Thame.net

Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

  • New shelter for commuters & lighting for bats

    AS those cold, misty autumn mornings creep a little closer, commuters travelling from Haddenham & Thame Parkway station on the London bound platform, can now wait in comfort for their train, as the new waiting shelter is now finally complete.

    The new shelter - Image courtesy of Haddenham.net
    The new shelter – Image courtesy of Haddenham.net

    The new shelter is larger than its predecessor with an access point at each end, and promises to be a lot more comfortable than the old, draughty shelter.
    Extended platforms are also on the way along with longer trains, and by the summer of 2016, Chiltern Railways will be launching a new route from London Marylebone to Oxford, via Bicester.

    New infrastructure and alterations along the new route include constructing a short connecting line just south of Bicester, where Chiltern Railways’ London-Birmingham line crosses over the proposed East-West line between Oxford and Milton Keynes, and special provisions made for Great crested newts, and for a lighting system that warns four types of bats in Wolvercote tunnel that trains are approaching.

    You can read more about Chiltern Railways’ Evergreen 3 project here: http://www.chiltern-evergreen3.co.uk/

  • A Community Charter for Thame?

    THE Sharing Life Trust, the group behind setting up both the Thame Food Bank and Thame’s Community Bank, in consultation with the town council and other community groups, is promoting the idea of a ‘community charter’ for Thame.

    sharing_life_logoJohn Hulett, one of the founder members and a Trustee of Sharing Life Trust, said: “We want to set out a few short phrases which will highlight why Thame is a good place to live, and to encourage community through volunteering.

    The idea of a Community Charter is currently the subject of public consultation, and the Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, is fully behind the project. She commented: “‘This is a great opportunity to highlight the values that make our town a special place to live. Please help us by responding to this consultation. We would urge everyone to respond by using the feedback forms available here: Consultation form link

    Paper copies are available from the Town Hall Information Centre or the library on North Street, Thame.

    www.sharinglifetrust.org

  • ‘Departure from Neighbourhood Plan’ justified

    Dear Editor, I write with reference to the letter from A Conrad on your website concerning the decision of South Oxfordshire District Council to grant planning permission for two commercial units on land at Cotmore Wells Farm and, more particularly, the role of the Town Council in that process.

    In this regard, any planning application considered by the Town Council (and District Council) is assessed in the context of the legal framework provided by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act which (in Section 38(6)) essentially requires that all decisions on planning applications should be made in accordance with the Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The Development Plan comprises a range of documents of which the Thame Neighbourhood Plan is one component.

    The Town Council, in its formal response to the District Council on the planning application, fully recognised that the proposals were a Departure from the Neighbourhood Plan, but considered that in view of the proposed occupiers of the units and the benefits of the proposals, namely:

    Retaining ‘local’ jobs in Thame;
    Facilitating the expansion of two local businesses;
    Creating additional employment in Thame;
    Secondary economic benefits from retaining existing and creating new business linkages; and
    Off-setting for loss of existing employment land/building through permitted development

    that these factors were, in combination, sufficient to justify a Departure from the Neighbourhood Plan.

    The decision of the Town Council was thus clearly recorded and made in a rational and logical manner that balanced the degree of conflict with the Neighbourhood Plan against the benefits that the proposed scheme would deliver – all in accordance with the requirements of Section of 38(6) of the Act. Moreover, the decision recognised the unique circumstances of the two companies involved and, in so doing, is not a decision that otherwise impacts on the weight and strength to be attributed to the Neighbourhood Plan as part of the Development Plan and in determining future planning applications in the Parish.

    Helen Stewart BEM
    Thame Town Clerk

  • ‘Make a splash’ for charity

    THE Rotary Club of Thame, organisers of the third edition of the Thame Swimathon, are calling on all swimmers to register for this year’s event.

    swim_pool (400x268)This fun and fundraising event will take place at the Thame Leisure Centre on Sunday, October 12, 2014, between 10am – 2pm, when teams of six swim for 55 minutes. This year’s chosen local charities are Thame SAFARI, TCC2 (Thame Children’s Choir) and the Thame Skate Park Project – the current Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green’s charity. Teams havee the option to request their donation to go 50% towards their charity of choice in the Team Entry Form.

    Sponsoring the Swimathon this year are: Better (Thame Leisure Centre), Park Street Dental Clinic, Abbotts Office Solutions, Vale Life Magazine, Booker Tate, Haddenham Beer Festival, Silent View Windows and Ignite Sport.

    Go to www.thame.rotaryweb.org to find out more or to download entry forms.

  • Developers ‘riding rough-shod’ over Thame

    FOCUSING on a debacle between Thame Town Council and a developer who wants to convert Thame’s old police station into sheltered apartments for the elderly, a Thame Councillor has criticised the government over its National Planning Policy Framework.

    An artist's impression of the proposed apartment block, formerly Thame Police Station
    An artist’s impression of the proposed apartment block, formerly Thame Police Station

    Speaking during a discussion about the proposal at a town council meeting on Tuesday (02/09), Town and District Cllr Mike Welply, said: “This matter indicates the great problem we now have in this country because of the way the National Planning Policy Framework gives developers a much bigger say. We have got our plan (the Thame Neighbourhood Plan) and it seems that the developers are ‘running rough-shod’ over the people of this town.”

    Thame Town Council is unhappy about a developer’s appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, against a refused application to turn the old police station in Greyhound Lane into these sheltered apartments for the elderly.

