Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Neighbourhood Action Groups wants your views on crime issues

    The Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG)for the Thame area will be conducting new consultations in 2010 and welcomes your views to identify local issues.

    In 2009, the NAG consultations identified speeding, parking, litter, anti-social behaviour and dog fouling as main concerns and worked to make a difference in these areas across the neighbourhoods.

    The NAG will be consulting in Thame and the surrounding villages, Watlington and Chinnor, in February and March 2010. There will be questionnaires in the community and the consultation forms can be found on SODC website at www.southoxon.gov.uk/nag

    Consultations specifically targeting Chinnor and Watlington will take place later in 2010.

    Community feedback will be passed to the relevant agencies and the NAG will work on the main concerns. The NAG welcomes your views and looks forward to helping to make your neighbourhood a better place.

    If you would like to receive NAG updates please go to www.tvpcommunitymessaging.org
     and register (in notes, please enter: would like to receive Thame, Chinnor and Watlington NAG updates)

    To find out more about NAGs and download the latest NAG newsletters go to: www.southoxon.gove.uk/nag

    To find out more about neighbourhood policing or who your local police officers are go to: www.thamesvalley.police.uk

    THAME, Watlington and Chinnor Neighbourhood Action Group Progress Update – December 2009

    Anti Social Behaviour- Thames Valley Police (TVP) increased early intervention, education and enforcement including Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABC?s) and home visits.

    Thame Town Council agreed funding for 10 community noticeboards to highlight available facilities, installation 2010.

    Shopwatch scheme launched by TVP with 85 shops enlisted so far.

    Litter- Increased town centre patrols by TVP and Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN?s) may be issued as required.

    District Council asked to provide larger bin at key point for takeaway refuse.

    Town Council is working with other partners to organise an anti-litter campaign.

    Local takeaway outlet taken proactive approach in clearing litter resulting from their customers.

    CHINNOR Neighbourhood, including Aston Rowant, Crowell, Sydenham, Tetsworth and Towersey:-

    Speeding- Numerous operations carried out by TVP, site is now adopted by Safer Roads Partnership (SRP) for mobile van enforcement.

    Handheld laser device now available to Neighbourhood Policing Team (NHPT) with permanent device bid still ongoing.

    Speed survey on B4009 into Chinnor did not substantiate a speed issue, Community Concern signage installed to educate drivers.

    Aston Rowant Parish Council achieved installation of Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) at various points through village.

    Parking- Chinnor Parish Council requested feedback from residents in November ?Pump? article, nothing received at time of meeting, education and enforcement of parking restrictions will continue.

    Dog Fouling- Tetsworth Parish Council running a poster campaign in conjunction with NHPT.

    Parish Council looking to relocate 1 dog waste bin to problem area to facilitate use.

    PCSO?s will educate and enforce with FPN where necessary.

    photo: courtesy of whosbybobby.co.uk

  • 21/01/10 Police seek help following Wheatey man’s fall to his death

    Thames Valley Police would like to speak to a taxi driver in connection with the unexplained death of a young Wheatley man in Oxford on Boxing Day.

    At around 9.30pm, a man was picked up by a taxi, just outside the grounds of the JR2 Hospital, near Headley Way. He was then dropped off at the junction of High Street and St Aldates in the city centre at around 9.40pm.

    Det Con Lisa Heaton, investigating the incident, said: ?Shortly after, at 9.58pm, the man was found dead at the bottom of Westgate Car Park.

    ?The man has been identified as Joshua Nunan, aged 22, of London Road, Wheatley. He was white, slim, with short brown hair, wearing light coloured trousers and a three quarter length, light brown coat.

    ?I am appealing for the taxi driver to come forward and speak to police as we believe he was the last person who saw Joshua alive and may be able to assist our enquiries.?

    Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Det Con Heaton at St Aldates police station via Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don?t want to speak to police and don?t want to leave your name contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

  • Coming events at Thomley Activity Centre 01/01/10 to 30/04/10

    THOMLEY Activity Centre is a unique recreational facility for disabled children, their families, siblings, and friends. Situated on the Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire border in seven acres of beautiful countryside, Thomley offers a safe and supportive setting for children to play, learn and explore.

