COUNTY Council workmen are currently at the scene in Parliament Road, Thame, where a tree has been blown down in today’s high winds.
Fortunately, cars normally parked beneath the tree were not there at the time the tree fell down, and no one was injured.
SINCE the formation of the ‘Thame Centre First’ group, to fight a proposed supermarket on the outskirts of the town, a group of local people who support the development has met with Tesco representatives to devise their own strategy to ensure that their voices are heard too.
The group held a private meeting at Thame Town Hall on Tuesday (24/03) with two representatives of Tesco, Tesco Consultant, Mark Harrison, and the company’s Group Commercial Corporate Affairs Manager, Fflur Sheppard.
Around 20 people attended the privately arranged meeting designed, as stated at the meeting, to help Tesco present the ‘best case’ for the supermarket, to politicians and the public.
During a general discussion, it was suggested by one lady, who said she had lived her whole life in Thame, that in her opinion the protestestors against the proposed store were ‘in the minority but had the loudest voices’. She felt, she added. that a lot of people were for the store but that they were ‘apathetic’ about saying so.
There was a lot of discussion about the lack of parking provision in the town centre, a lack of certain shops such as children’s clothing and somewhere to buy mobile phones. Other views expressed around the table included that a number of people from surrounding villages would use such a store. Others disagreed with the Thame Centre First group’s view that the proposed store would damage the High Street, and thought in fact that it would attract people to Thame. Some were of the view that the proposed store would be convenient for particularly older people living at that end of town, particularly as the Arriva 123 local bus was due to be scrapped.
The Tesco representative said that Tesco’s own research had shown that over 50% of shopping by local people was done outside Thame, and that Waitrose was ‘doing more business than it planned for’. About the proposed plans themselves, he said that the store would sell around 70% food and that the rest would be include such things as books, and that the store would offer a ‘Click and collect’ service for anything ordered from Tesco on-line.
Some discussion took place around the Tesco promise of generating 200 local jobs, some of those at the meeting, refuting the official figures that Thame has a very low unemployment rate. From their own experience of grandchildren etc, one or two said that many of the jobs were Agency jobs, so-called ‘Zero hours’ contracts or part-time jobs which they felt gave a false impression of the employment situation in the town.
Eventually the meeting was asked to suggest ways of getting more support for the proposed supermarket and which parts of Thame such support might be found. A petition was suggested but decided against, and instead it was suggested that a standard letter of support would be produced in conjunction with, paid for and with help to distribute from, Tesco.
Tesco’s planning application is expected to go in to the planning authorithy, South Oxfordshire District Council, sometime in April, and they expect a decision by late Summer or early Autumn.
NB Neither representative from Tesco responded in time to a request to comment on the meeting.
Anyone who would like to know more or get involved with the Tesco supporters’ group, can visit the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Say-Yes-to-an-out-of-town-Tesco-store-In-Thame/371463593034373
THAME Football Partnership (TFP) has signed an agreement with Aylesbury United FC (AUFC) for AUFC to play their home, first team fixtures for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons at the ASM Stadium at Meadow View Park, in Thame.
Aylesbury United currently play in the Southern League Central Division and this has necessitated some enhancements to the ASM Stadium to acquire Ground Grading D, which have been completed and approved by the FA this week.
TFP Chairman, Neal Garnett, commented: “We are delighted to announce this agreement. In the past Thame United have played at Aylesbury United’s Buckingham Road ground, and we are pleased to be able to reciprocate.
“Commercially, this initiative is very significant for TFP. It will assist our continued investment at Meadow View Park and improve our facilities for both our Senior and Junior sections.”
Initial capital projects include improving irrigation on the site’s external pitches and the installation of dug-outs and pitch barriers for a second, full size pitch.
DID you know that each weekend-visitor to Towersey Festival spends, on average, £495 booking for, travelling to and being at Towersey Festival? That 500,000 people read Towersey Festival publicity material? That the festival’s social media target reach is 250,000?
Festivals employ local people, they buy local goods and services, and customers spend money in the local area. Because of this, money stays, and re-circulates, within the local economy.
This is the message that the organisers of Towersey Festival are sending out to local businesses, to encourage them to form partnerships and get involved in the festival for the mutual benefit of the businesses themselves, the festival and the local economy.
