Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

A Coroner has today ruled that 18 year-old Megan Biddle, from Thame, died from an accidental overdose of migraine tablets and that she had no intention to take her own life.

The Coroner was told that Megan, who was a pupil at Lord Williams’s school, had stopped taking beta-blockers several months before, after she stopped suffering with migraine attacks. However, for some reason, assumed by her family to be because her migraines had returned, Megan went into her brother Jack’s bedroom on the morning of Sunday, March 1, and asked him to call an ambulance because she said she had taken some of the pills and was feeling unwell.

Despite being taken to hospital, where she seemed to rally after gaining consciousness, Megan’s conditioned later deteriorated and she died in the early hours of Monday, March 2. After learning of Megan’s death, her friends and family went onto social media to share memories of their popular, ‘amazing and caring friend’, known as Bid, using the hashtag #thingsbiddid

Megan’s mother, Alison Biddle, who coincidentally is supposed to be celebrating her  20th Wedding Anniversary with husband Iain today, said: “Megan was an energetic and lively teenager with everything to live for and her whole life ahead of her.”

THE masterplan for a housing development on a site included in Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan, has won an award for Planning Excellence. The Developer of the site on land West of Thame Park Road, Commercial Estates Group, has said that it believes the awardand ‘sets the precedent for neighbourhood planning on an international scale’.

The Canadian Institute of Planners annual Awards for Planning Excellence judges projects from around the world on their innovation, impact on the planning profession and implementation potential.

Planning permission was granted for 175 new homes on the site in 2013. It was allocated in the town’s Neighbourhood Plan, which was the first in the country to be adopted through the neighbourhood planning process. The judges commended the interactive public engagement that took place before and during the evolution of the proposals, and commented that the results of this process were evident in the final masterplan.

Canadian born Erik Watson from Civic Studios assisted CEG with the creation of a masterplan for the site.

Jon Allen, Development Project Manager at Commercial Estates Group, commented: “It’s fantastic to receive international recognition for the proposals, having spent a number of years working closely with our masterplanners and the local community to develop them.

“We worked hard to understand the character of the local area and engaged with the Town Council and residents to ensure that the masterplan not only respects, but enhances the area. The judges mentioned that the design of the Thame development is compatible with that of an old English town and were impressed by the amount of greenspace included, from public gardens to orchards and country lanes.

“Both the inclusion and the design of these features were informed by conversations with local people, and the efforts made by the development team to gain a real understanding of the local area and what makes it special.”

The masterplan and design features are detailed in the Design and Access Statement which formed part of the outline planning permission. The site will now be brought forward by a national house-builder who will need to submit a reserved matters (detailed) planning application for approval prior to the development getting underway.

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following two burglaries (non-dwellings) in Thame. Overnight between Friday (14/08) and Saturday (15/08) offender(s) gained access to outbuildings at three properties in Thame by forcing the doors in the following roads:

In a property in Aylesbury Road, Thame, the lock on the shed was forced, and a hedge trimmer, leaf blower a large amount of power tools and alcohol were stolen. In a second pr0perty,  the shed door was removed by prizing off the hinges, and a brush cutter was taken.

In a property in Brookside, Thame, the garage side door was jemmied open. Power tools and a blue and silver ‘Monkey Bike’ mini motorbike were stolen. These break-ins follow two previously reported earlier in the week: https://www.thame.net/archives/21765

If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message please call the police on 101.

Alternatively if you have any information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online @ crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

A petition containing 3,000 signatures of people against a proposed supermarket on the outskirts of Thame, was today handed in to Thame’s Town Clerk.

Duncan Nickless of the Thame Centre First Campaign was supported by several independent retailers including the butchers, Wrens and Vic Winslade from Fore Golf Hire, and several other Thame businesses, who are among those against the building of a supermarket, commercial units and a petrol station on the DAF site.

The signatories to the petition, which includes residents, town centre retailers, other businesses, shoppers and visitors to the town, support Thame Centre First’s aim to stop the development from passing the planning stage, because they believe it goes against The Thame Neighbourhood Plan, would threaten the livlihoods of town centre independent retailers and therefore damage footfall and the economic viability and vitality of Thame Town Centre.