    There are a wide range of activities suitable for all ages and abilities, allowing everyone to have fun, make new friends, and most of all, feel accepted. Activities vary from outdoor activities including; a football pitch; 1km cycle track; zip wire and outdoor play area to numerous indoor areas including; arts and craft; computer room; soft play area and the very popular sensory room.

    Please note that in school/term time Thomley is open to special schools and mainstream schools who include students with additional learning needs. We are open Wednesdays to Fridays throughout term time. Activities can be tailor-made to compliment school projects.

    o Tuesday 2nd February ? Adult day – Open to disabled adults (16+) and their carers to try out a variety of art and craft activities, relax in a rural environment, chill out in the sensory room or just have a chat and a cup of tea.

    o Saturday 6th February ? Community day – Open to all children (i.e. disabled and non-disabled) and their families to enjoy our all the usual activities from soft play to the 1km cycle track.

    o Tuesday 9th February ? Preschool day – For all pre-school toddlers and babies (up to the age of 6yrs) with and without disabilities accompanied by their parents/ carers. Activities are designed for children to play, explore and most importantly to get messy!

    o Saturday 13th February ? Family day – Open to disabled children, their families and friends to enjoy a variety of indoor activities and outdoor equipment at Thomley including the soft play area, art and craft room sensory room and the 1km cycle track.

    The following days are focus days during the February Half term (15th-20th): –

    o Wednesday 17th February ? Teenager day ? – For all disabled young people aged between 10- 19yrs accompanied by their parents/ carers. Younger siblings are also welcome. Teenage days provide a great opportunity to socialise with other teenagers, to make new friends and try out various activities, including the very popular 1km cycle track. Organised activities include a cartoon drawing workshop, following the theme of a superhero day.

    o Friday 19th February ? Community day ? Fully Booked, waiting list available – Open to all children (i.e. disabled and non-disabled) and their families to enjoy our all the usual activities from soft play to the 1km cycle track. This is animation day, including animated films, clay modelling and creating masks of your favourite characters.

    o Saturday 20th February ? Family day ? Open to disabled children, their families and friends to enjoy a variety of indoor activities and outdoor equipment at Thomley including the soft play area, art and craft room and the 1km cycle track. The theme of the day is Sci-Fi and will include explosive rockets and spaceship junk modelling.

    o Saturday 27th February ? Quiet day ? Quiet days are specifically designed for families and children with disabilities who might prefer a quieter day. Numbers are limited to 30 children and are a birthday party free zone.

    o Tuesday 2nd March ? Adult day ? Open to disabled adults (16+) and their carers to try out a variety of art and craft activities, relax in a rural environment, chill out in the sensory room or just have a chat and a cup of tea.

    o Saturday 6th March ? Community day ? Open to all children (i.e. disabled and non-disabled) and their families to enjoy our all the usual activities from soft play to the 1km cycle track.

    o Tuesday 9th March ? Preschool day ? For all pre-school toddlers and babies (up to the age of 6yrs) with and without disabilities accompanied by their parents/ carers. Activities are designed for children to play, explore and most importantly get messy!

    o Saturday 13th March ? Family day ? Open to disabled children, their families and friends to enjoy a variety of indoor activities and outdoor equipment at Thomley including the soft play area, art and craft room sensory room and the 1km cycle track.

    o Saturday 20th March ? Family day ? Open to disabled children, their families and friends to enjoy a variety of indoor activities and outdoor equipment at Thomley including the soft play area, art and craft room sensory room and the 1km cycle track.

    o Tuesday 23rd March ? Disability Preschool day ? Open to disabled pre-school toddlers and babies (up to the age of 6yrs) accompanied by their parents/ carers. Activities are designed for children to play, explore and most importantly get messy!

    o Saturday 27th March ? Quiet day ? Quiet days are specifically designed for families and children with disabilities who might prefer a quieter day. Numbers are limited to 30 children and are a birthday party free zone.

    o Thomley is closed from Friday 2nd April ? Monday 5th April for bank holiday weekend.