Joe Heap, whose grandfather, Dennis Manners, was a founder-member of Towersey Festival, and who has been involved in the organisation and planning of Towersey Festival practically all his life, explained: “Partnership and mutual benefit; these are the key words. Towersey Festival and its move closer to Thame from this year, is not about us seeking out huge financial support to prop up the event. It has been going for 51 years this year, and has never had a major sponsor (although the right one would be great!) What we are trying to do is better project the true image and value of the event to the local community and in doing so, create relationships that are mutually beneficial.”
“We have struggled for many years to break down the image of an old fashioned ‘Folk’ festival. Yes, the festival has Folk and Acoustic music at its heart but it has developed into so much more than that. Now presenting over 150 bands and artists in all manner of genres as well as staging four, dedicated Children’s festival venues and countless other artistic endeavours such as film, theatre, dance and crafts.
“It’s grown to become a truly cultural event with some of the best live music you can see anywhere, including local bands and it’s this we want to develop further by involving local theatre groups etc into the future.”
To find out more how your business can partner with Towersey Festival 2015, visit the website: http://www.towerseyfestival.com/become-a-partner
PEOPLE living in Chinnor, Henton, Wainhill, Emmington and Chinnor Hill are preparing their own Neighbourhood Plan. The Chinnor Neighbourhood Plan will shape the future of the parish in areas like housing growth and design, community facilities, economy, infrastructure, environment, and heritage.
The Neighbourhood Plan will continue the work carried out by South Oxfordshire District Council and Chinnor Parish Council on the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2031. There will be a referendum on the Chinnor Neighbourhood Plan, which if adopted by a majority of those voting, will replace Chinnor’s Parish Plan which was issued in 2005.
Following Chinnor Parish Council’s decision to set out the boundaries of a neighbourhood plan, a group of over twenty volunteers have formed Chinnor Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group. The Group elected Tim Samwell as Chairman, Bob Dobbs as Vice-Chairman, Peter Brook as Secretary and Andrew Henderson as Treasurer. It is estimated that the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan will take 24 months of work by the community.
Marius Ciortan, spokesman for Chinnor Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, said: “We are at an early stage when we want to make sure that our community will support us in preparing the neighbourhood plan. We are looking for more volunteers from Chinnor, Henton, Wainhill, Emmington and Chinnor Hill who could help shape our Neighbourhood Plan, with various activities from helping with the distribution of leaflets to drafting sections of the plan, or dissemination of the information collected from local residents.”
Marius added: “We also would like to hear what your views on doing the neighbourhood plan are, and which local issues you would like to be addressed. We have set up a Facebook page where residents can share their ideas on local issues like housing, road infrastructure, local facilities, and so on: https://www.facebook.com/ChinnorNeighbourhoodPlan
THE Thame Community Car, which provides such a valuable service for the elderly and others who cannot get about on public transport, is searching for new volunteer drivers.
Most of the current volunteer drivers are getting older and some are having to retire. There is no commitment to a set time, and drivers can be available as and when suits them. The charity is also trying to find a new volunteer treasurer too, a role that is not too demanding for anyone with book-keeping knowledge.
Volunteer driver, Ralph Martin, who lives in Haddenham, is one of those retiring. Ralph has been driving the Thame Community Car for 16 years, and took the vehicle out of its garage for the last time today, to take members to and from the Thame Day Centre.
After presenting Ralf with a gift and a ‘Thank You’ card in appreciation of his years of loyal service, Stephanie Johnson, Deputy Manager of the Thame and District Day Centre, said: “Ralph’s empathy and kindness towards the members has been what has distinguished him. In a nutshell, he’s a jolly nice bloke!”
The car is an adapted VW Sharan that can be hired with a driver by those who have trouble using public transport and who need to get to GP/hospital/dental appointments. The vehicle can accommodate a wheelchair and three other passengers.
If you can help, telephone 01844 281030 for more details, or email: thamecc@gmail.com
MEMORIES of the day when the war in Europe officially ended after World War Two, will be rekindled for many, when the Thame and District Day Centre holds a concert to celebrate the 70th anniversary of VE Day.
The Thame Concert Band and the Day Centre Singers will provide the entertainment, based on songs from the era, at St Mary’s Church, Thame, on Saturday, April 18.
The Thame and District Day Centre Manager, Gill Coleman, said: “We are so grateful to Thame Concert Band and the Day Centre Singers under Judy Thompson, for putting on this evening, from which all the proceeds will go to support our Day Centre.”
The Thame and District Day Centre is an independent local charity, which meets on three days a week at Thame Community Hospital, and is open for 50 weeks of the year. It provides a day out with a hot meal, entertainments and plentiful refreshments for people from Thame and some nearby areas, who are elderly, frail or, perhaps, isolated. All donations received are spent on the services it provides to members.
