Category: Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was somewhat encouraged to read on Thame.Net on Tuesday that Buckinghamshire Hospitals Trust is to hold meetings to give residents a chance to express publicly their views about the future use of community hospitals, including ours in Thame.

However, I think it should be pointed out that, although it might be the first impression, these could hardly be called public meetings. I have been in touch with the Hospital Trust on behalf of Thame and District Day Centre, which meets at Thame Community Hospital three times a week, about our sending a group, maybe members, trustees and volunteers, to a meeting to be held next Wednesday.

In reply one of their officials has told me that the meetings are ?engagement sessions? involving a short presentation ….. followed by ?small group discussions?.

The message adds that because of the interactive nature of the sessions people must book in advance. The writer adds: “If you could provide the names of those who will be attending, we will be able to send full confirmation and venue details”.

At this short notice, at this time of year, it is very difficult to know who would be able to attend. I could probably think of about 50 people who would like to, if they are free, and they will probably know many others. And that?s just among our people.

I hope others interested groups in the town have been alerted to the meeting ? wherever it is held.

Norman Brand
Secretary, Thame and District Day Centre

ED. The meetings for Thame will be held on Wednesday, August 25, from 10am-11:30am and on Monday, September 6, from 6pm-7:30pm. To book a place on any of the sessions email: communications@buckshosp.nhs.uk or call 01494 734959.

Hi there, I thought you may want to alert other Thame residents about a sales company who have just phoned me initially claiming to be from a Crime Prevention Team calling because of the high number of burglaries in our area. Having searched the internet it seems to be a nationwide scheme as shown here http://www.campaignseries.co.uk/news/caerphilly/8125753._Don_t_burglar_alarm_system_for___1_/

They claim to offer security devices for just

Dear Editor, I am very grateful that you published my recent comments on housing plans for South Oxfordshire but I am troubled that this has caused you any difficulty. I hope you will allow me to respond to the letter from Mike Dyer (22/3/10) and in the process exonerate Thame News from any accusations of bias.

The Liberal Democrats are comfortable with the idea of political debate and we recognise that media organisations like Thame News will publish a range of views without this being evidence of any bias whatsoever. I assume that over the next six weeks you will include comments from the numerous political parties and pressure groups which will be seeking to influence the outcome of the forthcoming election. I shall welcome this and I shall not for a moment assume it to be bias on your part.

On a personal note could I state that I had no intention of misleading anyone as to my identity but as many of your readers will be aware it is normal for election candidates to only refer to themselves as ‘candidates’ once the election has been formally called. I am honoured to have been asked by South East Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats to be their candidate for Henley constituency and when the Prime Minister leaves Buckingham Palace for the last time in the next few weeks I shall proudly call myself the Liberal Democrat candidate for Henley. Until that time I shall remain a humble ‘spokesman’.

Yours faithfully

Andy Crick
South East Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats spokesman
23/03/10

Dear Editor, I was interested to read that you have been accused of bias in reporting a Liberal Democrat press release. There used to be a saying among old hacks: ?That?s what the man said?. Clearly that was what you were reporting. As I read it, the cause of the annoyance among Conservatives is that the Liberals got in first. Or have I misunderstood that?

It would be wrong for you as an independent local reporter to sit on a legitimate announcement for any reason other than it is not worth printing and is not news. Timing of announcements is for those doing the announcing, not the reporter.

I have noticed in the past that you have been prepared to give space to subjects for which you might not have personal sympathy. As I?ve said before, the quality of service you provide this area is what was normal among local reporters everywhere until give-away newspapers took over local journalism.

As for me, I shall be voting UKIP.
Regards
Norman Brand
Fanshawe Road
23/03/10

Dear Editor, I was heartened to read your piece declaring that the Lib Dems welcome the delay in the controversial new housing proposals, accompanied by a quotation from Andy Crick as ?South East Oxfordshire Liberal Democrat spokesman?, when he is actually the prospective Lib Dem candidate for this constituency at the forthcoming General Election.

How convenient for the Lib Dems that SODC decided to delay consideration of the Local Development Framework Core Strategy. It provided them with the chance to issue a bland and opportunistic press release identifying themselves with this decision.

You may be interested to learn that Conservative Councillors at Town, District, and County levels, were equally welcoming of this news as, I suspect, were the elected representatives of other parties, Independent Councillors, local Residents Associations, and the local community at large. It should also be acknowledged that our Conservative Member of Parliament, John Howell, played a part in persuading SODC to delay any decision.

