Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Welcome Return Of Thame Livestock Markets

    FROM Monday, September 3, livestock markets for cattle, sheep and pigs have been allowed to resume in England and Wales, outside of the Surveillance Zone in Surrey, which was very welcome news for Thame Farmers Mart.
    So far this week, Thame markets have been fairly quiet, mainly because many farmers did not realise that DEFRA had brought the date forward, in time.
    The 20 day Standstill rules remain in place however, which means that any farm that receives new livestock, must be shut down for 20 days, effectively preventing any movement of livestock in or out of that farm.

  • Lifting Of Livestock Movements Too Late For Thame Show

    THE lifting of the ban on the movement of livestock following an outbreak of Foot and Mouth desease in Surrey, has come too late for this years Oxfordshire and Thame Show which will still be without the usual livestock classes.
    Unfortunately, by the time the announcement by DEFRA was publicised, the show organisers had already cancelled an order for marquees and most farmers had turned their show animals back out into the fields before the raising of restrictions, which meant that they had lost their show condition.
    However, the show still promises to be one the best days out in the county, with 950 dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes entered for the dog show, and main ring attractions like the Musical Ride by the Household Cavalry.
    See the show schedules
     for more information about what’s happening in this year’s show, on September 20.

  • Vandals Damage Memorial Bench

    THE POLICE are appealing for help in finding those responsible for wilful damage to a memorial bench commemorating the life of well-known Thame resident and shop keeper, Charlie Jones.
    The bench was removed from its usual location outside ‘A Piece of Cake’ in Thame, and later found on a pathway in Montrose Way. It had been wilfully damaged.
    Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to contact Thames Valley Police on 0845 8505 505, or if you do not wish to give your name, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

  • First Win Of The Season For Chinnor Seconds

    CHINNOR 2nd – 33 Pts vs. Grove 1st – 14 Pts
    Away, friendly game – September 1.
    SCORERS
    Tries: Tom Iles, Guy Hackshaw, Adam Seymour and 2 x Richard Grimsdell.
    Conversions: 4 x Adam White

    MATCH REPORT By Walter McGuicken

    Chinnor seconds started the new season with a very good win by beating Grove First 15 by 33 points to 14.

    A rugby game called a friendly is a contradiction in terms, and this game was no different with both teams giving their all. It was very physical with hits coming in as if their lives depended on it with no quarter given. The game was played in four periods of 30 minutes each, which was meant to have been 20-minute periods, but it worked out well.
    Both teams were a little rusty after not playing for the last four months. It was more evident in the first 20 minutes with both teams making a lot of errors.
    The Grove pack was the bigger with a lot of older heads; this gave the Chinnor pack something to think about for the coming season.
    First points went the way of Chinnor with a forwards drive, new boy, Tom Iles, playing at No 8, scoring the try in the 20th minute.
    It took to the 60th minute for the next points when it went the way of Grove with their scrumhalf breaking around the side of the scrum and Chinnor were caught flat footed. The first half ended with Grove in the lead 7points to 5.

    The second half, or third 30 minute period, saw a more determined Chinnor team cutting out most of the errors. There were a lot of positives and great inter passing between forwards and backs and getting to the break down much quicker. This made a vast difference and it was just a matter of time before they would add points. It came by off a break by Richard Grimsdell that left Grove for dead and scored under the posts converted by Adam White.
    Then it was the turn of Guy Hackshaw after Ian Stock broke through about six players to off load to Guy, again converted by White. Once again Grimsdell broke through a number players to score and again converted by White and Chinnor were 26 points to 7 ahead.

    Final points for Chinnor came from some great inter passing between backs and forwards from their own try line, ending up with flanker, Adam Seymour, running from the Grove 10 meter line to score a fantastic try once again converted by White.
    Grove finally got a consolation try after some sloppy passing by Chinnor, making the final score Chinnor 33 points to 14.
    Chinnor seconds welcome the new boys to the team, Anthony Avery, Tom Iles and Tim Price, it?s great to have you join us.

