A Green Future, expressed with humour and fun.

    The messages on the banners carried by the various groups included; take less showers to save water, think about transport and packaging when making your purchases, get rid of your waste responsibly and recycle whenever you can and the importance of Global Links in all our lives.

    The overall winners, judged by the Mayor of Thame, Cllr Adam Buckland and Thame’s MP, John Howell, was John Hampden School with their message, “John Hampden creates by recycling,” all wearing costumes made from used packaging and recycable material.

    After the judging, Cllr Buckland and John Howell joined Stuart Groves, The Chair of Thame Round Table, and entered into the spirit of the day with an egg and spoon race, which Stuart managed to win despite wearing a duck costume!

    The message of the day was summed up by the placards carried by the children of John Hampden School:

    Let’s be global
    Let’s be Green,
    Join John Hampden School’s Eco team!
    Use our code
    It is the key
    to preserving our world
    for eternity.

  • 14/06/10…Purse bell handout to combat purse theft increase

    THE South Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership is to hand out hundreds of purse bells in response to a growing number of reported purse thefts in South Oxfordshire.

    This follows a similar initiative two years ago, when the partnership funded the purchase of purse chains, resulting in an 18 per cent reduction in purse thefts in South Oxfordshire.

    In the past 12 months reported purse thefts have nearly doubled in towns in South Oxfordshire. Henley town in particular has seen a seven-fold increase in this type of theft but in Thame the number has gone down from 39 between 2008 and 2009, to 30 between 2009 and 2010.

    The majority of victims are elderly ladies out shopping in the town centres. Thieves have been targeting these vulnerable people while they are distracted in supermarkets, post offices and charity shops, by lifting purses out of open handbags or left unattended in shopping trolleys.

    The purse bells are available for elderly, disabled and vulnerable residents who request them at police stations, libraries and town halls, or One Stop shops in Didcot, Henley, Thame and Wallingford. The purse bells attach to the zip on a purse and are designed to alert shoppers should someone attempt to steal it.

    Police Community Support Officers will also be organising initiatives to give out purse bells throughout the year in the main areas where the thefts are happening. These events will be publicised locally.

    Crime reduction advisor, Julia Wheeler said: ?The purse bells are designed to be a deterrent to thieves, and we want to make them available to as many elderly, disabled and vulnerable residents as possible.

    ?We are also advising shoppers to take extra care of their belongings whilst they are out and about. Be extra vigilant of people around you and be aware of where your belongings are should anyone try to distract you.

    ?Never leave your handbag unattended, or in a shopping trolley, and always securely fasten your handbag, with the opening zip or flap next to your body.?

  • 12/06/10….Missing girl found –

    AN Oxford girl who went missing after visiting her grandmother in Wheatley on Wednesday, (9/06) has been located.
    Sarah Spence, 18, from Watermill Way in Headington was last seen at 9am Wednesday (9/6) when she left her grandmother?s house in Elton Crescent, Wheatley.

    She was found safe and well this morning.

  • Bright Star at Thame Cinema this Saturday 12/06/10

    THAME CINEMA 4 ALL presents Bright Star UK/ USA 2009, 119 minutes, PG certificate – Directed by Jane Campion, Starring Ben Wishaw, Abbie Cornish, Kerry Armstrong, John Schneider.

    JANE Campion makes a welcome return to the cinema with this heartbreakingly beautiful love story – one of the great love stories of English literature that remained a secret until years after both its protagonists were dead. It tells the story of John Keats and Fanny Brawne, the woman who never quite became his wife thanks to his untimely death in Rome from tuberculosis in 1821.

    Fanny and Keats frequent the same Hampstead literary circles and become neighbours: playful banter and mutual suspicion lead to friendship that soon develops into ardent affection. Unable to marry her thanks to his lack of income or position, their frustrated love is destined to express itself in an intense and passionate correspondence, and in a shared love of poetry. Their relationship is also the subject of suspicion – the gossip of their local community, and the solicitous jealousy of Keats’ writer companion Charles Brown, who fears the consequences for Keats’ poetry of his attachment to Fanny.

    Campion’s feminism – more explicit in her best known film, The Piano – is still very much in evidence in this movie, albeit less strident. Fanny is imprisoned by society and convention, even in a relatively bohemian social milieu, and Campion beautifully depicts the circumscribed life of an early 19th century woman, confined to feminine rituals that feel frustrating and suffocating: the domestic interior, the fastidious needlework – beautifully realised in close ups of needle and thread and linen – her clothing and corsetry and household duties. The love affair, in contrast, offers the potential for liberation and self expression: it is conducted largely out of doors in woodland and meadow, where she is allowed to move and breathe. A truly lovely and swooningly romantic film of doomed love and beautiful verse.
    .
    This Saturday 12th June 2010 – Doors open 7.30pm Film 8pm. Admission