Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Can Thame ‘join up the dots’ for its future development?

    WITH so many pressures emerging on its future economic and cultural development, some of the key institutions that will deliver those changes are beginning to get together to build a vision for Thame’s future.
    Thame’s MP, John Howell, recently chaired a seminar for the town, district and county councils, as well as the police and local health groups.
    In a statement following the meeting, Thame Town Council released the following statement from its town clerk, Helen Stewart:

    “We wanted to get agreement from our town councillors that we should grasp the nettle in pulling an overall blueprint for the town together. We wanted also to make sure that our key institutional partners would support us before we talked to the public and to the many groups active in the town?s future. This is a great opportunity.
    “Today?s meeting was only the first stage. Now we can go out with confidence to work with those groups who have the town?s future at heart and are already working on projects.”

    John Howell MP added: “A tremendous amount of work has been done already on different aspects of the town?s future. South Oxfordshire District Council, for example, has been active in helping the town?s economic development. Many volunteer groups are actively taking forward individual projects.
    ?What emerged today was a need for the town council to show leadership in playing a co-ordinating role across all these activities.”

    Thame’s County Cllr, Nick Carter, commented: “Thame is about to face a number of large new developments. It would be utter madness if these were dealt with on an individual stand-alone basis.”
    He concluded: “Today we have started by getting local authorities on side and I look forward to playing any role I can in involving the community in designing the town?s future.”

    Photo: Thame from the air, with the Cattlemarket in North Street, top right, which will soon come up for redevelopment when the cattlemarket moves to a new site on the present Thame show ground.

  • Survey to help shape the future of public services

    SOME residents across the county are being given the chance to tell councils what it is like to live in the area and what issues really matter to them.
    A comprehensive survey about satisfaction with public services and community involvement will be hitting the doormats across Oxfordshire from this week.

    More than 14,000 residents will have the chance to have their say and help shape the provision of public services. The residents have been picked from a random sample.

    The survey is being run by the six councils in Oxfordshire and is part of a national Place Survey programme, so the feedback from Oxfordshire could not only help shape the way things are run in the county,
    but across the country too.

    The survey, which is being run by independent company MRUK, will ask residents aged 18 and over to comment on their immediate neighbourhood, public services and if they get involved in their community.

    Cllr Keith Mitchell, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “As councils we are all keen to hear what our residents are thinking and what they want from us. There is no substitute for hearing from the
    horse’s mouth. I urge people from every corner of Oxfordshire to get involved and give us their views. We can then use that information to guide us in our policy making.”

    Cllr Ann Ducker, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Good or bad, we want to hear what our residents think of our services. If residents aren’t happy with the way we’re running them, they need to tell us so we can do something about it. By taking part in this survey residents can really make a difference to the way we deliver services in the future. I encourage anyone who receives one to
    fill it in and help us continue to improve our services and the quality of life in South Oxfordshire.”

    NB The Place Survey is a requirement of the Government and is run according to Government stipulation. The survey was jointly commissioned by the six councils as it was the most cost effective and
    efficient way of doing it.

    Any responses must be in by December 19.

  • Familiar pattern against Milton United for Thame

    MILTON UNITED 2, THAME UNITED 1 – Match report.

    If you were a betting man this is the result that you would have gone for, given that in each of the four previous meetings with Milton over the last two seasons Milton have run out victors 2-1.
    However, on Saturday (27/09), it looked like a different result was on the cards after only two minutes, when Thame striker Tom Goffe received the ball from Mark Jones 25 yards from goal and, without a defender in sight, calmly rounded the advancing keeper and slotted the ball home from a narrow angle.

    Whilst Thame nearly extended their lead 10 minutes later, when Sam Cowan headed just wide from a corner, Milton were gradually coming back into the game and on 19 minutes Searl did well to turn a Lee Keyes volley around the post. Two minutes later Keyes turned Nik Rhodes 30 yards from goal and went around Mitchell Meredith before slotting the ball in to the bottom right hand corner of the goal, giving Searl no chance.

    The momentum was now with Milton and Searl did well to turn a free kick over the bar in the 38th minute.

