KUBOTA UK is outsourcing its parts warehousing, distribution and logistics to Unipart under a five-year deal.
The then Mayor of Thame, Peter Lambert, accepts the keys of the Kubota vehicle presented to the town council last year.
According to a report in The Construction Index, Kubota has said that getting parts support from Unipart would help it to ‘ramp up sales and free up space’ at its Thame headquarters in Oxfordshire.
Managing director Dave Roberts is reported to have said: “In order to continue to deliver exceptional service levels, we evaluated potential distribution partners, and it quickly became apparent that Unipart’s extensive expertise in managing supply chain solutions was second to none.
“This, together with the close proximity of Unipart’s distribution centre in Cowley to our Thame HQ, made them the ideal partner. The creation of this new distribution operation will support the significant investment we have put in place in order to grow our product range and increase our market share.”
RESIDENTS of Haddenham, near Thame, have accused Aylesbury Vale District Council of ‘steamrollering’ over their emerging Neighbourhood Plan.
Masterplan for land at The Glebe, Haddenham
In a statement, Richard Moore, Chairman of Haddenham Parish Council’s Communications Committee, said: “An outline planning application to build 280 units on the farmland opposite Tiggywinkles (known as The Glebe land), which runs counter to the draft Neighbourhood Plan and contrary to the wishes of the majority of the community, has been recommended to be approved by Aylesbury Vale District Council Planning Committee on January 28.
“After two years of research, investigation and consultation Haddenham’s Neighbourhood Plan has been completed and is about to be submitted and undergo a final check before being voted on by villagers.
“According to AVDC the nascent Neighbourhood Plan ’carries insufficient weight at this time’ to influence the decision on the application. Approving this application will torpedo the Neighbourhood Plan which would promptly sink without trace and the village of Haddenham would become a tasty target for predatory developers.”
Chairwoman of Haddenham Parish Council, Margaret Aston, declared: “I am bitterly disappointed by AVDC’s uncooperative and unhelpful attitude.”
At a meeting of the Haddenham Planning Committee on Monday (19/01/15), the Parish Council decided to request that the Secretary of State calls in the application, and that they would advise the Oxford Diocese, which owns half the land in question, that this is not what their community wants and that it undermines the Neighbourhood Plan. They also decided to request that Haddenham’s MP, John Bercow, intervenes, and to seek to publicise, what the committee described as ‘the shambles and sham that ‘localism’ has become’, and ‘to ensure a vocal and obvious presence is manifest’, at the AVDC Planning Committee meeting on January 28.
No one from Aylesbury Vale District Council was available to speak to today, despite strenuous efforts, though a member of the planning team suggested that the ‘Committee report’ dated January 16, (scroll right down at the link below) explains the background to the recommended refusal. (See particularly paras. 1.9, 1.21 and 1.22)
Full details of the planning application and all associated papers can be found here: http://tiny.cc/529usx
NB TRANSPORT POLICY – SUPPORT OF THAME
The draft policies of the HNP aim to, ‘enhance internal and external connectivity in the village through the use of public transport, and facilitate walking and cycling as the main means of access’ and contributions are be sought from all new developments to fully fund the design and delivery of a cycle route between Thame and the Haddenham and Thame Parkway station.
Because this draft policy matches that of Thame’s adopted Neighbourhood Plan, and because Thame Town Council has already successfully secured financial contributions from developers of its own housing sites towards the cycle route, Thame Town Council is to support this policy in Haddenham’s Neighbourhood Plan.
MATCH REPORT: Thame Cyclones v Saints 14-1-15 – After a slow and shaky start ending the first quarter 10-2 Thame soon settled and were able to pull it back together resulting in a near draw by half time. The final few quarters where extremely close with a great work rate shown up and down the court resulting in an extremely tense final quarter, goals being scored end to end with Thame briefly able to snatch the lead before being brought back to a draw. There was some great play shown by both defence and attack with both teams evenly matched, however despite Thames impressive performance Saints were able to shoot a final ending goal in the closing seconds, stealing the lead and securing a narrow win at 29-28
Thame Tornadoes V All Blacks ADNL Div 3 – Match Report 14/01/15
AFTER Shelley’s ’12 Minute Fit’ on Friday’s training session, Tornadoes returned to the court having not quite recovered and still with aching bones. Nevertheless, the team were focused on a 30 goal difference from All Blacks who, like Thame, had appeared to have eaten one too many mince pies over the Christmas break.
