Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Local election victory for Thame Tories

    AFTER the tension and excitement of yesterday’s local by-election, Thame’s two new town councillors woke up this morning to the reality of their new responsibilities.
    The turn out was 27.14%, slightly down on the last local election, and Cliff Baker, who gained most of the 1,173 votes (578), seemed particularly surprised at his victory.
    After the announcement by the Assistant Returning Officer that he and his fellow Conservative, Mike Welply, had been elected, Cliff Baker said: “What’s really come through in this election is that everyone involved really cares about our special town which has a real heart to it.
    “I am proud and humbled to have been elected and promise to work hard for all constituents. I promise to listen to everyone of all persuations and work to maintain and develop our special town.”

    Cllr Mike Welply has been both a town and a district councillor before, as well as Mayor of Thame, losing his district council seat to Richard Walker at the last local election.

    Although Richard Walker stepped down from the Town Council after his wife, Claire, became illegible to continue as a town councillor, he continues as a district councillor.

    This is Cliff Baker’s first sortie into local politics.

    Photo: Left: Mike Welply, Right: Clifford Baker

  • Thame Town Council planning decisions 08/07/08

    8490
    P08/E0646 17 WEBSTER CLOSE
    Replacement of single storey rear extension.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8491
    P08/E0604/RET
    (Retrospective) 14a CROFT ROAD
    To incorporate rear parking space into garden of 14a Croft Road.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8492
    P08/E0618 WAVERTREE HOUSE, 18 HIGH STREET
    Change of use from offices to residential.
    Correspondence was received and noted from the Thame Conservation
    Area Advisory Committee.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8493
    P08/E0619/LB
    (Listed Building) WAVERTREE HOUSE, 18 HIGH STREET
    Change of use from offices to residential.
    Correspondence was received and noted from the Thame Conservation
    Area Advisory Committee.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8494
    P08/E0655/LD
    (Lawful Development) 79 COOMBE HILL CRESCENT
    Certificate of lawful development for proposed single storey rear
    extension and loft conversion.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8495
    P08/E0700 PARK MEADOW FARM, THAME PARK ROAD
    Alterations and change of use of barn to light industrial and provision
    of parking.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

  • Let’s count our blessings Thame!

    THAMENEWS.NET would not usually publish a letter in the main news section, but the following is so harrowing and compelling that its contents put our own, local problems into sharp perspective.
    Letter from Zimbabwe sent in by John Winter.

    “I reckon that these are the last days of TKM and ZPF. The darkest hour is always before dawn.

    “We are all terrified at what they are going to destroy next……..I mean they are actually ploughing down brick and mortar houses and one white family with twin boys of 10 had no chance of salvaging anything when100 riot police came in with AK47’s and bulldozers and demolished their beautiful house – 5 bedrooms and pine ceilings – because it was “too close to the airport”, so we are feeling extremely insecure right now.

    “You know – I am aware that this does not help you sleep at night, but if you do not know – how can you help? Even if you put us in your own mental ring of light and send your guardian angels to be with us – that is a help – but I feel so cut off from you all knowing I cannot tell you what’s going on here simply because you will feel uncomfortable. There is no ways we can leave here so that is not an option.

    “I ask that you all pray for us in the way that you know how, and let me know that you are thinking of us and sending out positive vibes… that’s all. You can’t just be in denial and pretend/believe it’s not going on.

    “To be frank with you, it’s genocide in the making and if you do not believe me, read the Genocide Report by Amnesty International which says we are – IN level 7 – (level 8 is after it’s happened and everyone is in denial).

    “If you don’t want me to tell you these things – how bad it is – then it means you have not dealt with your own fear, but it does not help me to think you are turning your back on our situation. We need you, please, to get the news OUT that we are all in a fearfully dangerous situation here. Too many people turn their backs and say – oh well, that’s what happens in Africa. This Government has GONE MAD and you need to help us publicize our plight— or how can we be rescued? It’s a reality! The petrol queues are a reality, the pall of smoke all around our city is a reality, the thousands of homeless people sleeping outside in 0 Celsius with no food, water, shelter and bedding are a reality. Today a family approached me, brother of the gardener’s wife with two small children. Their home was trashed and they will have to sleep outside. We already support 8 adult people and a child on this property, and electricity is going up next month by 250% as is water.

    “How can I take on another family of 4 —–and yet how can I turn them away to sleep out in the open?

    “I am not asking you for money or a ticket out of here – I am asking you to FACE the fact that we are in deep and terrible danger and want you please to pass on our news and pictures. So PLEASE don’t just press the delete button! Help best in the way that you know how.