Gill added: “‘Many of the songs which will be performed, live for ever in our memories. Some of our people were in the forces at the time. Others were children of the war.”
And she stressed: “The Centre’s job is to make life better for our members now, today.”
ABSEILING down the side of a church tower would be daunting enough for an adult, but for a couple of brave, Year Seven lads from Lord Williams’s school, Thame, such a challenge is one they decided to take on themselves, after learning that the Vicar of their church in Haddenham was planning to do it herself for charity.
Ben Shardlow, aged 11, and 12 year-old William Race, who both live in Haddenham, have raised over £700 for the charity, Christian Aid, by abseiling down the tower of St Mary Magdalen church, in Oxford.
A proud Ben said: “At the beginning I felt really anxious about doing it. But once we’d actually started our descent, I felt really happy and the adrenaline rushed in!
“When I’d finished, I felt really happy and proud that I had done it. Our parents and friends all said that they were really pleased and proud of what we’d done. I would definitely do it again!”
The Vicar of the Baptist Church in Haddenham, Amanda Pink, and her friend Mary Miller, together with the money the two boys raised, managed to bring the total raised from the tower abseil to over £2,000. Pledges of support are still coming in and there’s still time to donate. You can add to Amanda and Mary’s fund through their Just Giving website or sponsor William and Ben through their dedicated MoneyGiving website.
RACQUETS Fitness Centre, Thame, is now taking entries for the Oxfordshire Closed Graded squash Tournament 2015.
The A grade of the Tournament is closed to Oxfordshire players who live in Oxfordshire, play squash at an Oxfordshire squash club or were born in Oxfordshire. The other grades are open to ALL players from anywhere.
The Oxfordshire Closed Graded squash Tournament 2015 takes place on April 17 – 19, and full details and entry form can be found on the Racquets’ website: LINK HERE
IN the latest of Thame.Net’s ‘Take on Thame’ opinion features, Bob Austin, of the East Thame Residents Association, writes about the possible threat posed by increased housing numbers proposed by South Oxfordshire District Council, on the Thame Neighbourhood Plan: (Reminder: The views expressed in the following are not neccesarily those of Thame.Net)
“The Thame Neighbourhood Plan (TNP) is facing a further threat, this time from increased housing numbers demanded from the new SODC Local Plan 2031. It is vital that as many people as possible make their opinions clear to SODC.
Last Year SODC produced a document entitled ‘Issues & Scope’ that set out options for locations for additional housing provision. Now it has produced another document called ’Refined Options’ containing interim proposals to locate an additional 3600 homes for SODC needs as well as some 3000 homes for overspill from Oxford City.
It would be fair to say that the launch of the ‘Refined Options’ has been so low key as to be almost invisible and inaudible.
How does this affect Thame? SODC are recommending concentrating the bulk of this extra housing in the Market Towns and Large Villages as well as the Science Vale (around Culham & Berinsfield). In practice it means that Thame will be hit hard unless we defend it vigorously and ask for a fairer distribution. SODC are going for the ‘low hanging fruit’ again instead of a more balanced approach.
In the SODC Local Plan 2027 (the basis for our Neighbourhood Plan) the Market Towns contributed 79% of new requirements but only had 44 % of the then existing housing stock. Smaller villages, with 26% of the existing housing stock, were not required to contribute anything at all. In other words the demands on the Market Towns were disproportionate to all other categories. Thame itself was required to supply 775 houses compared to Wallingford’s 555 and Henley’s 400 despite all three towns being of comparable size.
The imbalance of this allocation will again be repeated, or made worse, if the principles of the ‘Refined Options’ are applied. This will be compounded by a failure to take account of ‘windfall’ development in Thame (windfall is piecemeal development within the town that is not included in the Local Plan). Since 2011 Thame has had approximately 300 ‘windfall’ homes built or approved. They must not be ignored.
We do not know how many additional houses Thame might be required to take but if the same proportion is maintained as in the 2027 Local Plan it will be another 350; it could be better or much worse.
It is vital that as many people as possible express their view. You can do this by going to the SODC website: www.southoxon.gov.uk/newlocalplan. If you need further information please contact your local residents’ association.
Make your voice heard and defend Thame! SODC are influenced by the volume of responses but time is short. The consultation closes on April 2.”
Bob Austin
East Thame Residents Association