Category: Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Can we please say a huge thank you to everyone who have done such a fantastic job on Sundays clean up. We took our dogs out on Monday for their walk along the Phoenix trail and what a real treat that was!

We were well impressed! Let’s all try and keep Thame a cleaner place by taking litter to the nearest bin or failing that, home!! Byron usually helps but with the severe cold and our other charity hat on, we couldn’t do both and it was a slightly warmer option.

Please all those who love Thame help keep this wonderful Town Clean. Our thanks to all the wonderful volunteers.

With Best Wishes to you all.
Sue & Byron Harvey, and Dogs
Wellington Street
Thame

Dear Editor, Having become increasingly lame in recent years I eventually began to wonder whether to apply for a ?Blue Badge?. This was because, for example, I began to need to make two separate trips by car into town if I wanted to go to Waitrose and also, say, to the post office. The short distance on foot between the two had begun to be daunting and very painful.

My doctor advised me to enquire at the Town Hall and from there I received a lengthy form to complete. It seems that the rules for issue of the badges are very strict and detailed. Readers might be interested to know how things went for me.

I posted my application to Oxfordshire County Council and not too long afterwards I received a reply refusing my request. They were not satisfied that I met the eligibility criteria. If anyone is interested to know more about these there is a good deal of information on this site LINK HERE

I fully appreciate that Blue Badges can?t be handed out like confetti but I am waiting to have a partial knee replacement and maybe another, on the other knee, later on. So I decided it was worth appealing against the decision, an option offered in the letter of refusal.

In due course I was invited to see a County Council Occupational Therapist in Oxford for an assessment. This was a friendly but very thorough meeting which lasted an hour. I thought I was lost, though. For some reason my walking was easier than it had been for long before, or since that meeting. It was like one?s toothache vanishing when one walks into the dentist.

My impression at the time, though sympathetically conveyed to me, was that there was little likelihood that I would be awarded the badge. If there was a prospect of improvement, it seemed the guidelines would go against me. Well, that?s what operations are for, I thought: to get better. The trouble is that the Badges are issued for three years. I asked if it was possible to have one for six months, but there is no provision for shorter periods.

I provided copies of letters from my surgeon and of the X Ray, and very full details of my medical condition and general health were noted. The therapist walked with me back to my car (this was part of the assessment). We shook hands amiably ? I actually rather enjoyed the interview ? and I drove home, resigned to failing in my appeal for a Blue Badge. Well I tried anyway?

Perhaps it was the surgeon?s letters. Perhaps it was the X Ray. Perhaps it was the possibility of a further operation, but I received a letter this week telling me that I am to receive a Blue Badge.

During the appeal process I learned that there are 29,000 Blue Badge holders in Oxfordshire – if my memory serves me right. I can?t confirm that figure here but if that is the case I can see the Council has a problem. However, perhaps my experience indicates that it?s worth persisting if one thinks one has a reasonable case.

I think if my appeal had gone the other way I would still feel I had been given a thorough and fair hearing.

Norman Brand

Dear Editor, What worries me in this discussion about the numbers that a Community Centre should provide for, is that a plan for a completely different use of the site would slip through in a routine way. And so, no Community Centre at all. I think everyone should keep their eyes on the target, which they have stated to be … a Community Centre.

Norman Brand

Dear Helen, As you have decided to publicly challenge my report of part of yesterday’s public Examination, I will reiterate my private response to you.

As is my duty and habit, I took very careful notes of yesterday’s proceedings and what Ms Rowlands actually said was that (and I quote straight from my notes) “A need for a 200+ community facility HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED …….. so therefore to stipulate that in the policy would not be helpful.”

Carefully reading the plan again (see my quotes in my email to you and the links in yesterday’s report), a need most certainly HAS been identified through the consultation – which Ms Rowlands carried out – and has emerged as a ‘Core Objective’ and a policy. Hence my considerable surprise at hearing her response to the Examiner’s questioning.

Therefore I maintain, that my report WAS accurate and that Ms Rowlands, and now yourself, saying that a 200+ person community facility should NOT be stipulated in the plan is illogical because it IS ALREADY in the plan for everyone to read!

I would add that others at the meeting, including one of our town councillors, also came away with the same feeling of amazement that the large community centre that so many, including the Cattlemarket Action Group (Cmag) had very clearly asked for, appeared not now to be included in the Neighbourhood Plan.

I would therefore ask you – Is a 200+ community centre for Thame included in Neighbourhood plan or not? If it is not, will the wording be amended?

Sonja Francis
Editor

Dear Editor, I believe the Editor promises to print all letters received and therefore ask that this letter is published to restate the actual answer given to the Inspector about the community centre at the Neighbourhood Plan Public Hearing.