    “Do face the reality of what is going on here and help us SEND OUT THE WORD.. The more people who know about it, the more chance we have of the United Nations coming to our aid. Please don’t ignore or deny what’s happening. Some would like to be protected from the truth BUT then, if we are eliminated, how would you feel? “If only we knew how bad it really was we could have helped in some way”.

    (I know we chose to stay here and that some feel we deserve what’s coming to us.)

    “For now, we ourselves have food, shelter, a little fuel and a bit of money for the next meal – but what is going to happen next? Will they start on our houses? All property is going to belong to the State now. I want to send out my Title Deeds to one of you because if they get a hold of those, I can’t fight for my rights.

    Censorship!—-We no longer have SW radio (which told us everything that was happening) because the Government jammed it out of existence. We don’t have any reporters and no one is allowed to photograph. If we had reporters here, they would have an absolute field day. Even the pro-Government Herald has written that people are shocked, stunned, bewildered and blown mindless by the wanton destruction of many folks’ homes, which are supposed to be ‘illegal’ but for which a huge percentage actually do have licenses.

    Please! – do have some compassion and HELP by sending out the articles and personal reports so that something can/may be done. “I am one. I cannot do everything, —but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do.” – Edward Everett Hale

  • Thame and Chinnor get Community Investment cash

    THAME and Chinnor have both done well out the latest cash awards from South Oxfordshire District Council’s Community Investment Fund – including Thame Girl Guides, and Thame Town Council for the refurbishement of the Southern Road recreation ground.
    The Cabinet approved the following awards at their meeting on Tuesday (08/07):

    Thame Girl Guides – 59.92 per cent of the

  • Warning over ‘vamoose’ burglaries

    THIS is a Ringmaster message from Thames Valley Police.
    “There is a rise in the number of reported burglaries and vamoose burglaries (where offender(s) gain entry to steal keys) then steal the vehicles from the driveway, in large remote properties.
    Recent incidents have occurred in Nuffield, Ipsden and Beckley, in the Henley and Thame areas.
    Because of the locations of the properties being remote, some owners have a tendancy to leave their cars unlocked and even leave keys in their ignitions.

    “Advice is to Lock your cars and take the keys inside the house. Do not leave keys in view or where they can be easily found and ensure that all doors and windows are shut and locked overnight especially on the ground floor.

    “Please report any suspicious vehicles or unusual callers to your home to the police on 08458 505 505 and where possible record the make, model and
    registration numbers of vehicles as well as any descriptions of people calling.”
    End of Message

  • Warning to Wheatley parents

    WHEATLEY PCSO, Ken Cooney, has issued the following warning to the parents of pupils of Wheatley Primary school and John Watson school:
    “It has been brought to the attention of the Neighbourhood Action Group and the neighbourhood policing team that people are parking on the zig-zag lines outside Wheatley Primary School and the John Watson School. This is while they are dropping off and collecting their children from school and some drivers are also using the entrance of the John Watson School to turn around.
    “I would like to remind motorists that inconsiderate parking can be dangerous and a bad example to students who could be learning to driven themselves.

    “The purpose of the zig-zag lines and other road markings are to prevent people parking in such a way as to cause an obstruction or interfere with a driver?s or pedestrian?s visibility near the school. We would ask that drivers obey the road markings and do not park on the zig-zags or use the school entrance as a turn around point. Local officers will be monitoring the situation and will deal with drivers appropriately.”

  • Coach trip to Gala Concert at Cadogan Hall, London

    THE people of Thame are being offered the opportunity to attend the second concert in support of ‘Two Moors Festival,’ at the Cadogan Hall in London, and to travel there in comfort and leave the car at home.

    The concert will be taking place on Wednesday, September 17, at 7.30 pm and a coach will run from Thame and Watlington. Those who went to the first in 2006 will recall an evening of great music and great fun. The main festival happens in October, when classical music is played in the churches across Exmoor and Dartmoor by very gifted up and coming young musicians. This London event is a showcase for some of the regular performers who give their time and talents for the occasion, helping to raise funds for the main festival.

    The programme is varied, ranging from Hummel to Ivor Novello, from Saint-Sa

  • Open Gardens in Lea Park

    THAME District Guiding Association, in partnership with Lea Park Residents Association, have organised an open gardens afternoon.
    Twenty back gardens in Lea Park will be opening their gates to view from 2pm until 5pm on Sunday, July 13. All are tended by the homeowners, most of whom have the challenge of children and/or pets.

    The tour of the gardens will start in the cattle market car park, where a ticket with a map can be purchased before ambling through the route at your own pace.

