Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • School Holiday Activities

    LOADS of ideas of things for the kids to do during the summer holiday.
    See Link to South Oxfordshire District Council’s website

    and more ideas from Camp Soll

  • Boris Welcomes New Money For Community Hospitals

    THAME’S MP, Boris Johnson, has welcomed the Minister For Health’s announcement today, about future investment in community hospitals, but calls for action and not just words.
    In a statement issued today, Boris, who has lobbied vigourously for local hospitals, particularly Townlands hospital in Henley, said: “Any extra money set aside specifically for community hospitals is to be welcomed.
    “However it is hard not to feel that we have been here before. It is vital that this time round the Secretary of State?s rhetoric is matched by action. Previous pledges of support have too often failed to result in practical help materialising on the ground.

    “We don?t want a community hospital regeneration plan that involves closing community hospitals. It is no use investing in infrastructure if services are not funded to match.
    “PCTs must be helped and encouraged to access this money. In the meantime there must be a moratorium on any further closures.”

    The Chair of The Friends of Thame Community Hospital, Sarah Taylor, told ThameNews.Net today: “We have won stage one of a battle, and are to stay in an, albeit, enlarged Buckinghamshire PCT (Primary Care Trust). But of course the PCT has no money.
    “Now we are working towards converting the site of the hospital and Health Centre, to provide a ‘National Health Park’ type of facility, for which we may be able to get help from a private constructor.
    “This money announced today (Ed.

  • July In The Garden – Regular Feature From Jane Follis

    I HOPE you are all enjoying this amazing weather. I am not sure that I am ? my office reached forty degrees today and I am wilting, as is my poor garden.
    I am watering the pots and vegetables, and hoping the rest will acclimatise. I have noticed all the blooms are smaller in size. My heart goes out to the few clients where we planted only a few weeks ago. They must be developing superb biceps carrying watering cans!! It is now Wednesday and we have had a storm and about 10 minutes of rain ? let?s hope we get some more.

    I recently came across a company offering ?The Hosepipe Ban Buster?. The system boasts ?Now you can comply with the hosepipe ban, save money and save your plants with recycled household grey water?. The company is Watermatic, tel: 01707 661188, www.watermaticltd.co.uk. They are extremely helpful on the phone. The system costs around

  • New Map For Getting Out And About In The Chilterns

    THAME cyclists were among a group that turned out for a Summer Solstice bike ride recently, to celebrate the launch of a new leaflet, ‘Cycle, Ride or Walk in the Heart of the Chilterns.’
    The group included councillors and staff of The Chilterns Conservation Board, who have published the leaflet. They cycled from the Board’s Headquarters in Chinnor to Princes Risborough, following the Ridgeway, quiet country lanes and the Phoenix Trail, finishing with a buffet and liquid refreshment in a pub garden.
    The new leaflet contains a large map showing all the rural roads, lanes and bridleways in this part of the Chilterns. The roads and lanes are colour-coded to indicate how many cars use them every day, so that walkers, cyclists and horse riders can plan routes to avoid busy traffic. There is also lots of information on attractions in the area, where to eat and drink, cycle repair shops and promoted walking and cycling routes.
    The new leaflet has been supported by Wycombe District Council and Bucks County Council which is encouraging more local people to consider sustainable alternatives to the car.

  • New Name For Thame Chamber

    THAME’S Chamber of Commerce, which recently changed its name to Thame Business Association, is now to be known as ‘Thame First’.
    The second change of name was made to avoid confusion after it was realised that that another business networking group in the town had a similar name, and that it is also the name of a cafe-bar in the town centre.

    At the ex-Chamber’s recent EGM, held at the Thame Barns Centre on June 27, a new committee was elected.
    The new Chair is Alun Rowe, of Pentangle Internet, Thame, Vice Chair is Sonja Francis of Thame.Net, the Secretary is Heather Brown of Pickles, Thame, the Treasurer is Keith Slater of Essence, Thame and the Membership Secretary continues to be Kathryn Lock of The Practice, Thame.

    As well as working with Thame Town Council to look at the recommendations of The Lockwood Report regarding the future economic viability of the town centre, ‘Thame First’ is looking forward to Christmas and has already had an exploratory meeting with the town council’s Christmas event committee.

    For more information about ‘Thame First’ contact either Alun Rowe or Sonja Francis on 01844 218832, or email Alun at: Alun.Rowe@pentangle.co.uk

    Photo: New Chair of ‘Thame First’ (formally Thame Chamber of Commerce) Alun Rowe (Copyright ThameNews.Net)

  • Heatwave Advice

    THE hot weather currently being experienced over much of the country, can pose serious health risks for everyone, but especially for the very young and elderly.
    Visit the National Health Service’s website for advice: Link

  • Thame Butcher Named Best Family Business

    NEWITT & Sons, has been named the UK?s Best Family Business.
    The Thame Butchery business was chosen by Coutts’Bank because of, what it called, the company’s out-standing growth over the past three years.

    M Newitt & Sons, was last week awarded the prize for ?Best UK Family Business,

  • Second High Street Homes Plan Rejected

    Newitt’s of Thame, has once again had its plans to build homes on land behind the family business, rejected by Thame Town Council.
    An application for planning permission to erect three houses and six flats was refused by the council’s planning committee, on the following grounds:
    * Over-development
    * Traffic generation
    * Insufficient parking provision
    * Houses fronting onto narrow alleyway, a sensetive
    area including funeral parlour

    Five letters of opposition from residents of near-by Lincoln Place, were read out at the town council’s planning committee’s meeting.
    Cllr David Laver said that, whilst he objected to the houses fronting the alley way, he would not object to the flats.
    Cllr David Bretherton, said: “Whilst I don’t like the idea of the houses in the alleyway, we do have to abide by Government guidelines to allow greater density.”

    Cllr Beatrice Dobie said:” We do need affordable flats. I do feel that this application is a step forward.

    A previous proposal submitted by Newitt’s, for nine flats and three shops fronting the alleyway between the High Street and the Co-op car park, was turned down by South Oxfordshire District.

    The Award-winning family business incurred the wrath of town councillors and close neighbours last year, when it applied to install refridgerated units at the rear of its building.

    A decision by SODC on this latest application is expected by August 16.

  • Public Meeting To Discuss Library Site

    THE County Librarian is to report on the latest situation on the siting of a new library for Thame.
    A public meeting is to be held on Tuesday, July 11, at 5.30pm, at the existing library in Southern Road, Thame.
    Recently the Town Hall was rejected as a possible site and other sites such as the Pied Pedaller and Thame Fire Station are now under review.

  • Knife Amnesty Yields Over 100 Weapons In Thame

    AS a month-long knife amnesty across the Thame Valley Police Force area comes to and, over 100 weapons were handed in to Thame Police station.
    The national campaign aimed to take knives and offensive weapons out of circulation, in an effort to make communities safer.
    Carrying knives is illegal and can result in up to four years in prison.

    The following shows Thame’s figures in relation to other Oxfordshire police stations:
    Banbury 97
    Bicester 64
    Kidlington 43
    Chipping Norton 47
    Witney 81
    Carterton 12
    Woodstock 5
    Oxford 91
    Cowley 173
    Wantage 758 * *
    Abingdon 128
    Faringdon 4
    Didcot 44
    Wallingford 22
    Henley 132
    Sonning Common 9
    Thame 101
    Chinor 27

    * 724 of these were brand new pen knives still in their boxes