Your coverage of the Lib Dems’ statement does not reflect expected editorial standards of political impartiality and amounts merely to electioneering on behalf of the Liberal Democrat party. This does not bode well for the forthcoming campaign, and I sincerely hope that in future Thame News Net will resist being taken in by ?spin? and avoid becoming a mouthpiece for any particular faction.

Mike Dyer
Thame
22/03/10

EDITORIAL REPLY

ThameNews.Net endeavours always to be be fair and to publish any statement from any local party as long as it relates to LOCAL matters, and have indeed published Conservative party focused news in the past such as LINK

LINK

The following is part of an email reply to the above letter:

“….regarding your comments crediting John Howell MP with influencing the decision to postpone a decision on the Core Strategy, I would remind you that The Local Government Act forbids councils from considering controversial issues in the period immediately before elections. Sensibly, our Conservative run county council – which by the way I consider to do a really good job generally on behalf of the rate payers, have done the right thing.

“I am sorry Mike but I am not stupid and will not act as a mouth piece for the Conservative’s or any other party.

“Please tell your party to continue to send press releases about local issues and as I did last election, will publish them to the Council and Politics news section of the website and allow our readers to make up their own minds about what is spin and what is not.” Ed.

DEAR READER
What are YOUR views on ThameNews.Net’s coverage of local politics and Council matters? Indeed, are they subjects that a local news website should bother with at all?
Email: Editor@thamenews.net

Dear Editor, Planning notice P10/E0184 (9 High Street, Thame) on www.southoxon.gov.uk has reference.

I do not know if you are aware of the planning notice that has been displayed on the shop front (formerly Bump and Beyond) to change this into another coffee shop and if you view the planning application online you will see that it is for Costa!

I feel strongly and I think lots of other residents and visitors, not to speak of other coffee shop and pub businesses in Thame, that I would rather support a small independent shop rather than a large chain.

Possibly your readers are not aware of this planning application and you could make them aware of it through your website?

Many thanks
L Milligan
19/02/10

Dear Editor, I am rather surprised at the rejection of the Costa Coffee Application.

Do Thame Businesses and Thame First not realise that to generate business in Thame, what we offer at the moment is not good enough for potential visitors from peripheral areas to Thame?

It is the Chain Stores & multiples that attract these clients to Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Bicester and Oxford.

I strongly believe that it is short-sightedness from the Town Council and if you are using the argument that there are too many Coffee shops in Thame, what about too many Hairdressing Salons, as I understand yet another one is opening in Buttermarket!!

Yours sincerely
Jenny & Brian Hamilton

Dear Editor, I do not know if you are aware of the planning notice that has been displayed on the shop front (formerly Bump and Beyond) to change this into another coffee shop and if you view the planning application online you will see that it is for Costa!

I feel strongly and I think lots of other residents and visitors, not to speak of other coffee shop and pub businesses in Thame, that I would rather support a small independent shop rather than a large chain.

Possibly your readers are not aware of this planning application and you could make them aware of it through your website?

Planning notice P10/E0184 (9 High Street, Thame) on www.southoxon.gov.uk has reference.

Many thanks

L Milligan
03/03/10

Dear Editor, As pubs in our town aim for custom through such activities as food promotions (ThameNews 26 February), I trust that landlords and customers will spare a thought for the Bolton (Lancs) landlord, Nick Hogan, jailed for six months last week for failing to pay a fine of

Dear Editor – The Government’s South East plan is quoted on the South Oxfordshire District Council’s website as dictating the housing policies for many years ahead. Perhaps, in looking at the various options available to Thame, our local leaders could consider what is at least a possibility that the Government may change this year.

I mention this only because it seems to me that our representatives need not hold up their hands and surrender to whatever unwelcome proposals might be thrust on the town.

Re the current controversy over ‘East Thame’, I knew an old parish councillor years ago in the Midlands who frequently said: ‘I’ll just go and take a look.’ And out he walked. I would recommend decision makers here do the same. Get a sense of the size of the scheme. Take a walk from the skate park down the by pass, then left along the Phoenix trail, half way to Towersey. From there imagine crossing the fields to the Kingsey Road; skirt the show ground and the Rugby Club to the left and then find your way back to Moor End Lane. I base these comments on the aerial map shown in the Thame Gazette of February 12.

Then imagine that whole area as built up.

That would make a suburb. I really can’t see how, as its advocates claim. that would improve the whole town.

Norman Brand
Fanshawe Road
22/02/10