The first quarter was a very close start to the match. Despite Sheena and Kirsty’s rapid rebounds and Nic’s fast passing down the court, the quarter ended with Tornadoes just one goal ahead of All Blacks. The second quarter saw excellent passing around the circle from Lisa and Susie, allowing Heather and Hayley to continue flinging the ball into the net, regardless of being ‘sandwiched’ between the GK and GD. Unfortunately, All Blacks took the lead with just one goal ahead of Tornadoes, making the match even more tense for both the players and supporters. Tornadoes saw GS Helen take to the floor (literally) in the third quarter. Her slow motion move to retrieve the ball as it rolled out of court had the team in fits of laughter… only to find out that Sheena saw she was ‘miles away from the ball’ and was never really going to make it! The entertainment that Tornadoes carried throughout the third quarter seemed to distract All Blacks as Tornadoes again took the lead. The final quarter saw ‘Sheena’s plan’ overpower the original 30 goal lead Tornadoes had set themselves. Susie’s high jumping on court stole the show once again as she and Nic worked together to form fantastic interceptions that brought the ball back to the attackers. Karen’s outstanding passing into the shooters overwhelmed All Blacks as they lost focus and Tornadoes stormed ahead in the last five minutes of the match, making the final score 37-31, another great win for Thame Tornadoes.
THAME’S Winter Quiz Night ended after a dramatic tie-break on Friday (16/01/15), when Sue Boyle, the quizmaster, challenged the general knowledge of 15 teams who entered in support of Thame Youth Memorial and Thame-Sinaia Friendship Association.
The two Winter Quiz winning teams
The event took place at Thame’s Barley Hill School Hall and the questions covered themes including Sports, Celebrities, Beat the Winter Blues, Winnie the Pooh, In the News and Musical Decades.
Two teams, the Saturday Strollers and Russ’s Team, gained the top two places with the same number of points after 10 rounds of questions. To establish the winner, the teams went into a tie-break of three questions and the eventual winner was Russ’s Team.
The event generated just over £550 in profit which will be split between Thame Youth Memorial and Thame-Sinaia Friendship Association.
Marius Ciortan, Thame-Sinaia Association’s Secretary said: “We would like to thank Sue Boyle and her team for challenging us with excellent topics and would leverybody who participated and helped with our fundraiser. We were delighted to be able to join our efforts with those of Thame Youth Memorial in organising our joint quiz night. This quiz will help us to meet some of the transport costs of local groups visiting Sinaia during the Sinaia Forever Festival at the end of September. We are looking forward to hearing from members of our vibrant community who would be willing to attend the Sinaia Forever Festival. Please get in touch via: www.facebook.com/thamesinaia “
THE Thame Neighbourhood Policing Team will be available between 10am – 2pm, on Tuesday, January 27, at Thame market to offer Crime Reduction advice as well as postcode marking of tools, cycles and your other new Christmas goodies.
PC Adam Thomas CRE-marking tools
PC Lucie Roberts, of Thame explained: “Basically we will be handing out free UV marking pens, offering to mark up some of the high value items which people may have received at Christmas and offering members of the public an opportunity to purchase a product known as CREMARK, which offers a unique Overt Property Marking system that clearly marks the ownership of possessions, in order to deter thieves and aid the recovery of stolen property.”
CREMARK: The clearly visible security coding which uses your Postcode and the house number or first two letters of your house name making the item identifiable and traceable. This marking is then made permanent by coating the markings with CREMARK’s specially formulated protective lacquer.
THAME CINEMA 4 ALL are anticipating that their screening of GONE GIRL, starring Ben Affleck, is going to be so popular that they are planning on showing the film twice over the weekend, February 7, and February 8.
GONE GIRL – USA 2014, 142 minutes, certificate 18 – Directed by David Fincher, starring Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck.
GILLIAN Flynn’s best-selling, un-putdownable thriller about a marriage in spectacular meltdown, has been translated to the big screen in this super-glossy, slick, and sensationally successful thriller. (Oscar nominated) Rosamund Pike and Affleck are Amy and Nick, a couple who once smugly prided themselves on having a marriage that is not as pedestrian and dreary as everyone else’s. They are now approaching their fifth wedding anniversary. Finding themselves in unexpected financial difficulty, they have moved from Manhattan to a shiny new lakeside home in Nick’s hometown of Carthage Missouri, where Amy is apparently happily keeping her perfect house, and Nick runs a hipster bar downtown with his sister.But there is little in the way of married bliss behind the perfection of the facade, the grim reality gradually revealed following Amy’s unexplained disappearance.
The story is narrated partially in flashbacks from Amy’s diary: their meeting, their initial happiness, the gradual onset of unease, her mounting suspicions about her husband… as Amy’s narrative builds to its climax, Nick gradually becomes prime suspect in what is presumed to be Amy’s murder, his character and motivations eviscerated on TV and social media. Nick is smarmy and defensive, but is his version of events more or less reliable than Amy’s, whose ice-cool perfection makes her equally impossible to read? David Fincher – The Social Network, Fight Club – is a master of polished, pacey, sometimes garish, seldom subtle but very seductive Hollywood cinema.