    The second half continued in much the same vein, with Matt Miller and Goffe causing the home defence problems and Milton dangerous on the break. The winning goal arrived in the 64th minute when Thame lost the ball in midfield and Milton played the ball out wide. The deep cross from the left was met by the unmarked Gary Hartley who confidently headed the ball in to the back of the net from five yards.

    The goal stirred Thame back to life and for the remainder of the game Milton were on the back foot as Thame searched for the equalizer. The best chance came in the 76th minute when, in the space of 30 seconds, Matt Miller first saw his shot blocked, substitute Thomas Hoskin followed up to see his effort cleared off the line, before a third effort from Hoskin was wide of the goal. The last chance for Thame came in the 86th minute when debutant, William Wallace, hit a goal bound volley from the edge of the box that the Milton keeper acrobatically tipped over the bar.

    Although Thame have now fallen at the first hurdle of the Challenge Cup for the second season in a row against Premier Division Milton United, they will have taken a number of positives from the game, and will be looking forward to a return to league action at Finchampstead on October 4.

    Thame United: Searl, Graves, N.Rhodes, Meredith, Jones (Green), A.Rhodes, Cowan, El-Kassir (Hoskin), Goffe (Catlin), Miller, Wallace.

  • ‘Leaf fall’ timetable changes from Chiltern Rail

    CHILTERN RAILWAYS is advising passengers that there will be minor timetable changes from Sunday, October 5, due to its leaf fall timetable being introduced.
    All trains on the London Marylebone to Birmingham line will have an extra three minutes added to their termination time. This means that trains will arrive at their destination up to three minutes later than
    before.

    All trains on the Aylesbury and London Marylebone via Amersham line will have three minutes added to their departure time so trains will now leave Aylesbury three minutes earlier than before.

    Chiltern Railways say: “We need this extra time because autumn leaf fall means that our trains
    can’t go as fast as normal. Leaves are blown onto the rails by passing trains; rain and the pressure of heavy trains going over them then creates a hard surface on the rails, which not only makes it difficult for the wheels to grip the tracks but is very difficult to remove.
    It’s so slippery, our drivers compare it to black ice.

    “Changing our timetable means drivers have a much better chance of keeping to time so that services can run smoothly and without disruption. In turn, this means that passengers will still be able to plan effectively, as our 95% punctuation rate means you can be sure of arriving on time.”

    The amended leaf fall timetable will remain in place until 13th December.

  • Van fire closes lane on M40

    ONE lane of the M40 motorway was closed this afternoon following a vehicle fire.
    Firefighters were called to deal with an engine fire in a Ford Transit van on the northbound carriageway, between junction six at Lewknor and junction seven at Milton Common, at around 4.30pm.

    The lane was closed due to smoke from the fire, but has now reopened.

  • Does your village have a Good Neighbour Scheme?

    WHAT is a Good Neighbour Scheme? Good Neighbour Schemes are local voluntary groups which offer a service in their community for those in need of help and support. The people who may need support may be older people, people with disabilities, single parents and young mothers, those temporarily in need through illness or anyone who may be isolated within the community.

    The help offered by Good Neighbour Schemes may include:

    ? Providing transport for appointments or
    hospital visits
    ? Errands, shopping a collecting prescriptions
    ? Household tasks or gardening
    ? Visiting or befriending
    ? Letter-writing or simple form filling
    ? Helping people after discharge from hospital
    ? Reading to partially sighted or blind people
    ? Providing information

    Where the scheme is available to the community is well-used and highly valued by the residents.

    ?I am housebound, but my befriender is wonderful. She gets all the right things. She cheers me up?

    ?As a single woman without family living near I get quite anxious whenever I get ill, wondering how I?m going to get the prescription, my shopping etc. Knowing that there is a Good Neighbour on my street that I can call if I have to have help gives me real comfort and peace of mind?

    Would Your Community Like to Have a Good Neighbour Scheme?

    Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action is currently running a project Funded by Oxfordshire CC with the aim of supporting local communities to establish new schemes. A limited number of start-up grants are available to allow communities to meet the costs of setting up- buying a mobile phone, public liability cover and publicity material. (These grants will be available on a first-come, first-served basis). For further information please contact Liz on the contact details below.

