Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Crime Down In The District

    LATEST figures show that crime has fallen by over 8% in South Oxfordshire over the past year.
    Supt Andy Murray said: ?It is no coincidence that whilst crime overall is steadily falling, the detection rate continues to rise.
    ?We have seen a large reduction of 29% in the number of burglaries committed between 1 April 2007 and 31 December 2007, compared to the same period the year before. The roll out of neighbourhood policing across South Oxfordshire has helped reduce the levels of criminal damage in the area. There have been 140 less offences of criminal damage compared to last year which is a reduction nine per cent.
    ?At a local level the roll out of neighbourhood policing means there is an increased visibility of police and police community support officers and they are tackling the problems identified as being of most concern. The dedicated neighbourhood teams across South Oxfordshire are available to react and respond to the needs of the community and address local issues of concern such as criminal damage.?

    There are also decreases in theft from a vehicle (10 %) and a 34 % reduction in vehicle interference.

    Supt Murray continued: ?It?s also pleasing to note that burglary and car crime continues to fall but there is still a lot more we can do. Working in partnership with other agencies we will concentrate on those people who persistently cause the most problems. We will do all we can to divert them away from crime but if they will not take the hint then we will invite the courts to remove them from our community until they learn how to behave.?

    Photo: Mounted police offices patrolling Thame recently.

  • Chiltern Raid To Be Run By Germans

    THE ownership of Chiltern Railways, which runs services in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, is to be taken over by the German operator Deutsche Bahn.
    See full story.

  • Safe home sought for historical Thame documents

    THAME museum and the town council are to investigate where best to keep a set of documents containing the results of the Inclosure Acts, an important part of Thame’s history.
    The documents, restored in 1984, are currently kept in a sealed, metal box in the town hall, but the museum would like to take custody of them on a long-term loan basis.
    However, at a meeting of the town council’ls Policy and Resources committee on Tuesday (15/01), the Chairman, Cllr David Dodds said that he was not satisfied that the museum currently had anywhere suitable to display and keep the box.
    “If the museum could guarantee the appropriate conditions in which these historic documents could be kept in the future, we will consider it,” he said.

    NB The Inclosure Acts were a number of United Kingdom Acts of Parliament dating from the 12th century, which inclosed open fields in the country. The Acts removed the rights that people once held, to graze animals on the areas ‘inclosed’ when not planted by crops.

    For more information about this subject, see Wikepedia
     article.

  • Learn something new in 2008 (status: Press release)

    HUNDREDS of adult learning courses run by Oxfordshire County Council have been launched for the spring and summer, offering local people the opportunity to take on a new challenge in 2008.
    Courses range from DIY garden design and Egyptian dance to internet safety and foreign languages.

    One adult learner, Mario Coelho, is now working as a storyboard illustrator for a movie director after attending a course run by the well known illustrator Korky Paul.

    Localised brochures

    In response to feedback, localised brochures have been launched this year, setting out what is going on across the county. Also new is a brochure of countywide tasters and weekend workshops that are ideal for people who are short of time.

    Jim Couchman, Oxfordshire County Council?s cabinet member for social and community services, said: ?Many of our learners tell us that our adult learning courses have made a difference to their lives.

    ?Some have talked about how much their confidence and skills have improved, or how they have made friends.

    “We are pleased to offer this great service, which can help enhance leisure time or give people a new direction in their career.”

    For more information, a brochure, or to enrol, call
    0845 351 0646 or visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/adultlearning
    Alternatively pick up a brochure from your local library or adult learning centre.

  • ‘Death knell for Thame Cattllemarket’

    DISTRICT councillors have sounded the ‘death knell’ for two of Thame’s oldest institutions, according to a local developer whose plans to build a larger, modern cattlemarket on Thame show ground was turned down this week.
    Bob Williams told ThameNews.Net today: “Wednesday was a very sad day for both the Cattlemarket and The Thame Show. I would have thought that the changes we had made to this, our third application, would have had more support.
    “Thame cattlmarket is not sustainable where it is and Thame Show is struggling – it lost

  • Fatal Collision appeal

    THE Police are appealing for information following a fatal collision yesterday (17/1) on the A4012, Howland Road, in Thame.
    At around 10.45pm, a red Volkswagen Golf was travelling from Long Crendon towards Chinnor when it collided with a steel lighting pole, a wooden post and some metal fencing.
    The driver, a 27-year-old man from Chinnor, was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts to recucsitate him.

