Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 11/06/10….Disagreement over CPM car park plans

    AN extension to the car park at Thame’s biggest employer, caused a heated debate at Thame Town Council’s planning committee meeting recently.

    CPM, based in Aylesbury Road, Thame, wants to expand its car park, which currently floods frequently. Cllr David Dodds said that he feared an extension would make matters worse by displacing the water somewhere else. Cllr Nigel Champkin Woods disagreed however and thought that the porous material proposed for the extension would not cause a problem. He added that an extension would anyway take car parking away from the surrounding roads when it was not raining – a lack of parking in these streets has often been the focus of disgruntled residents unable to find parking spaces because they are taken up by CPM staff.

    The Chairman, Cllr David Bretherton, used his casting vote which led to a resolution to express No strong views on the proposal, but to express concerns over drainage in the area and leave it to the professionals at SODC to decide whether to approve or not.

    IMAGE: For illustrative purposes only (NOT CPM car park)

  • Thame Town Council ignored by Transport consultation

    MEMBERS of Thame Town Council’s Planning and Environment committee have voiced their anger at the county council for failing to seek the town council’s views on part of its current Local Transport Plan consultation.

    Cllr David Dodds, who is also a District Cllr, said:” This plan is nonsense. It does not reflect the aspirations of Thame Town Council which is not even assumed to be a stakeholder. It is absolutely disgusting.”

    The town council has stated: “As Thame was actually one of the ?smaller towns? in question, this seems an extraordinary state of affairs.”

    At its last meeting, the committee agreed to send a letter to the Leader of OCC, with a view to setting up an urgent meeting with those involved in the Plan?s proposals.

    Anyone who wishes to respond on an individual basis to the transport consultation can do so via the OCC website: http://myconsultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk/inovem/consult.ti/ltpconsultation5/consultationHome

  • 11/06/10…..Thame butchers is the best in Britain!

    A Thame family butchers’ shop has reached the pinnacle of meat retailing, by receiving an award for being The Best British Butchers Shop 2010.

    Tom Newitt and his father Michael, received their award at the prestigous 2010 Meat Management Industry Awards ceremony on Wednesday evening, 09/06/10. The guest of honour was the England World Cup goal keeper, Gordon Banks.

    Tom Newitt, a founder business member of the ithame app, told Thamenews.net:
    “It was a wonderfully enjoyable evening for both father and I. Although we knew we were in with a chance, it was great honour to receive the award.

    “Its all down to the hard work and committment of both the family and our staff, and to the continued support of our customers. We can only succeed if we all work together.”

    Tom’s father started the business in 1965, and now, in 2010, they employ 42 staff and supply meat to 80 branches of Budgeons, to Fortnum and Masons and to the National Trust.

  • Meet your neighbourhood police officers – DATE CHANGE: 13/07/10

    HAVE YOUR SAY MEETING – The following Have Your Say Meeting is to be held at Thame Police Station, greyhound Lane, Thame, on Tuesday, July 13, 2010, between 16:00 & 18:00hrs.

    Unfortunately, the meeting scheduled for June 15, has had to be cancelled because of a PCSO training day.

    This is your opportunity to meet your Neighbourhood Officers and discuss any local issues of concern you may have. Please come along, no appointment is necessary.

  • 10/06/10..Man’s body found in Shabbington

    THE body of a man was found in Shabbington area yesterday (9/6).

    Police discovered the body at 8.17pm during their search for a missing man.

    Police are not treating the death as suspicious.

    The body is suspected of being that of Steven Truman, aged 47, from Shabbington, near Thame, who was reported missing after last being seen in Great Milton, on Monday (7/6) at 2pm.

  • See Bucks Artists’ work at Obsidian – June 10 to July 11, 2010

    BUCKS Open Studio Exhibition at Obsidian Art – June 10 – July 11, 2010.

    The Bucks Goat Centre, Layby Farm
    Old Risborough Road, Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP22 5XJ, United Kingdom
    01296 612 150

  • Improve your goal setting & delivery with a Late Breakfast!

    THE next Late Breakfast event at the Milton Park Innovation Centre, Milton Park OX14 4RY, will be on Wednesday, June 16th, 2010, 9 – 10.30 am.

    This month’s event will include a presentation from John Harris of SMI(UK)Ltd, entitled GOAL SETTING and DELIVERY.

    IMPROVE your planning skills, IDENTIFY what activity has a high return for you. CREATE a Plan of Action to achieve your target.

    You can book in advance and appear on the guest list – deadline noon Tuesday, June 15, or simply turn up on the day. Either way the entry fee of

  • Anniversary of John Hampden ‘s fatal battle – June 18

    CHILDREN from an Oxfordshire primary school will lay a wreath on the monument to the Battle of Chalgrove Field, where Civil War leader, John Hampden was mortally wounded before dying in the Greyhound Inn, in Thame.

    Following a short talk by Mr Samuel Hearn, Chairman of the John Hampden Society, 25 pupils of Year 6 of Chalgrove Primary School will march in procession, led by standard bearers, from the school to the Hampden Monument on June 18, the anniversary of the battle. There they will be met by the Society’s Patron, the Earl of Buckinghamshire, a direct descendant of John Hampden, and Lady Buckinghamshire.

