Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Consultation On Extension to Thame’s Designated Drinking Area Order

    LAND Owners, residents, the Police and others likely to be effected by widening Thame’s Designated Drinking Area, are to be consulted by the district council.
    Following a meeting by Thame Town Council’s Policy and Resources committee on Tuesday (11/09), the proposal is to add Park Street, Southern Road, Moreton Lane, Spring Path and the car parks behind the High Street, to the existing area.
    The town council has felt it necessary to extend the existing area to deal with the problem of anti-social behaviour associated with the mis-use of alcohol, which has been displaced to other areas, since its introduction in 2004.
    The Designated Drinking Order gives the police the right to demand that anyone acting in an anti-social way, who is drinking alcohol from an open container, pour that drink away and if asked, give their name and address to the requesting officer.
    Contrary to popular belief, it does not mean that drinking alcohol within the area is unlawful.

  • Thame Town Council Rejects Terms To Purchase Market House

    THE terms of an offer from the district council to sell the old Market House to Thame Town Council, have been rejected.
    Negotiations between SODC and Thame Town Council about transferring ownership of the Market House to the town council have been going on for some time. Suddenly, in August, the town council was informed that the Citizens Advice Bureau, which currently occupies the top floor of the building, was to have the old Tourist Information shop space included in its lease, leaving only the public toilets and the basement available for other use.
    The new terms include a proviso that the CAB stays where it is and pays the council an annual rent of

  • Cold Shoulder For Cold Callers

    COLD callers planning to visit Little Milton will be given the cold shoulder from this Thursday, when a ‘No cold-calling zone’ is to be introduced.
    It is hoped that the zone will protect residents from distraction burglars and unscrupulous door-to-door sales people.
    The Police have joined forces with Trading Standards, Little Milton Parish Council and local residents to put the zone in place.

    Each household will receive a ‘No cold-calling zone’ pack and crime reduction literature with an ultra-violet marker pen to mark their electrical property, mobile phones and other valuables.
    Signs will be put up in the area to let visitors know that cold callers are not welcome.

    Lesley Nesbit, a Crime Reduction Officer, said: ?A No Cold Calling Zone empowers people to turn cold callers away. It makes it far harder for distraction burglars to prey on the elderly and vulnerable and reduces the risk of people being ripped off by rogue traders simply because they will not get past the door.
    “In other areas, these zones have reduced distraction burglary and rogue trading dramatically.”

    Officers from all the agencies involved will be in Little Milton between 10am and 1pm to discuss the initiative with residents.

  • Nathan Returns As Thame United Prepare To Unveil New Stadium Plans

    THAME United confirmed last night that Nathan Jack has rejoined the club following a short spell at Kidlington FC.
    Jack was the Hellenic Premier League, and Thame United Player of the Year last year. With his goal scoring record it will bring an added boost to the squad that has recently produced five straight wins, moving them up to fourth place in the Hellenic league.

    Asst Manager Frank Thompson stated:”With Nathan?s proven pace and goal scoring ability, this will add strength and experience to our young squad.
    “We are looking to get a good blend of youth and experienced players in the team now and our recent results have demonstrated that we are starting to get the mix right.”
    He added:”The Club is going through a major transitional period currently and will shortly unveil it?s plans for a new sports and football stadium complex in Thame with the Thame Football Partnership. Through our youth programme and partnership with Thame Boys and Girls FC we are able to bring local players into the senior squads and this has already been demonstrated with the Reserve and Allied Counties U18 sides both having good starts to their season, this exciting news will only help to strengthen our cause and enable us to bring football in the community back to Thame.”

  • Devastation For Thame Cattle Market

    STAFF at Thame Cattle Market were this afternoon devasted, at the news that a second outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease has been confirmed, this time in Egham, Surrey.
    Just as things were beginning to get back to something like near-normal after the lifting of the ban on animal movements, Cattlemarket staff and management were looking forward to 5,000 sheep arriving at the market on Friday, to be sold. Now that will not be happening and all staff can do is sit and wait for instructions from DEFRA, and fear the worst – that hundreds of farmers’ incomes and livelihoods will once again be threatened, and the future of the cattlemarket itself is jeopordised.