This has all you would expect of him: flare, frenetic pace, and a relish in the very bad behaviour of very nasty characters. View the trailer here.
Thame Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame: Doors open 7.30pm – film starts 8pm – Licensed bar
A new initiative aimed at encouraging tourism providers across the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to become ‘landscape ambassadors’ launches today.
Booker Common – Photo by Jack Whitfield
Developed as part of “Our Land” (www.our-land.co.uk) – a sustainable tourism initiative celebrating the UK’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and National Parks – this new fun quiz is designed to equip those working in tourism with sound knowledge of the special features of the Chilterns.
The free online quiz (http://knowour-land.co.uk) takes the form of themed multiple-choice questions that test the knowledge of tourism providers about the Chilterns AONB. It can be used by anyone working in the industry – from hoteliers and attractions, through to cycle hire companies and visitor information staff. The general public are also welcome to have a go.
A wide range of topics are covered, including wildlife, historic buildings, landscape features, famous people, accompanied by some stunning images. After successful completion, participants can print out and display their own ‘Landscape Ambassador for the Chilterns’ certificate.
There are 126 businesses across the Chilterns, including nearly 50 in south Oxfordshire, who are signed up with Our Land and who are committed to ensuring visitors have an excellent experience and a positive interaction with all aspects of their local landscape – from the food they eat, to the people they meet; and from the buildings they visit, to the history and heritage they learn about. They are also signed up to support a more sustainable tourism industry through a variety of activities, including supporting local suppliers and producers, encouraging use of public transport, and contributing to wildlife conservation.
Claire Forrest, Information and Interpretation Officer, Chilterns Conservation Board said: “Here in the Chilterns we offer visitors special places to stay and things to do in a cherished and beautiful landscape. The Landscape Ambassador Training initiative will help tourism providers tell the story of their landscape, this will make people’s visit even more special, real and memorable.”
In addition to the Chilterns AONB, the new landscape ambassador training initiative is available across eight other protected landscapes: Cotswolds AONB; High Weald AONB; Isle of Wight AONB; Kent Downs AONB; New Forest National Park; Surrey Hills AONB; and South Downs National Park.
Any tourism business wishing to find out more about Our Land and the new training initiative should contact Claire Forrest on 01844 355521 or email: cforrest@chilternsaonb.org
THE local fire service is reminding households across the county that their safety is paramount, and that in the event of a fire they need to quickly evacuate and then call the fire service.
The warning came after the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called out to a fire in a bedroom of a three storey, detached home in Holton, near Wheatley, at 9:34am this morning (20/01/15).
Four fire Engines from Wheatley, Slade Park and Thame fire stations were sent to the scene, along with an Hydraulic Platform and Incident Support Unit.
Incident Commander Alan Hutchinson said: “On arrival we were faced with a fully developed fire on the first floor of the property. I quickly committed fire-fighters wearing breathing apparatus sets and with hosereels to extinguish the fire. The smoke alarm had alerted the occupiers of the property and my crews worked hard to extinguish the fire which had spread to the first and second floors of the property.”
The cause of the fire has been determined as being accidental.
IN response to an article in The Times recently, which accuses the Labour party of ‘plotting’ a huge increase in wind turbines (see LINK http://tiny.cc/gahrsx), Thame’s MP John Howell has accused his party’s opposition of threatening ‘ chaos in the Henley constituency’.
As it is not possible to read the full article without subscribing to The Time’s website, it is difficult to know exactly what the author of The Times’ piece, Ben Webster’s evidence for his claim is, but John Howell claims that the piece reports that: “Mike Parker, the head of onshore wind at RWE Innogy UK, one of the biggest wind farm companies, said that he had found ‘very strong support for onshore wind in one-to-one conversations’ with key Labour and Liberal Democrat figures’,” and that he (Parker) had added: “It gives me confidence to continue with what we are doing.”
In a statement, John Howell said: ““Many families in the Henley constituency, who are concerned that wind farms could be approved locally without their views being heard, will be appalled to hear about these Labour plans for a massive expansion of onshore wind – Labour must either condemn them or come clean to local people about [his/her] plans for more windfarms.
‘END WIND POWER SUBSIDIES’
“Now that we have enough onshore wind power to meet our renewables target we should be ending bill payer funded subsidies for newly planned projects and give local communities the decisive say on them, but only a Conservative government would deliver that.
“At the next election local people in the Henley constituency now have a clear choice: between the strong leadership of the Conservatives who will protect our local natural beauty for our children and grandchildren – or a vote for any other party which would lead to the chaos of more publicly subsidised wind farms.”
