Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Letters Oppose New Library Plan

    THE plan to demolish the Pied Pedaller toy shop in Thame, and build a new library, is not supported by everyone in the town and this week, two separate letters have been sent to the ‘powers that be’ expressing objections.

    Thame Cattlemarket Action Group, CMAG, has written to the county council voicing its concerns. The letter, addressed to John Hamilton, Oxfordshire County Council’s Principal Planning Officer, reads:

    “I am writing on behalf of the Thame Cattle Market Action Group regarding the application by the County Council to knock down the existing building in North Street, currently the Pied Pedaller toy shop and replace it with a library.
    From speaking to some of our members and other members of the public we would like to voice the following concerns.
    1. This site is limited in size, as a building with no ?elbow room? either side, it will always have limitation of light. Thame?s population is inevitably going to grow in the next few years as outlined in the SODC core strategy document. As the population increases, it is likely that the town will outgrow the size of this library again. There is also little potential for adaptability to this building to accommodate changes in requirements of a library in future.
    2. There is no parking for this planned library, although it is close to the market place parking, there is very little parking on Tuesdays and often no free spaces all week as shoppers use the market place car park. This will inevitably limit the amount the library will be used.
    3. This plan does not concur with the advice from the National Library guidelines where a library should be part of a mixed use space.
    4. Our concern is that this move will be a short-sighted approach to the problem and thus a lost opportunity to provide an excellent library for Thame.
    5. There is an ideal site on the current livestock market site which we know the farmers mart wish to vacate. This site is owned by SODC and is an ideal site to develop a much needed community centre along side a library such that parking and visitors can be shared as well as running costs. We advocate a combined approach between Oxfordshire County Council and South Oxfordshire District Council to find a way to build a new library that is purpose-built with enough light, good access and its own parking, it would be worth the wait.”

    The Financial Director of ToyZone, which owns the Pied Pedaller, Ed Tilley, told ThameNews.Net today: “This is a very emotive issue in the town and there are a number of people who believe we either have closed or are just about to close. In addition to our original petition containing over 2,000 names, we have received a petition from the children of Barley Hill school containing almost 300 names. I attach a letter from Emma Fotherby, a young customer of the Pied Pedaller which we all found very charming.

    “We have agreed with OCC to extend our lease at the Pied Pedaller. Unfortunately this is only a temporary extension to 30 September with the landlord having the right to break from 30 April. This lease is far from ideal for ourselves and, as previously mentioned, we will lose money if we do not have Xmas trading. However, we believe there is such uncertainty over the whole issue that it would be wrong of us to leave Thame at the expiry of our current lease on 31 January. We continue to believe that the siting of the new library at 3 North Street is not in the best interests of the town. We also believe that any planning permission to change the Pied Pedaller from retail to non retail would be in direct contravention of the SODC planning policy for Thame town centre.”

    Emma’s letter, which is illustrated too, reads:

    “Do not destroy our toy shop because we have all ready got a library down the bottom of North Street. The toy shop is the only one I know of in Thame and the toy shop has everything I can use for buying presents for my friends.”

  • Thame Tennis Club Latest Results

    THAME Tennis Club?s Ladies second team have started 2008 with two consecutive victories ? their first since promotion to Division 4 of the Aylesbury League.
    Away to Horsenden, team captain Rosie Knight was partnered by Ann Green, back in the team after injury. Second pair, Lyn Broadway and Marianne Izatt-Brown, joined them in securing a 4.5 -3.5 sets win.

    In the following match at home to Long Marston, Lyn was this time partnered by Pip Barfield. They took three sets from their opponents, which, added to Rosie?s and Ann?s clean sweep of four sets, gave the team an emphatic 7 sets to 1 victory.

    Ann Green was also in action elsewhere in the Aylesbury League, this time in the Mixed team in Division 4. At home to Aston Park II, Ann and her partner, John Patrick, beat the visitors second pair 6-4,6-2 and had halved the first set against their first pair 6-6. They were 5-3 up in the second set when play was halted.

    Team captain, John Ansell, and Pip Barfield dropped two sets against the opponent?s first pair, but again had halved the first set and were 5-4 up in their second match at the end of play. The final outcome was a 3 sets to 3 draw.

    For information about Thame Tennis Club please go to our website at: www.thametennisclub.org.uk

  • Help To Avoid Burglary In Thame

    THAME POLICE will be offering advice on preventing burglary in Thame next Saturday, February 2.
    A Crime Reduction Roadshow will visit the town Hall, between 10am and 12pm, as part of a month long campaign by police to cut down on burglaries in South Oxfordshire.
    Lesley Nesbitt, local crime reduction advisor, said: “If you have any questions pop in and see us, sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective in keeping yourself, your families, and your home safe and secure. We will have a limited number of ultra violet property marking pens to give away, and will give advice on property marking your bicycles and other items.”

    Lesley will be joined by Neighbourhood Watch administrator, Carol Rudd, and officers from Thame Fire Station, who will give advice on home and personal security, fire prevention and Neighbourhood Watch schemes.