    Lord Buckinghamshire will give another brief talk on Hampden’s role in the battle and this will be followed by a short service of dedication, after which a wreath will be laid at the monument, probably by one of
    the teachers.

    Each of the children will then receive a copy of Dr Frank Hansford-Miller’s biography of Hampden containing a specially-produced insert bearing the child’s name and signed by both Lord and Lady
    Buckinghamshire.

    BACKGROUND

    The Battle of Chalgrove was fought on June 18, 1643 and resulted in the mortal wounding of John Hampden, a Parliamentary leader and cousin to Oliver Cromwell. Every year members of the John Hampden Society
    (www.johnhampden.org) lay a wreath at the monument in

    http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=464580&Y=197180&A=Y&Z=120

    The 10th Earl of Buckinghamshire (Miles Hobart-Hampden) is descended from John Hampden through the latter’s daughter Mary. He is Patron and one of the founders of the John Hampden Society.

    The biography of John Hampden was written in 1976 by the late Dr Frank Hansford-Miller, who was also one of the founders of the John Hampden Society
    in 1992.

    The wreath is produced, as it is every year for the Society, by Posies and Presents of Chalgrove. (

  • 08/06/10…90,000 South East households to be overcrowded by 2013

    THE South East has been named the second worst affected area when it comes to overcrowding in England. An estimated 80,000 households are currently overcrowded in the region, with that figure set to rise to 90,000 by 2013.

    The National Housing Federation, which represents England?s housing associations, is predicting a 20% rise across the country in the number of families living in overcrowded housing by 2013. The Federation is warning that millions of people are now at risk of being trapped in substandard housing for a generation.

    The dramatic slump in house building is being blamed for fuelling the crisis, with the number of homes built in England and Wales in 2009/10 (123,000) the lowest number built in 87 years, as developers mothballed new developments during the downturn. Additional research has shown that insufficient numbers of homes have been built in the region since 2002, leading to a growing housing crisis, with the South East missing its target for new homes by 15% during 2008/9, the latest year for which the figures are available.

    With over 203,000 South East households on housing waiting lists, the drought in mortgage finance has also exacerbated the problem of overcrowding. Many young families are being forced to stay at home with their parents while they save for a deposit, or simply abandon hope of being able to afford their own place in the current economic climate.

    Warren Finney, South East Regional Manager for the National Housing Federation warned living in overcrowded conditions can have a major impact: ?Overcrowding is closely linked to poor health, low educational attainment and family breakdowns.

    As well as having a negative impact on family life, it can contribute to increased levels of homelessness and put enormous pressure on public services ? as families are housed in expensive and often unsuitable temporary accommodation.

    In the forthcoming spending review, The National Housing Federation is calling on the Government to ensure that we are able to deliver 50,000 social rented and affordable homes a year in England.

    STATUS: Press release (unedited)

  • 28/05/10….CORRECTION 08/06/10 Replacement LINK :Council backs down on Core strategy go-ahead

    CONTROVERSIAL housing plans for South Oxfordshire, including Thame, are to be shelved, following a letter from the new Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

    Late yesterday, Eric Pickles wrote to all council leaders highlighting the new Government?s commitment to rapidly abolish regional spatial strategies and to put decision making powers on housing and planning to local councils. This includes decisions on the amount of housing within individual local authority areas.

    **APOLOGIES FOR WRONG LINK in original item:**

    For information about The South East Plan and what ‘spacial strategies’ are go to: http://www.seeda.co.uk/about-us

    MEETINGS CANCELLED

    In a statement issued this morning, SODC stated:
    “In the light of the letter, the leader of the council has decided to withdraw the core strategy from the agenda of the Cabinet meeting on the June 3. This will allow time to consider the full impact of Mr Pickles’
    statement and will avoid any decisions being taken that
    are later proved to be unsound or unnecessary.

    “As a consequence, the Scrutiny Committee meeting scheduled for June 1, to consider the core strategy has also been cancelled.”

    Cllr Ann Ducker, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: ?I am delighted that the new Government is fulfilling its promise to review the planning system so quickly. I have long argued that decisions about housing numbers are best made at a local level and at long last it looks as if we will get the opportunity to do this.”

    UNCERTAIN FUTURE

    She continued: ?I have carefully considered whether or not we should press ahead with next week?s meeting. Although the future is uncertain, I am now confident that the changes will happen sufficiently quickly to make any decisions under the existing rules redundant in no time. Given the strong feelings of residents over some of the proposals in the core strategy, I see no value in having a potentially highly charged meeting
    to debate proposals that are unlikely to stand the test of time.

    ?I want to stress that the council remains committed to providing new housing in South Oxfordshire to support jobs growth, town centre regeneration and to deliver affordable housing for those who cannot
    enter the housing market unaided. We have major developments in hand at Great Western Park and Ladygrove East, Didcot, Fairmile Hospital,
    Cholsey and Chinnor Cement Works.

    ?I shall wait with interest the Secretary of State?s further announcement that he promises in the letter. At that time I hope we will have sufficient clarity that I can issue another statement setting out how the council plans to move forward with its planning framework for the next 20 years.?

    IMAGE: A montage of affordable homes – Courtesy of Harrogate.gov