THAME’S Neighbourhood Policing Team, in its latest Neighbourhood update, has announced that PCSO Chris Hollis is leaving his current role to join Thames Valley Police as a Police Constable.
Throughout March, the team reports that it has continued to monitor illegal parking in Thame and has been issuing parking tickets to offending vehicles. Parking on double yellow lines carries a fine of £30 and parking on zigzags at crossings is £60 plus three penalty points.
During the same period, a spate of vehicle break-ins has continued, and items stolen, particularly most recently, a number of incidents where high value fishing tackle has been stolen. Local officers report that it is often the case that these vehicles had been left insecure. “We urge residents to double check their vehicles, leave nothing on display, and remove any valuable items”, said PCSO Diane Jackson. “Please report any suspicious incidents via the police non-emergency number 101, or in an emergency 999,” she added.
There have been more garage and shed breaks in the area and so local officers are urging everyone to please be vigilant, and consider installing garage defenders and shed alarms.
PCSOs from the Thame NHPT have been joining forces with Oxford Fire Station, Safer Schools and other partner agencies to help with Junior Citizen Day, when students from local schools are invited to participate in health and safety exercises. The exercises include internet safety, railway crossings and home safety including having a chance to experience and carry out a 999 call. “This is always a valuable learning exercise,” said Diane, “and the children really enjoy the whole day.”
Rural crime is an area that keeps local officers busy, and this month they have been continuing to patrol our rural areas, working closely with land owners to combat illegal hare coursing and other poaching activities.
If you’re a user of social media, you can now keep tabs on where Neighbourhood Officers are and what’s happening in the town via twitter @tvpsouthandvale
You can read the whole of April’s Neighbourhood update, and those for previous months, at the Thames Valley Police website: LINK HERE
BUSINESS people throughout Thame are invited to this month’s Late Breakfast, networking meeting at The Spread Eagle, on Thursday, April 16, at 9am until 10.30am.
The Late Breakfast – Monthly networking
The speaker will be Neil Sleight of Talking Typist, and his presentation will be ‘Stop Typing , Start Living’ and learn how to increase your productivity and do more of the things you like to do!
Go to The Late Breakfast website for more details and to book your place. You can though pay on the door.
A Thame couple who are organising a 24 hour charity football match later in the month, are looking for people to take part and help with the event.
Donna and Michael Webb have a very personal reason for wanting to raise funds for the Special Care Baby Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. In March 2013 their daughter Sophie was delivered at the JR by emergency Cesarean section, following a placental abruption and needed the care of the Unit to overcome her traumatic birth. Donna and Sophie spent six days in hospital before they were able to go home. Sophie is now a very lively and healthy little girl and her parents have decided to show their appreciation for the care she received by organising the football match.
The event is taking place from 11am on Saturday, April 25, until 11am on Sunday, April 26, at Lord Williams Lower School sports hall in Thame. The format will be a six-a-side match with rolling substitutions as players get tired and need a rest. Funds will be raised by players getting sponsorship and there will also be a raffle.
Donna and Michael are keen to get more players and are also looking for help on the day with refereeing, providing refreshments and being responsible for first aid.
If you are interested in playing or helping out in any way, please get in touch with Donna and Michael at donnahunt19@hotmail.co.uk
Silent View Windows, The Cottage Bakery and Zen Hair Design are kindly covering the costs of the event.
DID you know that in addition to regular productions at The Players Theatre, Thame Players perform touring shows at venues around Oxfordshire? Their latest show, ‘Come Rain Or Come Shine’, is a cabaret-style revue loosely based on the theme of weather, that includes songs, sketches and monologues on the subject.
Members of Thame Players talk to supporters at Thame Market Fun Day 2014
Joint Compiler and Director, Tony Long, commented: “We perform the show on request for local groups such as Rotary and U3A. Our first two performances are at the end of April and we are looking for more bookings to perform throughout the summer.”
