Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Fear of ‘Urban sprawl’ in Thame

    Dear Editor, The view from the bottom of my road across to the Chiltern Hills is lovely. The view from the proposed site for housing in Thame, close to Cuttle Brook, is also highly valued. Everybody’s house is built on what was someone’s view. That’s the problem.

    As disinterestedly as I can, however – and I would not wish anyone’s view to be impeded – I fear that if the current boundary in the east, i.e. the bypass, were to be breached, there could be a danger in years to come of an urban sprawl, stretching, who knows, across the county boundary to and from Princes Risborough and taking in villages round about.

    Norman Brand
    Fanshawe Road
    Thame
    23/06/09

  • Marmite solution?

    Dear Editor,
    I half fill my Marmite jars with boiling water from the kettle, replace the lid (tightly) and shake the jar vigorously before opening (take care to open slowly and carefully) and drinking the contents (may need to dilute with more water) for a tasty alternative to tea or coffee. Or you can use the liquid to flavour stews, casseroles and soup. After this treatment the jar barely needs any further washing out.
    Christina

    (Full name and address supplied)

  • Restaurant takings stolen – witness appeal (Status: Press release)

    THE Police are appealing for witnesses after a robbery in Wheatley today (22/6).

    Between 9.15am and 9.20am, two men entered the Harvester Restaurant in London Road and stole the weekend takings from a member of staff.

    The offenders are white and were dressed in dark clothing. One was believed to have been wearing a baseball cap.

    Det Sgt Alun Watkins, leading the investigation, said: “I am interested in speaking to anyone who was in Wheatley this morning and saw two men running away from the restaurant.

    “It is believed the offenders jumped over a wall onto the London Road and ran away from the village towards the M40. There is a lay-by about 100 yards from the restaurant that is frequently used by fisherman and walkers. Were you here this morning? Did you witness two people acting suspiciously? If so, please get in touch.”

    Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Det Sgt Watkins 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

  • Scores on the Doors hygiene rating – is it fair?

    THAME restaurants and food outlets that that have scored low on the ‘Scores on the Door’ website, for hygiene, are today reviewing their response to the findings.

    Some of them are questioning whether the results of an inspection carried out 18 months ago, that may have picked up on one or two negative aspects of their hygiene, which have since been rectified, should be published on the website.

    Like many other local authorities, South Oxfordshire District Council operates a “Scores on the Doors” project to make the public aware of the health and hygiene status of the restaurants they visit. Under this system the restaurants are inspected regularly and allocated 1-5 stars based on their findings.

    Among the Thame premises that sell or prepare food scored on the website, Barley Hill school scored the same as Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons – four stars.

    On the SODC section of the Scores on the Doors website, there is button where business proprietors have “the right of reply” which, once it has been reviewed and approved, will, the council says, be displayed as part of that establishment’s listing.

    Dorothy Brown, South Oxfordshire District Council Cabinet Member responsible for health, states on SODC’s website: “Scores on the Doors is an excellent new resource for everyone and I’m sure our residents will find it reassuring they can easily check the rating of local restaurants, shops and caf

  • Thame therapist shaves head for charity

    DANI Dennington, a hypnotherapist from Croft Road, Thame, raised over

  • The ‘Wild Geese’ do it again! (Amended – apologies for calling then the Flying Geese !)

    THAME’S most successful pub quiz team, The Wild Geese, have once again taken the Thame Festival quiz trophy!

    The team has its name engraved on the Thame Festival Quiz Trophy, 13 times, having won most years since the quiz began in 1993.

    Although there were less teams this year (2009) than last year, the evening was once again interesting and testing, and above all, fun – thanks to the Festival Quiz’s long-time quiz master and MC, Sue Boyle.

    The quiz will once again take place next year, 2010, on the Friday before the Carnival, so put it in the diary now. (I have it on good authority that the trick is to make lists throughout the year, of sporting event winners, lakes around the world in size order, etc)

    I for one, will be trying to take more notice of the big sporting events throughout the year – our team scored one point on the Sports round – always a weakness. So come on – there’s a challenge for the year. Someone needs to topple those Wild Geese!

    Photo: From left to right – Brian Mace, Brian West, Caroline West (NO relation ? she belongs to the other Brian), Nigel Griffith, Sue Boyle ? quizmistress, Paul Furness, Nigel Maughan

  • The Chilterns Awards – Could you be a winner?

    THE Chilterns Conservation Board has launched an annual awards scheme, The Chilterns Awards, and is looking for great projects and outstanding people to reward for work that benefits the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Beauty.

    There are three categories of awards:

    The Chilterns Access and Education Award
     Encouraging projects that increase the use and understanding of the Chilterns by new and varied audiences. These could include special events or new information displays.
    The Chilterns Outstanding People Award
     Rewarding individuals or groups that have made an outstanding contribution to the conservation of the Chilterns or raising awareness of the area.
    The Chilterns Environment Award
     Recognising innovative work that benefits the conservation of the natural environment of the Chilterns, for example, restoring a pond or managing a wood for wildlife.

    The closing date of 31st July (2009) is fast approaching, so if you know of a person or project which deserves recognition get in touch!

    Entry forms and more information can be downloaded from: www.chilternsaonb.org
     or contact Cathy Rose on 01844 355 506 or crose@chilternsaonb.org Awards will be presented at the Chilterns Annual Forum in November.