Sue Rowlands has already informed you directly that she said:

?The Examiner asked me whether specifically including a requirement for a capacity of 200 people within the new community centre would be helpful to the policy. As Thame Town Council has not concluded work into the feasibility of a community centre, I answered ‘no’ as any such capacity requirement would pre-judge the outcome of further, more detailed work on the community centre. Such further work could identify the need for a facility that is larger or smaller than a 200 person capacity facility ? there is no need to set a number in the Neighbourhood Plan no.

I trust that this clarifies the discussion at yesterday’s hearing.”

This clearly shows a misrepresentation on your website and the Town Council asks that you correct your report accordingly particularly since the person responsible for answering the question has confirmed you have misconstrued her words.

Kind Regards
Helen Stewart
Town Clerk
Thame Town Council

Dear Editor, I am prompted to write to you because of the ongoing situation on Michaelis Road and Old Union Way. Each property has been clearly allocated with parking spaces as stated in the deeds of the properties.

Yet someone keeps using my space without my permission or renumeration. I had hoped during the recession to have rented my space for a small fee to help me cover the cost of my commute to work, yet because my neighbours are so selfish I have not been able to do this. If residents do have more than their allowance of cars or they need visitor parking they could easily use Priest End which is readily available as a public area rather than squatting on private spaces.

These people are making me very unhappy with their behaviour and they seem to forget not everyone is as fortunate as them. Additionally I am registered as a carer.

Yours faithfully,
Resident of Old Union Way

Dear Editor, I have lived in Thame for the pass 27 years and love the town, local businesses and the many long term ‘characters’ of Thame and above all, the real community spirit. Many people I meet in my line of work (I am a photographer), tell me how nice Thame and the people in it are, which always brings a smile to my face.

There is only one long-term dislike for me and I am sure for others in the town and that is our so called local paper, ‘The Thame Gazette’. I know if you look closely, it does state “and District”, but from an advertisement and, more importantly, a news perspective, the focus appears to be based on Aylesbury and district.

The producers of our “local” paper are based in Buckinghamshire. Not wishing to state the obvious, but Thame is in Oxfordshire. Secondly, when events are taking place in the town, they may send a representative along for 10 minutes to write a bit of ‘blurb” or take a few pictures, then try and make a story out of it. I know this for a fact, covering as I do events in Thame as a photographer, and seeing the TG reporter/photographer turn up for a short while.

I know there are costs involved, but a newspaper full of adverts and no real news is not a newspaper; it is an advertising sheet.

Am I over-reacting or have we just come to accept this so called ‘local” paper just because it is what it is, and because it’s been around for a long time? And because it comes through our door every Friday – well sometimes on a Saturday, and sometimes not at all?

I can get through most copies in about 90 seconds and I am a slow reader.

I understand that the paper is free, but that does not make it good, worthwhile or right for Thame.

Looking at your website, https://www.thame.net, it is clear that this is a website run and developed by someone who lives in Thame, knows Thame and most of the people and businesses in it; feet on the ground, going out into the community and reporting back on it. That’s the way the local paper should be run, in my honest opinion.

I do hope that someone local who has the time, energy and resource, can maybe look into producing something new for us.

Change is GOOD and I feel it’s about time Thame had a change, to be able to say ‘Goodbye’ to the Thame Gazette, and “Hello” to The Thame Times, would be great! That’s what I say. who’s with me?

Alternatively the name could be changed to ‘The Aylesbury and District Advertiser’ with the by-line (to quote the advert (tongue in cheek), “It does exactly what it says on the tin!” Then I for one would be happier.

I intend to send a copy of this to the Thame Gazette and see if they print it in the ‘letters’ section; they should do, after all it’s a Thame person’s perspective on the local Thame paper; freedom of speech and all that?? But there again, I am not going to hold my breath.

Best Regards
Frank Millar
Thame

frankmillar@mac.com

Dear Editor, I’m heartened to observe that your recent correspondent has “no objection” to my proposal regarding a graven memorial to Robin Gibb. I’m disappointed, however, that they appear to have either misunderstood or misrepresented my words, and I stand appalled at being misconstrued as having attempted to “denigrate” Thame.

Allow me to clarify. I would never wish to suggest that Thame is, by any means, inferior to such towns as Henley or Aylesbury; indeed, I believe Thame to be second only to Oxford in our entire region. However, it is undeniable that those aforementioned towns receive a considerably greater ammount of attention than Thame does.

Now, I don’t want to imply that a statue of Robin Gibb is going to turn Thame into a tourist hotspot (a closer Railway Station would be more likely to achieve that) but I cannot think of any more worthy a project for a community such as Thame than a tasteful public art project; particularly when Mr Gibb’s friendly features would be so likely to inspire smiles and goodwill in all passers-by.

