Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Oxon’s Millenium Closes With ‘Winter Light’

    OXFORDSHIRE’S millennium will close with a flourish in five county towns at the end of the year. Winter Light ? a series of colourful finale events ? will bring the curtain down on a special year which has highlighted the county?s rich creative life with new festivals and collaborations, from Luminox (a spectacular light and fire spectacle in Oxford?s historic Broad Street) to the Children?s Food Festival and Alice?s Day.
    Winter Light continues the theme of light, fire and spectacle which has run throughout Oxfordshire in 2007. Son et lumiere, fire pictures and giant illuminated cones will create a magical atmosphere to light up the festive season.
    Link
     to the Winter Lights programme of events

    Symphonie Conique in Chipping Norton and Henley

    Centrepiece of the celebrations will be Symphonie Conique, a magical forest of spires – some of them up to 40 feet high ? which change colour and also respond to people around them with different sounds. A soundtrack unique to Oxfordshire has been created, which includes bells, horses? hooves and even the Friday night chip shop!
    Symphonie Conique, which is produced by French company, Airvag and has travelled around the world, will make an appearance in Chipping Norton on December 6 (creating an echo of the ancient Rollright Stones on the Common), Henley (reflecting in the water and on one thousand years of history by the riverside) and Oxford (Broad Street) on December 7. All ten cones will then be reunited in Oxford for one magical showing.

    Symphonie Conique will add a millennium dimension to the Christmas lights switch-on and festive celebrations in Chipping Norton and Henley. In Chipping Norton, a candlelight procession to the Common is part of an evening which also includes late-night shopping (until 9pm), stalls, roundabouts and rides, a Christmas bazaar in the Town Hall and a pig roast. In Henley, traditional celebrations also include late-night shopping, plus carol singing round Christmas tree in the town square.

    Oxford: White Night

    In Oxford, Symphonie Conique will be part of White Night, when the city?s galleries, theatres, museums and open spaces host a special late-night evening of art, music, dance and performance. White Night is a popular event in many cities across Europe and the county?s millennium closing event will create a similar festive idea for Oxfordshire and a link with its European neighbours.
    White Night will include a chance to meet the Tudors at the Museum of Oxford; a ghost fest and ice sculptures at Oxford Castle; Nightfair before Christmas, a live art fair and entertainment in Gloucester Green produced by OVADA gallery; flambeaux, harpsicord and carols at the Ashmolean Museum; music in the foyer at Oxford Playhouse and late-night cabaret at the Burton Taylor theatre; the Pitt Rivers and Natural History Museum by torchlight plus community choirs and musicians; slam poetry at the Museum of the History of Science; and guided tours of Modern Art Oxford?s current exhibitions with refreshments, music and conversation (with the Oxford Muse) in the caf

  • Police Fun Day Success

    A THAME Neighbourhood policing team fun day, held last Saturday, October 13, raised much-needed funds to help replenish props destroyed in the recent arson attack on Lord Williams’s school drama studio.
    Visotors of all ages to Thame police Station were able to have their fingerprints taken, sit in a fire engine and a police car, and sit on a police motor bike. St Johns ambulance were on hand to recruit volunteers as well and the Local Crime Reduction Advisor was also there to give advice on personal and home safety and security. Other side shows and stalls were run by volunteers from the community.

    During the afternoon there was an ongoing public consultation to gauge priorities and concerns and visitors were asked to fill out short questionnaires. The results of these will be passed onto the Neighbourhood Team and Neighbourhood Action Group for Thame, Chinnor and Watlington areas.

    The afternoon raised

  • Thame Livestock Market Back In Business!

    LIVESTOCK MARKETS at Thame will return to normal this Friday, October 26.
    This welcome news for Thame Farmers Auction Mart Ltd, which runs Thame cattlemarket, comes afer the government has reduced the Foot and Mouth High Risk Zone, allows for the movement of livestock in our area.