Tony and fellow Compiler and Director, Bernadette Tildesley, have collaborated on many revues over the last twenty years, and in 2013, directed a five-show run of a revue called ‘A Century of Song’ at The Players Theatre, Thame, to celebrate the centenary of the theatre building.
Anyone wishing to book ‘Come Rain Or Come Shine’ for their venue, or for a special occasion, should contact Tony on 07938 857291.
LOUD applause from a packed town hall greeted a decision by Thame Town Council last night (07/04) to recommend refusal of amended plans for land at The Elms, in Upper High Street, Thame.
Local people begin filing in to the council chamber
Feelings were running high in some sections of the public gallery, during representations from Tom Marianczak of the ‘elmspetition group’ as well as from representatives of the applicant, Simon Vickers, and from the town council’s Planning consultant, Jane Dann, from Tibbalds.
Speaking first, Tom Marianczak explained that the signatories of The Elms petition were against ‘any and all development’ of The Elms for several reasons, including environmental, sustainability, conservation and traffic issues. After expressing some criticism of the source material quoted in the Planning Consultant’s report to support its reasons for recommending approval of the plan, Tom told councillors: “We (the elmspetition group) are horrified at the blatant flouting of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan. Three storey houses, development to the south of The Elms house, removal of mature specimen trees and detrimental effects on Thame Conservation Area.”
He went on to quote both English Heritage, who are critical the plans, and SODC’s Conservation Officer, Samantha Allen, who has stated that: “This proposal, as revised, over develops the site constituting harm to the setting of the listed buildings and the character and appearance of this unique open space within the Thame Conservation Area.” (You can read Tom’s full meeting-statement-07-04-15)
Jolande Bowater, of Barton Willmore, speaking on behalf of Simon Vickers, the owner The Elms, explained the amendments that had been made to the original plans, after consultation with South Oxfordshire District Council. As well as the reduction in the number of houses, from 45 down to 37, the amendments included changes to the layout of the site, changes to the mix of properties of 1/2 bed houses, apartments and 3/4 bed houses; 14 ‘affordable’ homes; more public open space; landscape changes; relocation of the vehicular access to protect trees; changes to cycleway and footpath links and simplifying the drawing of proposed enhancements to Elms Park itself, which will be left to local people through consultation to decide.
She concluded: “We believe that these plans represent a development of the highest quality that will deliver a whole range of benefits to this town.”
Presenting her report, Jane Dann explained the planning policies pertinent to the acceptance or otherwise of the plan. These included that; the application site (Land at the Elms) is allocated in the TNP for up to 45 homes; that the application site is within the Thame Conservation Area and so matters of ‘Heritage impact’ are important i.e. the setting of The Elms and The Barn, both Grade II Listed buildings, in the plans; matters of design; Overlooking; Height and mass, and views. (You can read the full report HERE)
Jane’s conclusion in the report is basically that, of the key issue of Heritage, ‘significant’ harm would result from the proposed plans but not ‘substantial’ harm, and that this harm would be outweighed by the ‘public benefit’ that would be gained from the development i.e. more public open space, new views, cycle links etc.
In a statement today, the town council said: “Although some additional public benefit had accrued through the latest plans, Thame Town Council continued to recommend refusal, as the plans still do not go far enough to meet the requirements of the Neighbourhood Plan.
“The discussion points that were identified as in potential conflict with the full requirements of the Neighbourhood Plan were:
– three storey town houses versus suggested 2 – 2.5 storey height
– insufficient affordable housing
– building outside the preferred boundary
– traffic movement – particularly during construction
– sensitivity of the Conservation Area”
The council voted unanimously to recommend refusal of the plans. They will now go before South Oxfordshire District Council’s Planning committee on April 22, when Town Cllr Mary Stiles will speak against the plans, on behalf of the town council.
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS POSED BY COUNCILLORS & THEIR COMMENTS
Cllr Adrian Dite: Q “The Neighbourhood Plans says two and a half storeys, why does this plan include three storey properties?”