    At the end of the trail, there will be tea and a cake available which is included in the price of the ticket.

    This event is a fundraiser for Thame District Guiding and all proceeds will be going towards the New Headquarters in Southern Road.

    Further details are available by ringing 01844214386

  • Thame voters have their say – By Annie Mirza , Work experience reporter

    THE day has arrived for the Thame local by-election and as voters left the town hall polling station, we asked them what they were looking for in their councillors and what influenced their choice of candidates. We also discovered a variety of issues in Thame that influenced their decisions.
    A few admitted that they voted along party lines; others said it was the fact that the candidates were “good people”, and some said they voted on the issues the candidates raised. Some of these issues were to do with the Green Belt, facilities for the town’s youth and those for the elderly.

    One woman spoke about how the candidate she voted for was raising good ideas about the environment. She said that this was very important because of what is happening globally.

    One mother spoke about how she was very pleased with the high standard of schools in Thame, and that she was very happy with the fact that the playgrounds were being improved. But she did say that she had future concerns because, as she put it: ?the older kids don?t have much to do?. Others also mentioned the fact that teenagers did not have any place to go and that there are very few facilities in Thame for them. One man said there was nothing to keep them occupied like dancing and cinemas and that this should be thought about by the councillors that are elected as it affects quite a lot of young people in Thame.

    However, one lady said that she did not have any concerns and that she was ?happy with the way things are, and they should keep on like this.? Another voter said that he thought the ?social adhesion of Thame is pretty good?. Yet, he did mention that the state of the roads in Thame should be thought about; ?there is a pothole right outside the Town Hall that could throw a cyclist of his bike,? he added.

    A couple agreed that the issues their candidates raised were good but that transport for the elderly did raise concerns to them. They said that they thought: ?There should be more disabled parking because there isn?t enough and there are many people in Thame who suffer from problems that can be eased with access to spaces for them?. They also mentioned the fact that they thought the ?Pied Peddler building is very unsuitable for a new library?.

    A cross section of Thame residents has expressed its views or concerns about what is going on in the town, be it the environment or people. After the polls have closed at 10 o’clock tonight, the count will begin and by around midnight tonight we shall know who has reached victory.

    ThameNews.Net will have the full results by breakfast time tomorrow. So watch this space!

  • Thame by-election candidates present their priorities

    WITH only one more day to go before voting begins in the Thame South Ward by-election, ThameNews.Net asked all the candidates what their two main priorities would be, should they be elected to Thame Town Council.
    Clifford Baker, who is standing as a Conservative candidate, said: ?My first priority would be to try to understand what services and facilities will be needed to be provided by the new library, to meet the needs of everyone in the town and to ensure that we get a building that does not ?cut across? the character of the town.
    ?Secondly, I will support all the groups and centres in town for the elderly and the disabled.?

    Margaret Bretherton, who is standing as a Lib Dem candidate, said: ?My main priority will be to work towards the provision of a much-needed cycle path between Thame and Haddenham.
    ?Secondly, I will work to get the right sort of development for Thame, on the Cattlemarket site in North Street.

    Andrew Gunn and Mary Stiles, the two Labour candidates were unavailable at the time of going to press but according to their election literature, ?They would like the Town Council to be more active in the formation of working groups as a source of ideas for the town, and to be more positive in collaborating with groups already in existence. This way local people can be more fully involved in future developments.
    ?They want the Town Council to open up its meetings by providing 15 – 20 mins at the end of each meeting for public questions.?

    Hussein Mirza, Liberal Democrat candidate, said: ?I would like to fight for more facilities for the young people of Thame, outside school hours ? activities that provide a life balance against exercises in maths, English etc ? exercises that promote enjoyment of life and help keep them physically fit and encourage healthy eating and other positive life-style choices. In other words, to help young people become balanced citizens.
    ?Secondly, I believe there should be facilities in the new library, in the swimming pool etc for middle-aged and elderly people particularly, to encourage them to get out and about, away from their homes so that they feel connected and not locked in their homes.?

    Michael Welply, who is standing as a Conservative candidate, said: ?If elected, my major priority would be to robustly and rigorously lobby the district council to fund, design and develop a new community facility on the cattlemarket site, somewhere for all the groups in Thame, like the U3A, to meet and flourish ? something that, working together with 21st Century Thame, the county council, and all stakeholders, with all our ?shoulders to the wheel,? produce something we can all be proud of and which will be the ?Taj Mahal? of South Oxfordshire!
    ? Secondly, I will work tirelessly to enhance Thame?s retail sector without which the town will die.?

    The election is tomorrow, Thursday, July 10.