  • Chinnor RFC Scoop Win Against Reading (Contributed)

    Chinnor 1st XV, 25 vs. Redingensians 1st XV, 5 Saturday, January 26, 2008 – South West Division One

    CHINNOR won this hard fought game in the first 20 minutes of the second half. They were just 12 points ahead at the interval having the advantage of the blustery breeze at their backs. Readingensians were proving to be a difficult side to break down. With their ball retention being first rate, they kept the ball in the hand for long periods thus denying Chinnor the possession they needed to utilize the wind. Indeed it was just the one spillage that allowed Chinnor to scoop up the ball and with some swift handling put the ever present Ben Hewitt in for the first try. With Readingensians continuing to deny Chinnor possession,it took a fine, powerful run from Zane Winslade, shrugging off several tackles in the process, to break the deadlock and score under the posts allowing James Cathcart a simple conversion. This try came in the 32nd minute and with no further score gave Chinnor a 12 point buffer at half-time.

    With all to play for in the second period, Chinnor upped their game. They adopted the pick-up and drive tactic which was rewarded when after an initial forward surge they released quick ball to allow Ben Hewitt to show his side-stepping skills and score a well worked try. With Cathcart adding the conversion into the wind, the Chhnnor faithful could breathe more easily. MInutes later, skipper ,Grizz McQuire, went over from a rolling maul and Chinnor were 24 points to the good.

    Readingensians continued to persevere and were rewarded when Joe Duffelen scored in the corner three minutes from time. This was a workmanlike performance from Chinnor who stuck to the basics and raised their game when it was required.

  • Chinnor Seconds Coast Past North Walsham

    Chinnor 2nd XV, 64 vs. North Walsham 2nd XV, 5 – Saturday, January 26 – League match:

    CHINNOR Seconds hit top gear on Saturday, with a 64 points to 5 win over North Walsham, the team that is three positions above them in the Canterbury League Division 2.
    North Walsham 1st team are a national 3 side and Chinnor 2nds played this game with such focus and discipline. It must be said that North Walsham played better than the score indicates and never gave up and kept coming back at Chinnor. Everything that Chinnor did turned to gold and the understanding between forwards and backs was a pleasure to watch.

    Matt Hutchins, captain of the first team, had his first game of rugby in six weeks played for the seconds to get back to match fitness and was a great help to the team and the boys learnt a lot from him.
    Chinnor put the first points on the board after six minutes, scored by Matt Webster converted by Tim Sutton. But North Walsham pulled five points back only four minutes later. Chinnor did not let up and in a 10 minute spree Tristen Corpe ran in two tries and Bob Baker one, both players from the Chinnor Academy. This really shocked North Walsham. From then on the game was evenly balanced with both teams playing great rugby. On the stroke of half time Chinnor went further ahead with a try by Ian Stock and the first half finished with 5 tries and 3 conversions, against 1 try giving Chinnor 31 points to 5.

    The second half was a carbon copy of the first, with Baker going over for his second try in the fifth minute followed five minutes later with Corpe scoring his 3rd with an individual run from his own 10 meter line through the entire North Walsham team. The next 20 minutes resulted in attack and defence by both teams, with both teams playing good open rugby and thoroughly appreciated by the spectators.
    The last 10 minutes Chinnor went on another try scoring spree with tries by Phil Scott Priestly, Tim Price and Tim Sutton, two being converted successfully and Chinnor scored 33 points to nil in the second half.

    The game ended well with Chinnor deserving winners by 64 points to 5.
    Any of the 17 players were contenders for man of the match but the one that stood out a little more than the others was Tom Iles for his relentless work and is man of the match for this week.

    The North Walsham team captain paid Chinnor the biggest compliment, saying that if they had not known differently, they would have believed that they were playing the Chinnor 1st team.

    Scorers:
    Tries: Tristen Corpe (3), Bob Baker (2), Ian Stock, Matt Webster, Tim Sutton, Tim Price, Phil Scott-Priestley

    Photo: Tristen Corpe on his way to scoring a try

  • Goalless Draw For Unlucky Thame United (Contributed)

    LEAGUE: 26/01/08; Thame United 0,Finchampstead 0

    DESPITE winning 0-4 the last time these teams met, Thame United could only manage a goalless draw with lowly Finchampstead last Saturday. It was Thame?s first game for three weeks and it showed. They were without leading goal scorer, Nathan Jack, whose leg injury is likely to keep him out for several weeks.

    Thame dominated the game from kick off and in fact the game was 15 minutes old before the visitors launched their first attack. But, despite having two thirds of the possession, they were unable to create many goal scoring chances. Thame almost conceded an own goal after 23 minutes when both goalkeeper, Paul Searl, and defender Matt Higgs went for a ball on the edge of the Thame area. In the confusion Higgs lobbed his own goalkeeper and the ball was goal bound but Dave Hocking reacted quickly and was just able to clear it before it crossed the line.