LABOUR CANDIDATE’S RESPONSE
Sam Juthani, the Parliamentary Labour Candidate for the constituency, has taken on John Howell over his claims, and states: “When climate change is one of the most important issue that faces the planet today, the Labour Party is proud to stand up and campaign on its commitment to decarbonise the UK’s electricity supply by 2030. Renewable sources of energy, such as windfarms are an important part of that. Surveys show that people much prefer windfarms to fracking, which has seen practically unconditional support from this Conservative Party.
“John Howell has been reduced to talking about non-existent policies. The Labour Party will not endanger our rural landscape and heritage. John Howell and the Conservative Party have been reduced to this because they have no plan to ensure a sustainable future for the UK, and have abandoned any pretense of being green.”
PROPOSALS for a controversial housing development on land at The Elms, Upper High Street, Thame, have been re-submitted with amendments, including a reduction in the number of new homes from 45 to 37, 14 of which are ‘affordable’ – four less than in the original plan.
Meadow land at ‘The Elms’ where a development of 37 new homes is proposed
Other amendments include moving a row of houses further back from the boundary between The Elms and Elms Park, and planting trees for screening; changes to the housing mix and layout; changes to parking provision and layout; cycle paths provided from Elms Road, Elms Park and the Upper High Street and reduction of some roof levels. These changes reflect responses to a number of concerns, including those of the South East Regional Historic Buildings Officer from English Heritage, the Conservation Officer at South Oxfordshire District Council, Thame Town Council and local residents.
WILDLIFE
An Ecology addendum has been added to the Plans, following an ‘Ecology and Protected Species Appraisal’ commissioned by the developer after concerns were voiced regarding the possible adverse effect of the development on Great Crested newts. The report concludes that the areas around the three near-by ponds, one at John Hampden School, and the others in the Memorial Gardens (the former only marginally suitable for newts and the latter unsuitable because of their over-hanging lips) to be an unnecessary concern.
On the effect of invertebrate biodiversity by the proposed felling of a horse chestnut tree and a sycamore tree, the report says that no significant loss can be expected because most trees on the site are being retained. On the question of bats, the report states that there are no bat roosts present in the trees at the moment but that, as the development is unlikely to begin for three years, it recommends checking the trees for bat roosts before felling. If, at that time roosts are found, felling would have to be delayed until appropriate licences had been gained from Natural England.
The Appraisal concludes: “Most of the site area is of low ecological value….any of note is being retained and safe-guarded within the Master Plan.”
CHANGES TO BOUNDARIES
Additional amendments include partial demolition of the boundary wall along Elms Road, creations of a vehicular entrance, new plinths, metal railings and brick piers; Removal of the wooden gates at the Upper High Street entrance and provision of timber, electronic gates at the private entrance to The Elms; Moving the Southern access to the site 4.5 m to the East along Elms Road ‘to ensure minimum impact’ on trees and roots.
HERITAGE STATEMENT
It is in this area that there still appear to be unresolved differences between the developer and English Heritage, and the Conservation Officer who had previously stated: “There would be undeniable harm to the setting of The Elms….and the other nearby Listed Buildings, and the Conservation Area as a result of development on this site,” and suggested that open space should be increased. The revised scheme amendments include that the park-side houses are reduced from 14 to 11 in number, thus increasing the space between them.
Differences remain between the applicant (Simon Vickers, Rectory Homes) and English Heritage regarding the setting of the development within land at The Elms, in particular its relationship with the open pasture land to the South. English Heritage, states the amendment documentation, has said that land to the South and West of the house ‘holds a greater degree of significance than the remainder of the pastureland’.
In a recent statement to Thame.Net (See previous report), English Heritage said that it was not able to support the plans as they currently stood as ‘they would contravene the agreed Neighbourhood Plan and be harmful to the setting of this important historic listed building’. There is also some dispute over the historic land ownership which the amendment documentation suggests can probably never be proved conclusively.
English Heritage has concluded: “It is the current sense of tranquility and seclusion (which) should be regarded as making a positive contribution to the setting of building.”
The applicant’s amendment concludes: “Public benefit offsets the notional degree of harm alleged.”
English Heritage has recommended to the Planning authority, South Oxfordshire District Council, that it refuse the application.
The plans can be viewed on request at Thame Town Hall Information Centre. Electronic copies of the plans are currently unavailable as the SODC website is down due to a major fire at their main offices but should be available online on the Town Council’s website next week. The application will be considered by the Town Council on Tuesday, February 27, 2015.
You can read all previous reports and communications to Thame.Net relating to the proposed development at The Elms, HERE