    A movement ban of cattle, sheep, pigs and other ruminants has now been imposed in England and parallel arrangements are being made by the Scottish and Welsh administrations. No movements of susceptible animals are allowed except under licence.

    In England, controls are in place on movement of animal carcasses, animal gatherings, shearing and dipping are restricted, and all farms must increase levels of biosecurity. In both the Protection and Surveillance Zones, there will be requirements for increased levels of biosecurity on farms, movement controls, controls on transportation of dung/manure and treatment of animal products to ensure destruction of the FMD virus.

    Secretary of State for the Environment, Hilary Benn, said:”This is news that no one wanted to hear, least of all the farming industry. The immediate establishment of both a Protection Zone, with footpaths closed within it, and a national animal movement ban shows our determination to contain and eradicate this latest outbreak. Having spoken this morning to farming industry representatives, I know they share this view and the utmost vigilance is now needed from everyone.”

  • Thame Power Cut Affects Town Centre Business

    A power cut caused many town centre shops and businesses in Thame to close this morning.
    Several banks were forced to close throughout the two hour duration of the power cut, and a hot cup of coffee was impossible to find in the town centre.
    The cause of the problem is not yet know, although post office staff reported a loud bang coming from somewhere behind the sorting office.

  • Thame United Romp Home Against Ascot (Contributed)

    THAME won their fifth game in a row and moved in to fourth position in the league with a hard fought victory at Ascot United last Saturday (08/09).
    At the picturesque home of Ascot United, adjacent to the racecourse, the first half was an even affair with neither side creating many goal scoring opportunities, the best for Thame falling to Full Back, Matt Graves who could not beat the Ascot keeper from 25 yards.

    For the second week in a row, the half- time team talk from Mark West seemed to have the desired effect as Thame came out the stronger of the two sides. Indeed, with only three minutes gone in the second half, Chris Watkins crossed from the left for Paul Reading to confidently volley home from 10 yards. This seemed to settle Thame as they began to take a grip on the game and, in the space of five minutes, had four good chances to extend their lead. The best chance fell to Ben Connelly who, on one of his trademark jinking runs, beat four players only for the goalkeeper to save his goal bound shot at the near post.

    The missed chances looked like they may cost Thame as Ascot threw everyone forward in the last ten minutes. However, some good saves from keeper Paul Searl and wayward finishing from the Ascot forwards, meant it was Thame who returned home with the three points.
    ASCOT UNITED 0 1 THAME UNITED

    Thame now look to make it six wins in a row on Saturday (15th September) as they face a stiff test against sixth place, Binfield at home (AFC Wallingford), 3:00pm kick off.

    Thame United: Searl, Cowan, Graves, Boult, Hocking, Higgs, Connelly, Rhodes, Reading (West), Braun (Catlin), Watkins (Ricketts).

    Thame United Reserves moved in to second place in the Hellenic Reserve Division 2 East, with a comfortable 9-2 win against Prestwood Reserves at the Southern Road Recreation Ground. Pick of the players was striker Matt Leach, who scored five goals including one direct from a kick off.
    8th September 2007

  • Win For Chinnor Seconds Despite Injury To Iles

    CHINNOR RFC 2nd Team – Friendly Game against Weston Super Mare, Saturday, September 8.
    Score: Chinnor 36 pts – Westom SM 13 pts.
    Tries: Rob Fenwick, Ian Stock, Andy Millburn, Nick Grimsdell and Adam Seymour.
    Conversions: Adam White x 4
    Penalties: Adam White x 1

    MATCH REPORT (Contributed)
    Chinnor seconds visited Weston Super Mare and came away with a very good win, by beating their 2nd team by 36 points to 13 in a friendly.
    Chinnor went down to Weston with one player on the bench. They had to lose one of their boys to the first team due to one their players pulling out. All fifteen players had great games but there were also some outstanding performances by the forwards Rixon, Goddard, Millburn with Stock, Winchester, Iles, Scholtz on his debut, and the team was well lead by captain Fenwick who was not far behind.
    The backs excelled with Duder and Burns closely followed by Grimsdell, White, Hackshaw, Davies, and Tom Iles who played out of position.