The Town Clerk, Graham Hunt, accepted the petition and said that it would be very useful to him in enabling him to present all the evidence and supporting material to present to the town councillors, who will decide their stance on the proposal at a council meeting on August 25.

An ePetition against the plans on the local planning authority’s website, South Oxfordshire District Council, has so far attracted 563 signatures (SEE FULL APPLICATION HERE) and an alternative ePetition, for the proposal, has so far attracted 153 signatures.

The ‘Thame Needs Tesco’ group (SEE LINK) believe that the proposal will bring benefits to the town including choice and competition, would encourage those who currently shop outside Thame to shop in Thame, would create new jobs and better pedestrian, cycle and bus links with other parts of Thame.

Thame Needs Tesco (TNT) has a facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ThameNeedsTesco

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following a burglary and theft from vehicle in Thame.

Overnight between Tuesday (11/08) and Wednesday (12/08) offender(s) gained access to a property in Greenway. A garden strimmer, power tools and electricals were stolen.

Overnight between Tuesday (11/08) and Wednesday (12/08) offender(s) gained access to a vehicle parked at a property in Brookside. A varied amount of power tools were stolen.

If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message please call the police on 101.

Alternatively if you have any information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online @ crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court

THE wait is over and students at Lord Williams’s school in Thame have much to celebrate after their A Level results were revealed this morning. The overall pass rate was higher than last year at 99%, with 21% of grades at A* and A.

Headteacher, David Wybron commented: “There is always some nervousness around results time, with so much depending on them. I want to congratulate our students on their considerable achievements. Those achievements are a product of their talents and hard work and the unstinting teaching and support from all the staff who have guided them through the last two years.

“It is particularly pleasing that so many of our students are now able to take up places at their chosen universities. Alongside those who will be entering careers of their choice, they are going to make a big impression, wherever the next stage of their educational journey takes them.”

The following students achieved A* or A grades in three or more subjects: Ruairi Baker, Jessica Baldwin, Jasmine Bernard, Amber Breakspear, Gregory Coleman, Lauren Donaldson, Ruby Hake, Emma Maclean, Miriam Malein, Charlotte Mann, Michelle Poalses, Emma Ralphs, Charlotte Rogers, Eleanor Shearwood, Matt Soanes, Tom Stubbs, Mary Walters, Brendan Ward and James Wooster.

Kate Sheehan, Head of Sixth Form, was equally pleased: “We are so proud of all our students’ achievements. Through their hard work, the support of their families and that of dedicated Sixth Form staff our students have ensured they have a bright and exciting future ahead of them. We wish them all the very best with whatever they now go on to do.”

TRADERS and residents are being asked for their views on proposals which could see Sunday trading hours extended for larger shops.

Under arrangements which were established over 20 years ago, large shops with more than 280 square metres floor space are currently only allowed to open for up to six hours between 10am and 6pm on a Sunday, while smaller premises can open all day. In response to the changing way people do their shopping the Government has put forward proposals to devolve Sunday trading laws to local councils in order to allow greater flexibility over the hours that large shops can stay open for.

It is hoped that by allowing local flexibility for Sunday trading, consumers will be offered more choice when to shop locally, businesses will have more freedom on opening hours and staff greater opportunity to work on a Sunday.

Under a devolved arrangement South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils would take on new powers allowing them to determine Sunday trading hours locally and the areas that this would apply to. This September the two councils will submit their joint response to the proposals, however before doing so they want to hear how residents and local businesses may be affected if the changes go ahead.

To find out more about the proposals and to have your say, visit: http://tinyurl.com/sunday-trading-hours. The consultation closes on Thursday, September 10.

Cllr Robert Simister, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Devolved powers would be a big change in how Sunday trading works so it’s very important for us to listen to what people think and ensure our response to government accurately reflects people’s views.”

Cllr Matthew Barber, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “Whether you are a resident who only goes shopping once a week, someone who lives very near to larger shops or a trader who is in direct competition, we want to hear how you may be affected if Sunday trading laws are devolved and we are given powers to make trading hours more flexible.”