    The following days are focus days during the Easter holidays (6th-17th), the specific activities for each focus day will be released in the March newsletter: –

    o Tuesday 6th April ? Family day ? Open to disabled children, their families and friends to enjoy a variety of indoor activities and outdoor equipment at Thomley including the soft play area, art and craft room sensory room and the 1km cycle track. No group bookings on this day.

    o Friday 9th April ? Community day ? Open to all children (i.e. disabled and non-disabled) and their families to enjoy our all the usual activities from soft play to the 1km cycle track.

    o Saturday 10th April ? Family day ? Open to disabled children, their families and friends to enjoy a variety of indoor activities and outdoor equipment at Thomley including the soft play area, art and craft room and the 1km cycle track.

    o Monday 12th April ? Teenager day ? For all disabled young people aged between 10- 19yrs accompanied by their parents/ carers. Younger siblings are also welcome. Teenage days provide a great opportunity to socialise with other teenagers, to make new friends and try out various activities, including the very popular 1km cycle track.

    o Friday 16th April ? Community day ? Open to all children (i.e. disabled and non-disabled) and their families to enjoy our all the usual activities from soft play to the 1km cycle track.

    o Saturday 17th April ? Family day ? Open to disabled children, their families and friends to enjoy a variety of indoor activities and outdoor equipment at Thomley including the soft play area, art and craft room and the 1km cycle track.

    o Tuesday 20th April ? Adult day ? Open to disabled adults (16+) and their carers to try out a variety of art and craft activities, relax in a rural environment, chill out in the sensory room or just have a chat and a cup of tea.

    o Saturday 24th April ? Quiet day ? Quiet days are specifically designed for families and children with disabilities who might prefer a quieter day. Numbers are limited to 30 children and are a birthday party free zone.

    o Tuesday 27th April ? Preschool day ? For all pre-school toddlers and babies (up to the age of 6yrs) with and without disabilities accompanied by their parents/ carers. Activities are designed for children to play, explore and most importantly get messy!

    N.B. Open from 10am-3.30pm / All children must be accompanied by their parents/carers. Advance booking is essential.

    Thomley Activity Centre, Menmarsh Road, Worminghall, Bucks, HP18 9JZ,
    Tel/fax: 01844 338380. Web: www.thomleyhall.org, Email: enquiries@thomleyhall.org

  • Cold weather creates new con for rogue traders 20/01/10

    OXFORDSHIRE County Council Trading Standards is warning home owners to be on the look out for rogue traders following the recent extreme weather.

    Reports have already come in from elsewhere in the country of consumers being visited by criminals claiming to be from a water company checking for frozen pipes.

    These rogue traders then try to persuade unsuspecting home owners to have unnecessary repair work done.

    Sub zero scams

    Nigel Strick, Head of Oxfordshire Trading Standards, said: ?These crooks will use the recent extreme weather as the latest trick to persuade home owners to part with their money. They will claim work is needed urgently because of damage caused by the recent sub zero temperatures.

    ?We are urging people to be wary of any trader turning up on their doorstep uninvited ? just say ?no thanks? and if you think there is a problem with your pipes contact a reputable tradesperson.?

    Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities said: ?If consumers need to find a reputable trader they should check the county council?s Buy with Confidence scheme or use a trader recommended by friends or family. Get three quotes and never use a trader who just turns up on your doorstep.?

    Buy with Confidence is a county scheme which provides an online directory of traders that have been checked and approved by Trading Standards. To find out more, visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk.

    Call to report suspicious activity
    Should anyone have doubts about the credentials of a trader knocking on their door, they should take as many details as they can, including vehicle registration numbers, and report them to Trading Standards on 0845 051 0845 or to the police. We are also urging people to look out for vulnerable neighbours and help them report any suspicious activity.

  • Hurdle making workshop, Wildlife photography and more! (Posted 21/01/10)

    NORTHMOOR Trust?s countryside events for February and March 2010 ? Unless stated otherwise, all events take place at Northmoor Trust, Hill Farm, Little Wittenham, and booking is essential: 01865?407792; www.northmoortrust.co.uk.

    Saturday 13th February, 10am ? 4pm:

    Northmoor Trust Hurdle Weaving Workshop. A one day practical workshop making traditional hazel hurdles to take home. Whether you want to camouflage a compost heap, disguise a dustbin or make an interesting trellis, this is the course for you. Adults

  • Oxfordshire Golf Club to host prestigous tournement (posted 21/01/10)

    THE flagship event of this year’s PGA tournament programme, the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship, will be staged at The Oxfordshire Golf Club near Thame for the first time.

    The Thame club, which is having a 50 bedroom four-star hotel built on site, will play host to the UK and Ireland’s best PGA professionals as they contest the coveted title in August, 10th – 13th, 2010.