What’s more, I hardly see why a project such as this should have to wait for an arbitrary period of time (the appropriate length of which, presumably, is only known to your good correspondent) simply to satisfy the whimsical demands of “proportion and timing”, especially considering that Millennium Circle has been awaiting an appropriate project for 13 years, and it would still take a long time to get through the inevitable bureaucratic procedures, etc.

I admire and commend your correspondent’s love for this town, and would like to make it once more clear that it is a love I share. But I believe that we can better express our affection for this modern day Arcadia; this adamantine haven of peace and charm, by contributing to it’s splendour, than by sneering at benign suggestions.

As for statues of other local heroes, I’m all for them! If your correspondent wishes to start that particular ball rolling then I’ll be happy to lend my support. That said, while John Hampden already has a rather fine statue in Aylesbury (not to mention one at Westminster), Robin Gibb still has none, in spite of his never having made war on his Monarch!

With all my pride and patriotism for Thame pinned to my heart like a rosette,

I remain,
Yours affectionately,

“Clarendon” (Name and address supplied)

Dear Editor, I was greatly saddened by the letter published yesterday, not by the suggestion that Thame establish a memorial to Robin Gibb but rather that the writer found it necessary to denigrate Thame to justify the proposal.

Thame is in no way ?resting in docile submission, overshadowed by the concrete palaces of Aylesbury or cowed by the watery glitz of Henley? but already stands as a beacon in its own right. A recent newspaper article identified Thame as having the best High Street in England, and our Tuesday market continues to buck the trend. We have a Food Festival that attracted 15,000 visitors in 2012, a Music in the Park event attended by more than 3,000 people, a successful annual Literary Festival, and last year even saw a royal visit as we granted Freedom of Thame to RAF Halton. The fantastic turnout of people at the Remembrance Service and at the Christmas Lights event, and the continuing success of quirkier customs such as the annual Duck Race, serve to underline the fact that the people of Thame are engaged in, and proud of, our wonderful town as outsiders look on in envy but visit at every opportunity. Thame punches well above its weight in every sense and long may it to continue.

Should we promote the idea of a memorial to Robin Gibb, sited at Millennium Circle ? Perhaps, but what?s the hurry ? Robin was undoubtedly an icon, as both a performer and a song writer. His achievements far transcend mere celebrity and he will be one of very few in his profession to go down in history. He also loved Thame, made his home here, and played an active part in the community. His memory has already been acknowledged with a blue plaque at The Prebendal, his home, and by the people lining the streets for his funeral procession, and he will become a worthy addition to Thame?s rich history and folklore.

I would have no objection to his memory being further enshrined in our town but I would be equally proud to see us erect a memorial to James Figg, John Hampden, or Arthur Staggs. I feel that a wider debate is required and, with Robin having passed away so recently, now is probably too soon.

I have no doubt that your correspondent?s proposal will receive much support and that public opinion will carry much weight, as it did in relation to George Harrison?s statue in Henley. In the meantime let us keep a sense of proportion and timing and, above all, remember that Robin chose to live in Thame precisely because it is such a special town.

Yours,
(name and address supplied)

Dear Editor, It is on behalf of the good folk of Thame, and all those to whom Thame is a beacon of rural splendour, that I wish to present a vision of the future.

Too long has this noble and ancient town rested in docile submission; too long has it been overshadowed by the concrete palaces of Aylesbury; too long has it rested, cowed by the watery glitz of Henley.

Is Thame not worthy of admiration? Is Thame not touched by the gentle hand of Fortune? Has Fate not marked Thame out for further unimaginable splendour?

To the people of Thame, and of them, let it be said:

This is a shining Metropolis! This is a pearl of the Chilterns! This is the San Francisco of South Oxfordshire!

With this resounding affirmation in mind, I present a humble suggestion; that Thame be further blessed by the establishment of a tribute and memorial to one of her most beloved adopted children, a statue of the fabulous Robin Gibb, to be erected in the “Millennium Circle”, on the fair high street. For who better encapsulates the aesthetic and philosophical values of this Bohemian Market Town Utopia than the finest of the Bee Gees? After all, Gotham built a statue to Batman!

I invite the citizens of Thame, and all those across the world in whose hearts reside a little piece of this Eden, to dedicate just a fraction of their time and energies to supporting a campaign to make this happen; for it will not just be a piece of dull civic art, it will be an altar to the brilliance of Thame, and a symbol of peace, goodwill, and creativity that will be the envy of, literally, everywhere.

#ThameBeGenius

I remain yours faithfully,

“Clarendon” (Name and address supplied)

PHOTO: Flash back to when Robin Gibb turned on Thame’s Christmas lights