    Walter

  • Thame Village Pub Change Use Rejected

    AN application to make lawful the use of a closed village pub near Thame as a private house, has been rejected by Thame Town Council.
    The daughter of the pub’s owner, Mr A Brunner, has apparently been living in what was The Royal Oak in Moreton, near Thame, for two years, despite a previous planning application for change of use to residential being rejected by the planning authorities.
    Almost half the residents of Moreton itself attended that original planning meeting of Thame Town Council, to protest at the loss of what they saw as, the social hub of village.
    Poor trading performance forced the closure of The Royal Oak in 1999.
    At a meeting of the town council’s Planning Committee yesterday (04/09), Cllr David Dodds questioned whether the business has been marketed as a pub for the required amount of time required by planning policy, before the decision to apply to turn the building into a private house, was taken.
    Cllr Richard Walker, himself a pub Licensee in Thame, said that in his opinion The Royal Oak was mis-managed and that if the business had come up for sale, he would buy it himself.”
    The committee concluded that it did not agree that the use of the building as a single dwelling house, was ‘Lawful Development.’

    NB A Lawful Development Certificate is a statutory document “confirming that the use, operation or activity named in the document is ‘lawful’ for planning control purposes,” i.e. it provides protection against subsequent enforcement action being taken against the use that had been confirmed as ‘established.’

  • Development Of Thame Landmark Rejected For Second Time

    A planning application to demolish the Essex Road Hotel, in Thame, and replace it with two apartment blocks, has been unanimously rejected by the town council’s Planning Committee.
    Thame Town Council tried to get the Victorian building Listed, but failed, despite an Appeal. It was originally built as the Railway hotel when the railway came to Thame, but it was subsequently decided to site the station further along the line (now the Phoenix Trail).
    Cllr Nicola Dixon said that she had been to look at the site and was of the opinion that the proposed development would be too cramped. “Also,” she added, “there is bound to be increased traffic on the Chinnor Road, especially at its juction with Essex Road, already a death trap.”
    The committee unanimously recommended refusal of the application on the grounds that it would be:
    1. Unneighbourly
    2. Over-development of the site
    3. Out of character with the area
    4. Traffic generation, parking and safety on an already very busy corner.

  • Local Band Raise Funds For Childrens’ Hospital

    AN Oxfordshire teenage band has raised over

  • Thame Councillor Warns Of Council Tax Rise If Landfill Not Reduced

    ONE of Thame’s District Councillors has warned that the district’s Council Tax Bill could rise by

  • Council Launches Childcare Survey

    OXFORDSHIRE County Council is carrying out a countywide survey of childcare needs and wants to hear the views of parents on how best to fill any gaps in the market.
    The survey, which will also look at what childcare is available, is part of a national drive to help working parents find affordable and good quality childcare.

    To complete the parental questionnaire please go to: www.oxoncis.org.uk or email childcare.survey@oxfordshire.gov.uk. Or phone 01865 815630.

  • Thame Continue With Winning Streak

    MATCH REPORT – League game – Saturday, September 1.
    Thame United 3, Holyport 2
    Thame United continued their winning ways on Saturday in a close match. The visitors from Berkshire had more first-half possession and went ahead in the 30th minute when, following a corner, Thame goalkeeper Paul Searl did well to parry a goal bound header. Unfortunately for Thame, the ball was met by visiting midfielder, Aaron Coleman, who reacted quickly to head in from close range. Ten minutes later Searl made a good stop from a 30-yard shot from visiting striker David Butler. Thame seemed content to ?go for glory? with long range shots which were rarely on target and did not really threaten the Holyport goal.

    The visitors were out for the second half at least three minutes before Thame. Whatever Mark West said to his team during that extended break worked, as they were far more dangerous in the second half.

    The equaliser came on 60 minutes, when Chris Watkins hit a cross from the left which was met on the goal line by both the visiting goalkeeper and Thame?s Nigel Swafford, who managed to head home without impeding the keeper. Thame took the lead five minutes later when, following a poor clearance by the Holyport Keeper (which hit one of his own players), Ben Connelly nipped in, beat a defender, and made a good run at goal before squaring the ball for Swafford to tap in his second.
    Thame?s third, in the 83rd minute, again came from a Watkins left-field cross. This time it was played to the feet of West who created a good chance by passing quickly to the unmarked Stuart Braun. The impressive Braun finished well by hitting a strong, well-placed shot from 12 yards, giving the keeper no chance.
    The visitors pulled a goal back a minute from time but it was Thame who, perhaps fortunately, took the points.

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

    THAME United are away to Ascot United on Saturday, September 8. Their next home match is at Wallingford on September 15, when they face Binfield.