  • Thame Children Consulted Over Southern Road Rec

    AFTER two Thame mums asked the town council to do something to improve the much run-down, Southern Road Recreation Area, the town council?s appointed Project Officer, Adam Barnes, has been gathering information from local school children about what they would like in the area.
    In a recent informal, email update, Adam said:”Having spent the best part of a month collecting all the data from the schools of Thame (I visited all three primary schools and part of three year groups from Lord Williams), I have spent the last few days putting the data into graph and spreadsheet form for analysis so that I can give a presentation to the children showing them what they chose etc.
    “This data will be used to draw up the specification for the tender that will be sent out just before or after Christmas.
    “The next stage for us now is to identify and start applying to the various funding opportunities available for the play area redevelopment. We will, at the same time, be doing some site visits to various parks and play areas around the local area to get some ideas of what does and does not work. I have already been to Marlow and Wheatley and Chinnor will soon follow.”
    Linda and Adam thanked you all the people who left comments at the consultation meetings and say that the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

    Regarding Thame Guide HQ, Linda Newton,who is the District Commissioner for Thame Guiding, has reported the following:
    ?THE new Girlguiding Headquarters project is also gaining pace. The wealth of supportive comments given at the consultation sessions were fantastic. I have read and considered all the feedback given and would like to thank all the people who left comments at the meetings.
    ?I understand the need to address issues such as car parking, child safety and access for all: these will be addressed as part of the new Guide HQ.
    ?The next stage is the planning process and this will start shortly. This involves a planning application to South Oxfordshire District Council which will be considered both in Wallingford (SODC) and Thame.
    ?Whilst that is going on, the building team will continue to look at the best way forward in terms of design of the building, from both a materials and sustainability point of view. one important aspect will be to try and incorporate as many environmentally friendly aspects as possible.
    ?The new Guide HQ is an important community facility that needs to support the continued growth of Girlguiding in Thame.?
    Linda and Adam are both keen to point out the following:
    “Anything we say here is merely to keep people informed and as such we cannot commit to definite details on all subjects. Thank you all for the on-going support and we look forward to hearing from you.

  • Thame Pedestrian In Fatal Collision With Car

    A THAME man in his Twenties was pronounced dead at the scene, after apparently being hit by a car near the M40 Services on the A418, near junction 8a.
    Police officers were called to the scene at 8.25pm, on Saturday evening, where it appeared that the man had been walking along the road, when he was struck by a Peugeot 206. The woman driver was treated for shock.
    The A418 was closed for five hours to allow officers from the Collision Investigation Unit to examine the scene.
    The man?s next of kin have been informed.

    Anyone who witnessed the collision or saw the man walking in the area and have not yet contacted the police are urged to call PC James Holstead at Bicester Roads Policing via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

    If you don?t want to talk to police and don?t want to leave your name, call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

  • Long Crendon Death Crash Driver’s Sentence Criticised

    THE family of a woman killed by a speeding driver from Long Crendon, has criticised the sentence handed out to the man by a judge. See LINK

  • Fifth Lowest Number Of Sex Offenders In Thames Valley (Press Release)

    THE Thames Valley Police area has the fifth lowest number of Registered Sex Offenders in England and Wales, according to figures released today.
    Local figures released today (22/10) show that the Thames Valley has the fifth lowest number of registered sex offenders per 100,000 people in England and Wales.

    Publication of the sixth Thames Valley MAPPA report ? Multi-Agency Public Protection Agreements ? show that there were 982 registered sex offenders in the Thames Valley, which equates to 46 per 100,000 people in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, up to 31 March this year. The national average is 57.45.

    The figures are broken down into the five Basic Command Units (BCUs) and are as follows:

    Oxfordshire 323 (out of a population of 631,900)

    Berkshire West 227 (out of a population of 445,400)

    Berkshire East 152 (out of a population of 370,500)

    Milton Keynes 130 (out of a population of 224,800)

    Buckinghamshire 150 (out of a population of 487,300)

    The number of other offenders, including those convicted of violent offences, covered by Multi-Agency Public Protection Panel (MAPPPs) in the Thames Valley totalled 980 between April 1, 2006 and March 31, 2007. This brings the total number of offenders who came under MAPPA during those dates to 1,962.

    MAPPA places a duty on Thames Valley Police, Thames Valley Probation and the Prison Service to assess and manage risk posed by offenders in the community.

    This work is done in partnership with other agencies, including Primary Care Trusts, the Youth Offending Service, mental health, local authority housing and social services.

    Paul Gillbard, Director of Offender Management for Thames Valley Probation, said: ?We have worked hard to revise our local MAPPA procedures in line with the expectations from central government. In the Thames Valley, we feel confident that we have a workable system which should provide the local community with confidence that sex offenders and potentially dangerous persons are being managed properly and safely.