    Funding to Develop Existing Schemes

    If your village already runs a Good Neighbour Scheme of any kind, grants may be available to help the scheme extend, diversify or develop. Please contact Liz on the number above.

    Establishing a Network of Good Neighbour Schemes.

    Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action is supporting Good Neighbour Schemes by setting up a Network to enable schemes to share good practice, experiences and advice. To join, please contact Liz on the number above, or alternatively send an email.

    Liz Pride on 01865 251946 or email: liz.pride@ocva.org.uk

    Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action
    The Old Court House
    Floyds Row
    St.Aldates
    Oxford
    OX1 1SS

  • Row the Atlantic in five days!

    SOLL Leisure and Fox FM are challenging would-be rowers to beat a world record by covering the distance to row the Atlantic in just five days.
    The current record is 33 days, 7 hours and 30 minutes.

    You can go to Thame Leisure Centre, Oxford Road, Thame, or any one of the Soll Leisure centres, and do your bit on one of the designated static rowing machines.

    Fox FM’s Thunder Crew will be out on the streets getting everyone involved and will be in Thame on Tuesday, September 30. If you help them to break the world record you could win a years membership with Soll Leisure, and everyone that takes part will also receive a FREE 7 day trial.

    The challenge starts from 8am on Monday, September 29, until Friday, October 3.

    Thame Leisure Centre, Oxford Road, Thame. Tel 01844 215607.

  • Advance warning: Crendon Chamber Orchestra

    CRENDON Chamber Orchestra?s first concert of the new season is on Saturday, October 4, and promises to be a very special event – it is their last concert after eight years, with regular conductor, Jonny Williams, and the exciting programme has been chosen by him.

    The orchestra will be joined by brilliant young violinist, Rhys Watkins, who leads several orchestras in Wales and was a finalist in Jeunesses Musicales International Violin Competition in 2006.

    Rhys played with the Crendon orchestra in 2005 and returns to play the wonderful Brahms violin concerto.

    The programme consists of three great classical favourites: Mozart?s Don Giovanni overture, the Brahms violin concerto and Beethoven?s third Symphony (the ?Eroica?).

    Tickets are available from 01844 238478 or from ForeGolf, 10, Buttermarket, Thame.

    The concert starts at 8 pm and the venue is St. Mary’s Church, Thame.

  • More Thame Culture, Leisure & Recreation snippets

    THAME town council is considering several requests for memorial benches, including one in Southern Road Recreation area for a 16 year-old nursery worker and another for the late Mike Gibson, to be placed near Cox’s Wood, in the Cuttlebrook nature reserve.

    Parts of Thame Town Council’s anti-flooding measures are to include flaying the nettles on one side of the Cuttlebrook in the reserve to allow access for dredging, removing some trees close to the water to prevent branches falling off into the water, clearing and then improving the slope down to the ditch behind the properties in Cedar Close that were flooded in June and asking the residents to stop forming their own paths from their gardens to Cuttlebrook which contributed to the flooding.

    The Stones Close allotments (Windmill Road) are to ‘go modern,’ members paying for their allotments 11p per square metre, instead of by the Pole! The town council is to look at clearing backland to form more allotments as there is a waiting list.

    More snippets on Monday.

  • Thame welcomes new vicar at St Mary’s church

    THAME’S new Rector was officially installed yesterday, when the Bishop of Dorchester officiated at his induction in St Mary’s Church, Thame.
    The Mayor of Thame, Don Butler, and representatives from the local schools, Guides, Scouts and Cubs, all welcomed the Rev Alan Garrett, as part of the formal procedure to install him as the new vicar.

    Also present were the Deputy Lord Lieutanant of Oxfordshire, the Bishop of Dorchester,Colin Fletcher, members of Alan’s previous congregation in Haselmere, and those of St Mary’s church itself.

    Alan Garrett and his wife, Trish, have a teenage son still living at home, and two other children in their 30’s who have ‘flown the nest.’

    Alan, who replaces the previous incumbant, Nick Stewart-Lee, is also the Team Rector for eight other local village churches, together with St Mary’s, known as the Thame Team, and leads the prayers at Barley Hill church.

    Photo: The Rev Alan Garrett