Architect, Anthony Lewis: A “Although they are three storeys, because of the design, they are no higher than if they were two and a half storey.”
Cllr David Bretherton: Q “Why is there no mention of any Traffic assessment in the report, particularly about during the building stage?”
Jane Dann: A “There is an agreement that this will be dealt with, and that the roads around the site will be able to cope with this.” (Laughter from the audience!)
Cllr David Laver: Q “How will the view from The Elms be affected by lighting? Will it be managed not to make the area lit up for 24 hours, causing light pollution?”
Yolande Bowater: A “This could be made a Condition (of approval). We will submit a scheme which will be discreet, but public safety will be an issue.”
Cllr Adrian Dite: Q “Although there was to be no building beyond the line of poplars going South on the original drawing, the new drawing now shows 30% of the housing is now in that area?”
Jane Dann: A “Although there will be some harm, it will not be ‘substantial’ and the Government’s test is; ‘Is it outweighted by the benefit?’ I think ‘Yes’! ”
Cllr Mary Stiles: “Our Conservation Area is very special, and I do not think I can support this plan.”
Cllr Mike Dyer: “Having looked at the original Conveyance document for Elms Park, I see nothing in it to exclude this development. But I appreciate that this is a very sensetive site so that any development has to be appropriate and must ‘tick all the boxes’ of the Neighbourhood Plan, and I am not satisfied with just 38% of affordable homes.”
Cllr Mike Dyer: “I agree with concerns about traffic during the development stage. The residents in this area have already put up with enough from the new Windmill Road development.”
Cllr David Bretherton: “I propose refusal of this development. There is no plan relating to transport issues and I am concerned about what English Heritage is saying, that harm would be ‘substantial’. This should be taken very seriously. The plan goes against the Neighbourhood Plan, and National Planning Guidelines.
Cllr Don Butler: “Through development of this site, we would be losing one of the last, unspoilt green field sites. It is rare and special precisely because it is not built on! We should think carefully about building on any green field site. I would like to see no houses on this site.”
Cllr David Laver: “English Heritage says ‘some housing’ should be permitted on this site, but that too many are proposed, particularly to the South of the The Elms house itself. I also think this is not the most appropriate sort of housing that is needed in Thame. We need more retirement housing near the town centre. This proposal doesn’t address that need.”
Cllr Peter Lambert: “My first thought on seeing these houses was, that they reminded me of a half-built Colosseum or a piece of Nazi, WW2 architecture. I am not happy.”
The Mayor, Cllr Jeannette Matelot Green: “I think I am the only person who likes the design of the houses.”
AMENDED PLANS FOR ELMS PARK ENHANCEMENTS
This item was deferred until the next TTC Planning meeting, as no official comment or report from the Highways authority had been seen by the town council, although the applicant stated that they had received a late email saying that there was no objection to the amended plans.
Soha Housing, Thame’s local housing association, will be taking part in the national Spring Online campaign, on April 23, running free sessions to help even the most timid beginners have a go at using computers or accessing the internet.
Image courtesy of Digital Unite
Those who are more confident can get tips on improving their skills and people who already own portable devices, like laptops, tablets or smartphones, will be welcome to bring them along for some expert advice.
Adela Miencilova, who will be running the sessions, explained: “Computers can be fun and are great for hobbies and keeping in touch using emails and Facebook.”
The free computer sessions take place at Windmill Place, Thame, between 10am – 12pm, or 1pm – 3pm, on Thursday, April 23. Sessions can be booked through Soha Housing’s Liz Roberts on 01235 515 900. Anyone can join in, but priority will be given to Soha residents for the limited places.
Spring Online, formerly ‘Silver Surfers’ Day, is a national initiative by Digital Unite aimed at encouraging take-up of the internet, and will take place across the country during the week commencing April 20.
Soha Housing owns and manages around 6,000 properties in Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties. It is a member of PlaceShapers, a national alliance of more than 100 community-focused housing associations.
