Author: Sonja Francis

THAME Police are appealing for information after a 61-year-old man was victim of a distraction burglary at his home in Thame on Monday, July 24.
At around 2.45pm the man, who was alone at the time, found a man in his bedroom after he had entered through the insecure front door.

When challenged, the man claimed to be mending a water leak and went through to the kitchen where he took items out from under the sink and asked the victim to run the taps.
He then repeated this in the bathroom before leaving the house.

A witness reports seeing two men leaving the house and the victim later discovered that a small sum of cash had been stolen.

PC Russell Hounslow, Area Beat Officer for Thame, said: ?Once again cowardly distraction burglars have targeted someone in their own home and have left the victim extremely shaken by what has happened.

?I now need the help of the public in both supplying any information that could help us catch those responsible and also to spread the crime prevention advice that can help to stop these type of offences.

?If you saw any suspicious people or vehicles in the area, particularly if you were cold-called by someone, then I need you to get in touch.

?I must ask everyone in Thame to make sure that they ensure that their friends, family and neighbours, particularly if they are vulnerable, are made aware of the risks that distraction burglars pose.

?They will use any number of excuses to con their way into your home in the search for quick cash or valuables and they may even show identification.

?Quite simply, the advice is never to let anyone into your home if they call unexpectedly, even if they claim to be from a utility company.

?Fit and use a door-chain, every time someone calls, and make people wait outside with the door secured while you check with the company they claim to be from, if they are genuine they will understand.

?If you have any suspicions that you may have been a victim or even approached by someone who you feel may have had more sinister intentions then you must contact police promptly via 999 to give us the best opportunity to catch them before they leave the area.?

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Hounslow via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

If you have information but do not want to speak to police or leave your name you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A Thame councillor has become only the third person ever to be granted the freedom of the town.
Councillor David Dodds had the title of Honoury Citizen officially confered upon him by the Mayor of Thame, Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods, at a surprise party on Tuesday.
David, who is a retired Headmaster, has been involved in town politics for 40 years and been mayor eight times. In a speech in his honour, fellow long-time councillor, Don Butler spoke of David Dodds’: “forty years of devoted service and outstanding contribution to the Civic Life of the town, serving the Urban, Town and District councils.”

Old friends, colleagues and councillors joined David and his wife, Jenny, for a celebration at the Barns Centre, where tributes were paid in respect of his hard work, dedication and forward thinking for the town over the last 40 years, all of which had contributed to shaping Thame into the flourishing town it is today.

Councillor Ann Ducker, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, read out a personal, congratulatory message from local MP, Boris Johnson, who referred to Councillor Dodds as ?Mr Thame?.

Photo: David Dodds and his wife Jenny, with the beautiful bouquet presented to her at a party to celebrate David’s forty years involvement in the political life of Thame.

AS reported yesterday, Val Jonas, of the Cattle Market Action Group, presented its view on the problem of community space in the town, to town councillors.
Speaking at a meeting of the full Town Council on Tuesday evening, Val Jonas said: “We recognise and welcome the fact that Thame Town Council is proactively supporting the provision of much needed community facilities in the town. We also welcome the Council’s willingness to consider taking on the management of such a facility. In this context the Cattle Market Action Group support the Council’s plans to reopen the football club on behalf of community groups in Thame.
“However, there are some points that we would like to bring to the Council’s notice as they discuss taking on the management of the old Windmill Road Suite.
“First, we would like it to be noted that there was a shortage of facilities in Thame before the football club closure, so re-instating the venue will be insufficient to provide for the medium to long term needs of the community, especially in the context of new local housing developments and a growing population.
“Second, there are some practical issues that need to be considered regarding reopening the Windmill Rd Suite:
(a) the length of the proposed lease needs to be clarified, to provide hirers with confidence of the longer term availability. With uncertainty over the future of the Windmill site, potential users may be discouraged from hiring the facility if they cannot plan beyond a year or so, especially those requiring a large capacity space.
(b) we understand that the equipment in the venue has been removed and would like clarification on whether the Council will provide the budget to replace this equipment, given that the length of lease may be short term.
“Lastly, we would like to ensure the Council are considering the bigger picture community needs for Thame. Any decisions made now, relating to the Windmill Rd Suite, should not preclude consideration of other opportunities, should they arise. The best option for the town would be a community facility, combined with the town library on the Cattle Market site. Currently, a planning application has been submitted on behalf of the farmers to SODC to relocate.
“It is time for the Town Council to join with SODC and OCC to produce a strategy whereby the town can get a new (purpose built) community facility and state of the art library on the Cattle Market site. This site is the most central in the town, has best access, best parking and would bring people to eat and shop, combined with attending classes, concerts or using the library.