    Sgt Chris Simpson, based at Aylesbury police station said: ?The road was closed while police examined the scene.
    ?There may have been people that could have witnessed the incident, or seen the car before the collision and I urge anyone with any information to contact me.?

    Anyone with information can contact Sgt Simpson 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.

  • 2 Free Months Membership At Thame Leisure Centre

    ALL this month (January) SOLL Leisure is offering health club membership with no Joining Fee and a genuine 14 day money back guarantee.
    They are also offering 2 months free on selected memberships. For more details ring Thame Leisure Centre on 01844 215607.

  • Thame Cattlemarket Move Rejected

    DISTRICT council planners have rejected the latest proposal to move Thame cattlemarket to a new, edge of town site.
    Following an 8 to 6 vote against the plan at a meeting of South Oxfordshire District Council’s Planning committee last night (16/01), Cllr John Tanner said today that, whilst councillors were sympathetic to the need for the cattlemarket to move, they want to consult on other possible alternative sites. He admitted that the district council itself had been slow to look at other sites and promised that they would come to some conclusions within the next few months.

    MORE INFORMATION: Put ‘cattlemarket’ in the Search box on ThameNews.Net’s Home page, to see all the background news stories relating to Thame cattlemarket including links to the Planning appication details.

  • ?Pull your finger out? Oxfordshire fire chiefs tell residents

    OXFORDSHIRE fire chiefs are saying ?Pull your finger out? in a bid to get residents to check their smoke alarms as part of a government campaign launched this week.
    According to new survey results from the government, 94 per cent of Oxfordshire?s households have a smoke alarm, however, 83 per cent of those do not test their alarm often enough, risking the safety of homes and loved ones.

    Fire kills

    Latest statistics show that on average, there are 394 accidental house fires in Oxfordshire each year, injuring 95 and killing four people. People who don?t own a working smoke alarm are twice as likely to die in a fire2. That is why Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service is supporting Government’s Fire Kills Campaign: ?Pull your finger out?.

    Fire Risk Manager Mike Bingham said: ?Despite the fact that a high number of people in Oxfordshire own a smoke alarm, a disturbing number do not maintain their alarms on a weekly basis.

    ?The message is simple ? smoke alarms save lives, but only if they work! We?re urging all Oxfordshire residents to pull their fingers out and test their smoke alarms ? this simple action could save the lives of their loved ones.?

    Television adverts

    A new wave of TV advertising is accompanying the campaign. Fronted by actress Julie Walters, the advert highlights the devastating and potentially fatal consequences of not testing your alarm often enough. Running from 15 January to 9 March, the advert shows the aftermath of a fire in the home with a burnt out kitchen providing the backdrop to the scene.

    Apathy seems to be the main reason that people from Oxfordshire do not test their smoke alarms, with many people attributing forgetfulness, being too busy or just simply ?can?t be bothered? to do an action that only takes a few seconds, but could potentially save their lives.

    Fire safety tips

    Ensuring you stay safe from fire is quick and simple. Fire Risk Manager Mike Bingham has provided five essential fire safety tips to help you protect yourself, your family and your home from fire:

    Step 1 – Fit a smoke alarm on each level of the property. When a fire starts, you only have a few minutes to escape so an early warning is vital. Make sure you replace battery operated smoke alarm units after 10 years. Alternatively, consider installing a 10-year battery smoke alarm or mains powered alarm.

    Step 2 – Test it weekly. A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and dial 999.

    Step 3 – Plan your escape route. Make sure you and your family know the quickest way out in the event of fire. Consider an alternative route in case your usual one is blocked.

    Step 4 ? Stay safe in the kitchen. This is the area where most house fires start. It only takes a minute to check electrical appliances are switched off. Also, never
    leave cooking unattended.

    Step 5 ? Ask the experts. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service offers free home fire risk checks to identify potential fire risks and advise what to do to reduce or prevent them. To find out more, contact the Risk Reduction Team on 08000 325 999 or visit www.fire.gov.uk

    1 Survey conducted via TNS Omnibus on behalf of the Fire Kills campaign amongst a nationally representative sample (1747) of adults aged 16+ in England, from November 2 – 6, 2007.

    2 Source: Communities and Local Government Fire Statistics 1996-2006.

  • Thame Choir To Sing In Carnegie Hall

    A GROUP of singers from Lord Williams’s Festival Chorus will be singing in Carnegie Hall this coming Monday night (Jan 21).
    The group will be joined by a choir from Salisbury (UK), Australia, Canada, America, South Africa and a children’s choir, to sing The Armed Man, composed by Karl Jenkins.