FOLLOWING the success of the Pop-Up Choir at Thame Arts and Literature Festival last October, the Choir’s Leader, Ian English is organising another ‘Pop Up Choir’, this time at the Barns Centre, Church Road, Thame, on Saturday, April 11, at 2.30pm.
Ian explained: “This is an opportunity to join in group singing. No music reading is involved, and it will be very sociable and fun!”
The pop-up choir starts at 2.30pm and will last approximately two hours and refreshments will be available. The cost is £5.
To enroll for this event, contact Ian English on 01844 261171 to reserve a place, or send an email to ianjenglish@hotmail.com
MISSED chances and some poor defending ultimately cost United on Tuesday, March 31, as they lost to FA Vase semi-finalists Highworth Town.
Image courtesy of Highworth Town FC
It could, and perhaps should, have been very different if United had taken their early chances. After only 20 seconds of the match, a good move down the Thame left saw Adam Morris cross to an unmarked Andy Gledhill whose header from six yards went narrowly wide. Two minutes later and a first time 20-yard effort from Ben Gray went wide with, on nine minutes, Gray again placing his effort wide.
After 16 minutes, Gledhill’s low cross along the edge of the six yard box looked to be heading to Gray at the far post, but the home keeper somehow managed to push the ball away before Gray connected.
United were made to pay five minutes later. A shot from Callum Parsons came back off the bar, before Dan Drewett headed over. However, the referee – who had a thoroughly undistinguished match – seemed to see an offence after the header had been made and awarded a spot kick, that Bohane scored comfortably.
The remainder of the half was fairly even, albeit United could have equalised on 36 minutes when, after good inter-play on the edge of the Highworth box, Dan West was put through but his effort was scuffed and Kevin Tate cleared.
Highworth had the benefit of the wind in the second half and extended their lead on 51 minutes. Parsons was given time and space in the Thame box to turn and fire beyond Matt Tapping. United then enjoyed a spell of possession without really creating any opportunities, with the lead extended further on 69 minutes when Liam Edmonson headed a corner home despite the presence of a Thame player on the goal line.
United continued to press and almost scored a consolation on 86 minutes when a close range header was well saved by the home keeper.
Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division – Highworth Town 3 Thame United 0
GLAMROOCK tribute band, Slyde, will be headlining Thame’s Music in the Park on Sunday, May 3, this year.
Slyde is the leading tribute band to Slade, one of the most iconic bands of the 1970s in the UK and Europe, but the band’s stage show is also an authentic tribute to other pop and rock artists from the 70s. So dust off those old platform boots and go crazy with the lipstick and mascara as Slyde recreate the authentic atmosphere of shows featuring legends such as Slade, Sweet, T Rex, David Bowie, Jeff Beck, Wizzard, Norman Greenbuam. Steppenwolf, The Osmonds, Mud and many more.
Tickets are on sale now at a range of outlets in Thame: Vintage & Modern Guitars, Wally’s Toy Shop, Fore Golf, The Cross Keys, The Falcon and Thame Town Hall, or online at: www.wegottickets.com/event/311715.
Advance tickets: Adults £7, Concessions (students, under 18s, senior citizens) £4, family ticket (2 adults and up to three concessions) £20. On-the-door prices are £10, £5 and £25 respectively. Under 5s go free.
Music in the Park has is now established as one the most anticipated days out in Thame for music lovers of all ages, and will once again feature two main stages with live music and dance, and an acoustic stage. As well as having fun dancing the day away, there’s plenty of space in Elms Park to chill out with a leisurely picnic, and to take advantage of all the usual goodies you’d expect at a festival, including tasty real ales, a wide variety of delicious foods, fun activities for children and adults, and a range of trade stalls.
Throughout March, the team reports that it has continued to monitor illegal parking in Thame and has been issuing parking tickets to offending vehicles. Parking on double yellow lines carries a fine of £30 and parking on zigzags at crossings is £60 plus three penalty points.