    A few minutes later Higgs was unlucky when he met a corner with a good header which was cleared of the visitor?s goal line. About five minutes before the break, Thame defender Hocking was injured during a scramble following another Thame corner and sadly left the field with a suspected fractured arm.

    Thame came close to scoring with the last kick of the first half when the impressive Luke Ricketts took a free kick about 25 yards out. The ball was heading for the top right hand corner but the visiting Keeper did well to get his finger tips to it and deflect the ball over the bar.

    The second half was much the same with Thame dominating the game but not able to penetrate the visitors defence. Manager, Mark West, made substitutions to enable Rickets and Graeme Catkin to play as strikers, but it was to no avail. The visitors packed their defence and managed to hang on until the final whistle.

    For Thame this was definitely two points dropped rather than a point won. It is a measure of their superiority that they forced 16 corners against the visitors 1.

    Thame United: Searl, Thompson, Ansell, Higgs, Hocking (Watkins), Catlin, Connelly, Rhodes, Skiller (Graves), Leach (Miah), Ricketts.

    THAME UNITED are at home to local rivals Chinnor next Saturday 2nd Feb.(K.O. 3.00)

  • Ex District Council Leader to Stand For Henley Constituency

    DISTRICT Councillor, Sue Cooper, has been selected by the Liberal Democrats to stand in the next Parliamentary Election to fight Boris Johnson’s Henley seat (He of course, may not be standing himself if elected Mayor or London).
    Sue Cooper has lived in the constituency for 33 years, where she has brought up her six children. She has been active in many local organisations in Benson and Ewelme, including the Benson Area Playscheme and is Vice-Chairman of the Governors of Benson School.
    She has been a Liberal Democrat Councillor for Benson and Ewelme on South Oxfordshire District Council for 17 years, including spells as Chairman of the Council, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and a member of the Council?s Cabinet. She was actively involved in the introduction of green recycling boxes to South Oxfordshire, and chaired the County Waste
    Management Group for some years.

    Sue said: ?I am delighted to have been selected to fight the next parliamentary election on behalf of the Liberal Democrats. With my experience of and commitment to southern Oxfordshire, I believe that I have the ability to take on Boris Johnson, who is clearly much more interested in London politics than in the problems of his rural constituents.?

    Philip Allison, Chair of Henley Constituency Liberal Democrats, said: ?Sue Cooper will be an excellent Parliamentary Candidate and MP. She has the energy and commitment to make a real difference in this area, continuing the excellent work she has done as a District Councillor. I am looking forward to working with her to increase our vote very significantly at the next election. With such an excellent candidate and a new leader of the national party, the Liberal Democrats are poised to make a big breakthrough in this area.?

  • Chinnor Land Mark Demolished – Watch Video

    THE Chinnor Cement Works chimney, which dominated the skyline of the village for many years, was today demolished to make way for a new development.
    Watch the great chimney’s final seconds via this LINK TO YouTube

    The cement works at Chinnor closed in 1999 and the site is currently owned by Taylor Woodrow. They submitted a plan to develop the site to South Oxfordshire District Council (which included provision for between 150 ? 190 new homes), but later withdrew the application.
    A planning brief produced by the district council includes a proviso for any development to include recreation facilities and Conservation projects in the water-filled quarries.

    Photo: Courtesy of www.28dayslater.co.uk

  • Tribute To Craig Jarvis

    THE family of Craig Jarvis, who died after a collision on the A4012, Howland Road, Thame, eleven days ago (17/01), has issued the following tribute:
    “Craig was born on January 01, 1981 in High Wycombe. He lived most of his life with his family in Chinnor, Oxfordshire, and trained as a motor technician. During his final period of employment he was at his happiest, working at a local, major motor franchise.

    “In his earlier years Craig enjoyed playing ice hockey and trained in Tae-Kwondo. In his later years, he enjoyed playing the guitar, listening to rock bands and supporting Manchester United. Craig was a kind, caring and gentle man, who was devoted to his family and his girlfriend of nine years. He is fondly remembered by many neighbours and friends who are left with memories of this kind and gentle nature, and his eagerness to help wherever and whenever he was able.

    “Craig leaves a family who are devastated by their loss and will be dearly missed for his funny and charming sense of humour.”

    Craig’s funeral will be held on Friday, February 1.

  • Guilty Verdict For Thame School Arsonist

    A MAN accused of deliberately starting a fire that destroyed part of Lord Williams’s School in Thame, has been found guilty by a jury at Oxford Crown Court this afternoon.
    Craig Ford, aged 23, whose last known address was Seven Acres, Thame, held his head in his hands as the jury foreman announced the majority Guilty verdict by 10 votes to 2.
    Ford, who denied starting the fire last June, blaming another man, will re-appear before the court on February 25, following pre-sentencing reports, to learn the duration of what will be a custodial sentence.

    Photo: The remains of the drama studio at Lord Williams’s school, the day after the fire. The building was declared unsafe and had to be demolished.