Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Chilterns tranquility under threat (Contributed)

    LOCAL conservation groups are increasingly concerned about the growing levels of noise pollution affecting the Chilterns countryside.
    The Chiltern Hills are nationally-protected in part because they are one of the few areas in the crowded south east where people can find unspoilt, tranquil countryside. But growing noise levels from roads,
    in particular motorways and trunk roads, and increasing numbers of aircraft flying overhead, are all destroying the peace and quiet of the Chilterns.

    Noise is such an important issue that the Chilterns Conservation Board has included specific policies and actions in its new Management Plan for the Chilterns to try and deal with this growing problem.

    “The Chilterns is protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,” said Steve Rodrick, Chief Officer of the Conservation Board. “There is a duty on all of us to care for it and the new Management Plan sets out how we can tackle all the issues facing it over the next five years, including noisy roads and aircraft. With increasing amounts of traffic and proposals for a third runway at Heathrow our tranquil countryside is under threat as never before.”

    The new Plan also contains policies and actions on other issues of concern such as pressure for new housing, unsympathetic development in the countryside, increasing congestion on roads and the effects of climate change.

    The Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2008 ? 2013 has been put together with the help of many local organisations including the National Trust, local wildlife trusts, The Chiltern Society and parish
    councils. It contains policies and actions which aim to conserve the special features of this area and keep it a special place for many years ahead.

    The Plan can be downloaded as a whole, or by chapter, from:
    chilternsaonb.or

    Copies can also be provided on CD.

  • Advance warning: Handel’s Messiah

    FOUR MUSICAL GROUPS JOIN FORCES TO RAISE THE ROOF

    On November 29, a special performance of Handel’s Messiah will be given in St. Mary’s Church, Thame. After two very successful similar events, this third collaboration between the world-renowned Orchestra of St John’s in London and the local Crendon Chamber Orchestra, will bring together the best of local amateur musicians with inspiring professionals.

    The concert is part of OSJ Offstage, an OSJ community project which aims to innovate, create and educate. The combined orchestra will be joined by the OSJ voices, one of the country’s foremost choral groups, and members of Thame’s Lord Williams’s Festival Chorus. The concert will be conducted by John Lubbock, the inspirational Musical Director of the Orchestra of St. John’s.

    Messiah is Handel?s most famous creation and one of the most popular choral works. It contains many well-known arias and choruses, of which the Hallelujah chorus is recognised almost everywhere. King George II stood for the chorus and the tradition continues today; Handel himself was reputedly reduced to tears by it. Messiah needs no more introduction.

    The concert is on November 29, at 7:30 pm in St. Mary?s Church, Thame. Tickets are

  • St Joseph’s School Christmas Fair

    For all your gorgeous goodies! Lots and lots of lovely stalls including professional photographic studio, children’s craft area, plenty of Winter Pimms and mince pies, hot chocolate and cookies. St Joseph’s School on Saturday 29 November 2008 1pm – 4pm. Free entry. To book a photo slot in advance please phone Clare on 01296 655468 or email clare@lowephoto.co.uk.

  • 1st Thame Scout Group Christmas Bazaar

    2pm at Scout Headquarters Southern Road Thame. Admission 30p.

  • Witness appeal after fatal crash near Wheatley

    THE Police are appealing for witnesses after a collision this morning (28/11) on the B4027 between Islip and Wheatley.
    At around 11.33, a red Peugeot 205 was travelling from Islip towards Wheatley when it was in collision with a white Fiat Doblo van travelling in the opposite direction.

    The driver of the Peugeot, a 30-year-old man, suffered fatal injuries and was declared dead at the scene.

    The female driver of the van was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital with minor injuries.

    Sgt Bryan Smith, investigating the collision, said: ?I am appealing to anyone who might have seen the collision or any of the vehicles being driven prior to it, to contact me.

    Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact Sgt Bryan Smith at Bicester police station, on 0845 8 505 505. If you do not wish to speak to police or give your name, contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

  • Don?t let thieves spoil your Christmas (Status: Press release)

    THE Police are advising residents in South Oxfordshire to be extra careful to protect their property in the run up to Christmas. Over the last two weeks there has been an increase in burglaries and theft from vehicles across the district.