    Weston was first to put points on the board with a penalty that was offset two minutes later by White. It took until the 20th minute for Chinnor to add more points with a well worked try by Millburn converted by White. This did not last long with Weston converting a try of their own and the points were level 10 points each. Then the boys then stepped up a notch with some class rugby between forwards and backs leading to a try by Capt Fenwick then one by Grimsdell converted by White and the first half finished 22 points to 10.

    Sadly, Chinnor lost Iles with a hamstring injury early in the second half. This resulted in Chinnor playing the rest of the match with14 players. Scholtz, No 8, moved to centre to fill the gap and the forwards played the rest of the game with seven men. Watching the game one would never have known it, they were so disciplined with everyone giving their all.

    Ian Stock was the next one to score after some great interpassing between backs and forwards again working as a unit. Weston added to their point tally with another penalty. Captain Marvel then broke out of a tackle and sprinted 50 meters passing to Adam Seymour for another try with Adam White adding the extra two points. Chinnor finished the game 36 points to 13.

    The ref thanked the Chinnor team for making it one of the best games that he had officiated at and remarked on the discipline they showed for the full game.
    Man of the Match, Ed Rixon.

  • Big Band Night Raises Money For Hospice

    JOHN Day, President of Haddenham Lodge, recently presented a cheque for

  • Young Drivers Offered Skills Courses With Emergency Services

    YOUNG drivers, aged 17 to 22, from The Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire districts are being offered an exciting opportunity to attend a Drive 4 Life event to check out their driving skills free of charge with professional instructors from the emergency services, and to have a chance to win free Pass Plus driving courses.
    South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Community Safety Partnerships are organising the high profile, interactive event, in which young drivers will be invited to put their skills into practice with professional drivers who will provide feedback on how they handle the vehicle over a set course.
    In the wake of government concerns about the high number of accidents among new drivers, the partners have decided to act to cut casualties in this age group with this innovative and powerful initiative, which will take place on Saturday, September 29.
    Other activities will include a DVD on road safety choices and consequences, a demonstration of how a driver is extracted from a crashed vehicle, a visit to Oxfordshire County Council?s Road Safety trailer and the chance to view the council?s Trading Standards ?Kill U Car? ? adapted to show potentially lethal faults.

    Free Pass Plus driving courses will be awarded to five of the young drivers who attend on the day.

    Partners include South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils, Oxfordshire County Council, including Fire & Rescue, Trading Standards and Road Safety Services, South Central Ambulance Service, Thames Valley Police and key local agencies.

    All drivers between the ages of 17 and 22, who live in the Vale of White Horse or South Oxfordshire and who passed their driving test between August 1, 2006 and August 1, 2007, can apply for a freeplace on the day.

    To take part, drivers should visit: http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk and follow the link to the Drive 4 Life webpage where they can download a form to email to the organisers. The closing date for entries is Monday, September 10, 2007.

    The organisers will invite 100 young drivers to attend the Drive 4 Life event, when the venue, which is local, will be revealed. Each driver may bring one guest.

    Funding for the day has been provided by the Community Safety Partnerships. Sainsbury?s is also contributing to the event.

    Bob Swanton, Fire Risk Manager for South Oxfordshire says:”Newly qualified young drivers often haven?t had the chance to drive in difficult conditions or to deal with unexpected hazards, and the casualty rate for this age group is three times as high as for older, more experienced drivers. Far too many young people are being killed or seriously injured. This event will hopefully encourage the 17s to 22s to drive safely for life.”