    Photo: A previous winner, Mays Farm, Nuffield

  • Thame council to conjure The four horsemen of the Apocalypse

    THAME Town Council has roundly rejected the preferred site for a new housing development, questioning the “soundness” of the draft plan that will determine future housing provision.

    In a very lengthy and detailed response to South Oxfordshire District Council, who are currently consulting on the development of a Core Strategy for the district up to the year 2026, the town council expresses particulary strong objections relating to the level and distribution of proposed housing for Thame and questions basically the whole evidence base of the whole CS in respect of housing growth. TTC suggests that more homes should be build in the larger villages.

    After telling councillors at there meeting on Tuesday (16/06/09) that there is a view that the town council does not listen, the Town Clerk, Helen Stewart, proposed that Thame Town Council form a working group made up of the Chiltern Vale Residents Association, Cattlemarket Action Group CMAG, Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve Volunteers, a District Councillor (Ann Midwinter), Heads and Governors of schools, a Morton residents representative, Thame First, Thame Health Centre and five town councillors, in order to “present a cohesive view to South Oxfordshire District Council,” about what Thame wants.

    Town and District Cllr Mike Welply said: “We need SODC to know that the four horsemen of the Apocalypse are coming upon them from Thame.”

    In its written response to SODC, the town council also stated that SODC should “fundamentally review” the whole strategy.

    Some of the concerns expressed by local residents about the so-called ‘preferred option’ site, farm land between Cuttle Brook and Moreton, are that the reserve itself could be damaged and that there would be increased flooding in the area.

    At a previous council meeting, Caroline Emery, speaking for SODC, said that her and her team were constrained by the South East draft plan when it came to the number of new homes needed to be built in the region and that they were currently refining the options as a result of consultations, including liaising with infrastructure agencies.

    It was explained that option D was chosen after carrying out full appraisals including bio diversity and education, and that the site has good access to the town centre which it is thought, would be more likely to encourage people to walk and cycle to town.

    It was also explained that there was no intention to build right up to the Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve but to create landscaping to form a recreation area or extension to it.

    Image: Cllr Mike Welply leads in The Four horses of the Apocalypse 🙂

  • Scores on the Doors for food hygiene

    A NEW star rating system for food hygiene has been launched, so that the public can now see for themselves just how clean their local restaurants and other food outlets are.

    Follow the link
     to see just how Thame fares.

  • Town council produces its own economy action plan

    THAME Town Council, which has criticised a draft economic plan for the town, calling it “unfit for purpose”, has now come up with its own.

    As part of a consultation exercise South Oxfordshire District Council, which has the responsibility for economic development in the district, has been awaiting the town council’s response to its draft plan. It (SODC) has pointed out that there is now some urgency to move forward because SEEDA (South East Economic Development Agency) funding, available to take these plans forward, is soon to be reduced and there is a fear that Thame could miss the boat. (Match funding from SODC to carry its Market Towns economic development plans, is dependent on SEEDA funding.)

    After some amendments following consultation, Henley and Wallingford are already taking their plans forward.

    See previous news report

    The town council’s plan is very similar in many aspects to SODC’s plan but in many cases is just more detailed or includes projects already within the scope of the town council’s remit or 21st Century Thame’s Action plan, like reviewing signage and Thame?s branding, looking at parking in the town and organising different markets to attract visitors. Their are, however, some new ideas in there too.

    The following are some of the ideas in the town council’s plan (anyone who would like to see the whole plan, can email: editor@thamenews.net for a copy):

    Support and encourage more independent businesses in order to maintain the town’s distinctiveness.

    Form a group with representation from both the business sector and residents to work with consultants on the distinctiveness factor(s).

    Develop a strong working Business Partnership including the industrial areas around the town.

    Invite Business Link to organise a Business Support Fair in Thame ?

    Establish baseline economic data

    Employ a Town Manager

    Undertake a feasibility study to form a Business Improvement District (BID)
    BID.
    Consult on a draft business plan

    Improve visitor and information facilities with week end opening hours
    Supplementary visitor information services at the Museum and the Spread Eagle Hotel

    Refurbish / upgrade toilets in Market House

    Design a town brand to establish a recognisable identity to be used as a marketing tool to develop the town’s distinctiveness
    Develop and implement a marketing strategy so that the town is well promoted and marketed, especially Thame’s events and attractions

    Develop joint Midsomer Murder Trails with Wallingford and surrounding villages. Perhaps get local restaurants/hotels to put on Murder Mystery dinners to compliment the trails

    Form a steering group to develop post GCSE training opportunities and identify what training is needed and how to deliver it
    Provide a Skills Centre

    Help form a Training Forum that will bring employers, training providers and residents together to enable access to training provision and identify training needs

    Liaise with the market traders to see if the market can be improved

    Organise different markets in the town to attract visitors

    Establish the case for upgrading, improving streets, especially The Buttermarket

    Claim ownership of The Shambles

    Join English Historic Town Forum (EHTF) Association of Market Towns (AMT)

    Investigate what can be achieved through Heritage Protection & Principles of Conservation

    Refurbish, redesign the links from specific areas to the High Street and Swan Walk

    Undertake an audit of signs in the town and produce an action list for implementation

    Develop an annual programme of events

    What is not included in TTC’s plan compared to SODC’s is where the resources will come from to implement the plan or time scales. It does however set out a system of short, medium and long-term priorities.
    LINK
     to SODC’s plan for Thame

    At its meeting on Tuesday (June 16, 2009), The town council agreed to form a working group of councillors to take the plan forward, and agreed that SODC should be invited to attend that group’s meetings if it wanted to.