    Crime Reduction Advisor, Julia Wheeler, said: ?Burglaries can be distressing for any victim and although we are working hard to tackle these crimes and catch those responsible I would like to take this opportunity to ask residents to help us to do this.
    ?At this time of year thieves take advantage of the longer, darker nights to commit crime and are on the look out for the opportunity to steal newly purchased Christmas presents.
    ?Most burglaries are carried out by opportunist thieves. In two out of ten burglaries, they don?t even have to use excess force; they manage to get in through an open door or window.
    ?Reduce the risk of your home being burgled by making sure you take some simple and inexpensive precautions. Take action now and don?t become a victim of burglary over the coming days.?

    ?Anything on view in your car or in your house is a target for thieves and I would like to offer the following advice to residents:

    ? Keep your car locked whenever it is unoccupied, even when paying for petrol.
    ? Don?t leave any valuables including Christmas presents in your vehicle.
    ? Make the house looks occupied after dark by leaving a lamp on a timer.
    ? Don?t leave Christmas presents where they can be seen though the ground floor windows of your house.
    ? Ensure that front and back doors and windows are locked when you are out and at night.
    ? Lock valuable or sentimental jewellery away in a large lockable cabinet or in a safe bolted to the wall or floor.
    ? When putting out your rubbish, break up and dispose of packaging with care so thieves don?t target your house for your new purchases.?

    Home security advice leaflets and property marking pens are available from your local police station.

    If you have see any suspicious activity or have any information to help the police with their inquiries contact 0845 8 505 505, if you do not want to talk to police you can call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111 and remain anonymous.

    Image: Courtesy of libizblog.files.wordpress.com

  • Cash stolen from under elderly lady’s mattress

    THE Police are appealing for witnesses after thieves talked their way into a house in Thame and stole money from under an elderly woman’s mattress.
    Sometime during the day on Monday (24/11) two people came to the door of the property in Cotmore Close, Thame, and pushed past the occupant, an elderly lady. They said that they were there to fit a water tank upstairs and needed to turn her taps on.

    The lady followed them into the kitchen to switch the taps off and noticed that her bedroom door had been forced open and the men had gone.

    Det Con Kim Dugmore, investigating the burglary, said: ?The burglar stole her wallet and some money from under her mattress in her bedroom.
    ?This is a sickening attack where some people have taken advantage of a vulnerable lady by forcing their way into her house.
    ?I urge anyone who might have seen suspicious activity in the area at the time, to contact me.?

    Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to contact Det Con Kim Dugmore at Thame police station via 0845 8 505 505, or if you don?t want to talk to the police or give your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

    Image: for illustration purposes only; courtesy of Thames Valley Police

  • Thame hotel’s generosity will help the starving

    THE SPREAD EAGLE HOTEL in Thame, has donated all its towels, line, bedding and bedroom furniture to the Oxfam shop in Cornmarket, Thame.
    The General Manager, Peter Farquharson, for Bespoke Hotels Ltd, told ThameNews.Net: “Because we are to completely refurbish the hotel, we shall be replacing all our linen and the furniture in all the rooms. It seemed such a waste to just throw them away, so we decided that they could be put to good use by others less fortunate than us. We have already donated blankets to a local dogs’ home and after talking to the manager of our local Oxfam shop, Jane, we decided to pass the rest onto her.”

    Jane said today: “This was a very generous offer from Peter who, since he arrived in Thame, has been very helpful to me – he is real friend to Oxfam. We shall sell some of the linen from the shop here in Thame, but the furniture and the rest of the linen will go to our shop in Watford which has much more space than we do.”

    Photo: Two of Oxfam’s volunteers load hundreds of towels donated by the Spread Eagle, Thame, to the charity.

  • Festive shopping at Thame Barns Centre

    BETWEEN 5pm-9pm, on November 27, at the Thame Barns Centre, Church Road (Parking also available at Priest End)
    A Variety of Different Gift Stalls, Chocolates, Cards, Books, Stocking Fillers, Mulled Wine, Jewellery, Handbags, Colour analysis, Christmas Foods from Thame Country Market formerly known as WI Market and lot?s more??.Free Entrance

  • Lower parking fees for ‘greener’ cars?

    CAR PARKING in Thame’s Cattlemarket and in Southern Road could soon be cheaper, if recommendations going to Cabinet next Thursday, are approved.
    The Head of Environmental Services at SODC, John Backley, has recommended that car park charges be reduced from April 2009, throughout the district council’s car parks, to refect the Government’s reduction in VAT, and that the cost of season tickets be reduced from January 2009.
    Owners of low emissions cars will only pay half for their Season tickets.

    The proposed charges are:
    Up to 1 hour – FREE in both parking areas
    Up to 2 hours – 80p
    Up to the 3 hours max at Southern Road –