“To summarise, CMAG is very pleased to see the Town Council taking a proactive role in re-instating a facility that is much needed in the short term in Thame. Please make sure you do not lose sight of the bigger picture and the longer term needs of the community.”

The Cattle Market Action Group includes represents of a variety of organisations and groups in the town, including Thame First (formerly the Chamber of Commerce), St Josephs church, St.Josephs school, ThameCAT/young people’s groups, Cuttlebrook Reserve volunteers, Thame residents, 21st Century Thame Partnership, Conservative party, Nadfas, Liberal Democrats, the Labour party and Surrounding villages residents.

THAME town councillors have called for round-table talks to tackle the empasse that surrounds their taking over of the old Windmill Suite, on a short-term lease.
At a meeting of the council last night, the Town Clerk, Helen Stewart, described the council’s attempts to obtain management of the building for community use as: “..a mind-boggling exercise as the sands keep shifting on a weekly basis.”
She told councillors that one of the problems was that, once the council were able to obtain a one year lease, there would be a three month break clause from Coleman Properties, the site owner – a break that would be likely to put off potential, regular hirers from re-locating.
Mrs Stewart informed councillors that this week, Coleman Properties had been negotiating with a view to selling on the old Thame United Football Club site, and that it was likely in her view that the football club could be passed to another developer by the end of the year.
The new developer is waiting to hear what the town council hopes to achieve.
“Do we want something very similar to the Windmill Suite on the Church Farm site?” asked Mrs Stewart, “or do we want something to compliment that?”
(Thame Football Partnership, which includes Thame United, are seeking to build a new stadium and associated facilities on the Church Farm site, off the Thame by-pass – facilities that could include a club house.)

Cllr Peter Cockayne said that the football club had been closed without notice and that local groups that had used the venue as a regular meeting place, had come to the council very upset because they had felt that they had to one else to turn to.
He pointed out that what the council was proposing was a very short term project and that he feared that any new owner would want to buid on the present car park and building.
“If we (the council) were to spend money and go in there, it would be very short term and we would soon be looking to go somewhere else.
Re-itterating what Val Jonas, of the Cattle Market Action Group (CMAG) had said in a presentation to councillors, Cllr Cockayne said: “Even when the Windmill Suite was up and running as a venue, the town was short of community space.
“We should now look seriously at the Cattle Market project because we need a comprehensive facility that will service the town for 100 years, just as this town hall has done.”

Cllr David Dodds said: “What we need is absolute clarity from Coleman properties as to what their intentions are.”

A spokesperson for Thame Town Council told Thame.Net that it was currently trying to set up a meeting between itself, the developers, the Football Partnership and CMAG, for the second half of August.

OXFORDSHIRE firefighters are asking people to be prepared as more storms are forecasted for later this week.
The request comes after the Fire and Rescue Service received an unprecedented number of emergency calls for help to deal with flash floods last Saturday (none fortunately in Thame).

Peter Tonks, Emergency Response Manager with Oxfordshire?s Fire and Rescue Service said: ?Many of the incidents were minor, involving wet carpets or blocked garden drains which could easily have been avoided had householders been prepared.
?Advice is given on flood preparation on the county council?s website, www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/flooding and on the Environment Agency?s website www.environment-agency.gov.uk in a leaflet entitled Floods ? protect yourself.
Or residents can phone their local fire station for advice.?

If your property is prone to flooding you should take the following precautions to avoid damage from flood water:

? unplug electrical items and place them upstairs or on a table/shelf
? raise furniture off the ground or take it upstairs if possible. Large items such as fridges/freezers can be raised with blocks of wood or bricks
? remove loose carpeting and rugs to upstairs
? loop long curtains over the curtain rail
? be aware that water can access premises through external air bricks – a temporary block can be provided by plywood or sandbags until flood water has subsided
? involve neighbours if you live in a terraced house so that floodwater does not spread into other property
? clear garden drains of obstructions
? weigh down drain inspection covers with heavy objects, or get help to do so.

Photo: Clearing flood water from Co-op, Thame, after a flash flood last year.

THAME police would like to hear from anyone who may have any information about the following crimes:
On Thursday 20th July, between 08:30hrs and 16:00hrs. a property in Garden City, Chinnor Road, Thame was broken into.
Offenders entered the property by smashing a bathroom window.
Property stolen included televisions, a Playstation and an ipod.
If you have any information, please call PC Davies 381, on 08458 505 505.

The latest in a spate of thefts of car number plates, occurred over night on July 20/21 (Thursday/Friday) in Musgrove Road, Chinnor. Crime Prevention advice is to use non-return screws which are difficult to remove. Again, any information, contact the Police enquiry line 082458 505 505.

Also on July 20, between 11.45am ad 17.30pm, a car parked in a lay-by in the Aylesbury Road, near Waitrose, Thame, was badly scored with a sharp instrument causing criminal damage.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact 08458 505 505.