  • What do you think about Thame’s green spaces? 21/01/10

    SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council is inviting residents to have their say on how the council can improve existing green spaces and create new
    ones to make the area an even more attractive and inviting place to live, work and visit.

    In Thame the council has been looking into the possibility of extending Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve.

    Angie Paterson, Cabinet Member for Planning at SODC, said: ?Protecting South Oxfordshire?s environment is very important to the council and more pressing than ever with the increasing threat of climate change.

    “The consultation is a chance for residents to
    share their local knowledge and have a say about their surroundings so we can continue to protect areas of value, and for them to help us make improvements
    in the future.?

    To have a say residents can fill in an online questionnaire before February 01, 2010 on the council?s website:
    www.southoxon.gov.uk/haveyoursay
     or view hard copies at all libraries
    and one stop shops (Thame Town Hall) throughout the district.

  • Support wanted for Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill (posted 21/01/10)

    MESSAGE from Transition Thame: Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill: Please lobby your MP for support!

    Great news! – we were successful in seeing the Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill introduced into Parliament – Alistair Burt MP has agreed to adopt it as his Private Members? Bill in December last year. Thank you very much for your help in making this happen.

    Since then we have been doing well: Over 260 MPs have already sign Early Day Motion 143 in support and our negotiations with government Ministers and officials have so far been constructive.

    However we face a very tight time frame with the election due in May. We need more MPs to sign up and we need all MPs to urge the government to give the Bill the Parliamentary time it needs to become law. The Bill?s Second Reading is set for Friday 26th February and we will need government support by then.

    ACTION:

    You can help, indeed your help is crucial to seeing this Bill made law. So please do the following by Friday 12th February:

    1. Please write to, or email, your MP. A sample letter that you can personalise is below. You can find out who your MP is and their contact details here: http://findyourmp.parliament.uk.

    2. Please ask others to do the same and forward this email on to anyone who may help – the more letters MPs receive the better!

    Thank you very much for your efforts. More information on the Bill can be found on our website: www.localworks.org

    SAMPLE LETTER TO YOUR MP:

    Dear [your MP?s name],

    Re: the Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill

    I am writing to you as a constituent regarding the Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill. This Bill will help strengthen the original Act by making the process ongoing, and so further involve people in decision making.

    I therefore ask that you please sign EDM 143 in support of the Bill, if you have not already, and
    please urge the relevant Government Ministers to support this Bill and, if required, agree to give the Bill extra time or to speed up the procedure to ensure it becomes law in this Parliamentary Session.

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Yours sincerely,
    [your name]
    [your address]

  • Match Report Thame Netball Club 20/01/10

    THAME Tornadoes were back in action with a bang, after a prolonged Christmas break. In a game against local rivals, Kites, Tornadoes got off to a slow start and initially struggled to keep up with the pace of the game with some wayward passes.

    However, by the third quarter, Tornadoes were back to their best and with some fantastic centre court play by Mel Wilkins, Rachel Wilkins and Jess Storey, they were able to claw back to get into the lead.

    The shooters were on top form, with Gwen Cavanagh earning herself ?player of the match?.

    All in all it was a hard fought game by both teams, resulting in a 25-21 victory for Tornadoes!

    Team: Hannah White, Sue Dunn, Karen Fowler, Mel Wilkins, Rachel Wilkins, Carol Storey, Gwen Cavanagh, Jess Story and Lisa Sydenham.

  • What’s on in Haddenham January 2010

    Tues 26th Give Blood. A Blood Donor session will be held (1-3pm and 3.45-6.30pm) at Haddenham Village Hall. New donors are always welcome but need to arrive at least half-an-hour before the end of a session to give time for registration. To book an appointment please visit www.blood.co.uk
     or call 0300 123 23 23.

    Wed 27th Haddenham Horticultural Society. Jill Carey, who gave an excellent illustrated talk to the society last year about the adaptability of plants to different habitats, will be talking about ?Our Worldwide Garden? ? where the plants we grow in our gardens originate in the wild ? at the meeting (8pm) in the Walter Rose Room at Haddenham Village Hall. Visitors are welcome and entry is free but you can make a donation towards expenses.

    Fri 29th/Sat 30th Panto. Tickets (