    ?The fact is, however, that such persons always have been and will continue to be released into the community. Recent changes in the law and working practices of all the agencies involved in MAPPA now mean that such people are monitored far more closely than in the past.?

    Det Ch Insp Tim Price, Public Protection Officer, said: ?The annual report demonstrates the success of MAPPA locally. Robust and comprehensive multi agency public protection plans have provided safety and reassurance to past and potential victims as well as the general public.

    ?By successfully identifying offenders, sharing information with other key agencies and working closely together on public protection plans, dangerous offenders are well monitored and risks to the public are minimised.

    ?The very fact that we can illustrate these figures in this report tells you that we know where these offenders are and we are working to protect you from them.?

  • New Thame Library Plans Available For Inspection

    PLANS for the demolition of the Pied Pedaller in North Street, Thame, and its replacement with a two-story library building, are now available to be viewed by the public.
    The plans, for what is described as ‘a Learning Centre’, can be inspected at Thame Town Hall as part of a public consultation exercise.
    Oxfordshire County Council are making the application for planning consent, and say that it envisages that the building will be used for meetings and other community uses, as well as the town’s library.
    The plans include a ‘glass box’courtyard to be used as a children’s library.

  • State-Of-The-Art Homes On Show In Thame

    FUTURISTIC homes with fully automated lighting, security and home entertainment that can be controlled by the touch of a finger, were something that many of us will remember featuring regularly on the BBC’s ‘Tomorrow World’ programme, with the redoubtable Raymond Baxter.
    Well, now our childhood dreams and aspirations are here – right on our doorstep in Thame.
    One of the first companies to move into the OYO Units (Own Your Own), in Howland Road, Thame, has a state-of-the-art, home technology showroom where the very latest in home cinema systems, a wall-mounted and shower-proof TV that becomes a mirror, a wall-mounted iPod docking station, touch-panel controlled curtains and blinds, Hi-tech home security systems and ‘intelligent lighting’ can all be tried out and tested.
    Yesterday (17/10), the Mayor of Thame, David Bretherton, officially opened Cyberhomes Ltd’s Techie-lovers paradise, where home-owners, interior designers, architects and house developers can all, by appointmnet, go and see for themselves how Home Technology can be used in both new build and modernising projects to “help create a better home environment for the 21st Century.”
    In welcoming Cyberhomes Ltd to Thame, the Mayor said: “I am delighted that you have brought this innovative business to Thame. Obviously, a lot of these technologies have been around for some time but the way you have brought them all together is very, very impressive.
    “This whole complex (the OYO Units) has been very good for Thame and I congratulate the developers for their foresight.
    “I wish you all huge success in the future.”

    The Mayor and other Councillors, including Don Butler and Jeanette Matelot-Green, jointed in a tour of the showroom, which included being treated to a showing of part of the latest James Bond film on HD (High Definition) DVD on a 92″ screen that descended from the ceiling. The home cinema’s surround-sound came from seven conceiled speakers and a sub-woofer that was almost painful!
    Vibrating pads under the sofa added to the complete experience. All that was missing was a button on the arm rest to bring on the aroma of Daniel Craig’s sweating body as he persued the villain up a giant crane, a la ‘Brave New World’. I digress.

    To find out more about what Cyberhomes Ltd, visit their website Link

    Photo: The Mayor of Thame discusses homes of the future with Cyberhomes’ Director, Andy Mack

  • Thame Speed Limit Consultation

    OXFORDSHIRE County Council is proposing the introduction of a 40mph speed limit on the A4129 and B4012, Thame, replacing the existing 50mph speed limit between Cromwell Avenue and Pickenfield.
    But first the council is obliged to carry out a consultation with the local community and various bodies and organisations like the police.

    The Schedule of the speed limit is available for viewing in the Thame Information Centre in the Town Hall. Comments should be sent to Brian Short, Area Engineer, Oxfordshire County Council, Environment and Economy, Milton Road, Drayton, Oxon OX14 4EZ no later than December 1, 2007.

    Local residents and some town councillors have been concerned for some time about the danger to vehicles pulling out of side roads on to the Thame By-pass into fast-moving traffic.