    The town council feels that the planning authority, South Oxfordshire District Council, did not include in its objections to the plan, all Thame’s concerns about aspects of the plan that it feels would provide a poor quality of living for potential residents, such as the layout of apartments, outlook and amenity space. It also feels that there has been a lack of consultation both with the town council itself and the people of the town. So, Thame Town Council has written to The Planning Inspectorate to support SODC’s decision to refuse the application and to reinforce the objections with its own.

    In the letter, the town council states: “The proposed scheme has not been the subject of any meaningful public consultation, and certainly not in the evolution of the design proposals. Instead, the appellant held an exhibition where detailed, pre-prepared design proposals were presented to the Town Council and others as a fait accompli. There has been no meaningful discussion, review or dialogue at any stage. This approach is contrary to the policies outlined and a significant frustration to the Town Council given the principles embodied in both the production and content of the Neighbourhood Plan, and the active and positive approach the Council has, and is, taking with all other major sites in the town (notwithstanding the Town Council’s view that the principle of the development is unacceptable given the employment-based constraints to re-development).”

    The Public Enquiry is expected to take place in late 2014 – early 2015. See previous report ‘Mayor accuses developer of ‘bullying’ the council’ LINK

  • Lights, camera, action! – New public recording rights for council meetings

    THE filming and recording of proceedings could soon become a frequent feature of Thame Town Council meetings, following new government regulations around transparency and accountability that have recently come into force.

    Shot from the first video ever taken of a Thame Town Council meeting on Tuesday (02/09/14)
    Shot from the first video ever taken of a Thame Town Council meeting on Tuesday (02/09/14)

    In response to the Local Government Audit and Accountability Act 2014, Thame’s town council is coming to grips with this new aspect of local democracy and will soon be publishing arrangements and agreed principles for filming and recording meetings, including on mobile phones, on its website. These will include the council denying filming and recording rights if it deems the subject of any meeting ‘to be of a sensitive nature’ though it is not clear yet who will, or how it will be decided what is ‘sensitive’ and why.

    The use of digital and social media such as Twitter, blogging or audio recording the council has said, ‘will only be allowed as long as it is carried out in a non-disruptive manner and does not interrupt the course of the meeting,’ and the Chair of any committee will have the authority to stop a meeting ‘and take appropriate action’ if any person contravenes these principles.

    At a meeting last night of the full town council, councillors discussed concerns that recordings might be edited in such a way that the proceedings could be ‘misrepresented’ or ‘infringe on the values of the Council’. Cllr David Dodds said that there should be a requirement to register in advance an intention to film or record, and that it needed to be decided from where filming can take place to avoid ‘cameras being shoved in councillors’ faces’.

    Tweeting from public meetings and courts has already been allowed for several months, following an announcement from the office of Eric Pickes, the Communities Minister.

  • Thame Councillor joins Jarrow march for the NHS

    march_jarrow (311x400)
    Protestors agains NHS cuts and changes march through the streets of Norhampton yesterday

    A Town Councillor from Thame has joined hundreds of other people in support of a group of mums from Darlington who are marching 300 miles from Jarrow to London, along the same route as the Jarrow Crusade in 1936, in protest against, what they see as the privatisation of the National Health Service.

    Labour Party member, Cllr Mary Stiles, joined ‘The People’s March’ in Northampton yesterday and marched with them part way to Bedford. She explained her motivation for joining the march: “My younger daughter works for the NHS in Sunderland and marched on the first leg on Saturday, August 16, from Jarrow to Chester-Le-Street. She said it was amazing the support from hundreds of people, not only on the march, but also from people on the route who turned out to cheer them on their way.

    “Our NHS is so precious, we feel we must do something. As Nye Bevin said, ‘ There will be an NHS as long as there are folk willing to fight for it’.”

    Thame Town Cllr Mary Stiles enjoys a cuppa in Thame
    Thame Town Cllr Mary Stiles enjoys a cuppa in Thame

    The Labour Party’s General Election Candidate for the Henley and Thame Constituency, Sam Juthani, is also planning to join the march at some point before it finishes at The Houses of Parliament on Saturday, September 6.

  • Welcome Thame’s new councillor

    THAME has a new town councillor, in the person of Tom Wyse, an ex Engineer and Thame man born and bred.

    Newly co-opted Cllr Tom Wyse is congratulated by the Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green
    Newly co-opted Cllr Tom Wyse is congratulated by the Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green

    Tom was co-opted on to Thame Thame Council, after a secret ballot of four candidates, at a full council meeting last night (02/09/14), and replaces Andy Gunn who recently stepped down for family reasons.

    Married for 44 years to Sheila, with two grown-up children and two grandsons, Tom went to Rycote Wood College and the Wenman School before working as an engineer, formerly at British Oxygen for 20 years where he finished as a Shift Superintendent. He recently retired from a staff position at Oxford University and enjoys working on his allotment at Stones Close.

    He told the town councillors that his particular concerns were the increase in the number of new houses that Thame has to have, on-street parking and the loss of industrial units for housing. He also cares about the economy of the town and said: “We need to put more things on in the town centre to encourage people to come and use our High Street to help increase business.”

    He told Thame.Net that he became motivated to join the town council after continually listening to other people, particularly in his local, The Cross Keys, complaining about what’s happening in Thame, and particularly about what the council are doing.

    “Sometimes you just have to stand up and, instead of moaning, do something and have your say.” Tom stood for the council back in January but was defeated by Cllr Linda Emery. This was his second attempt to be selected.

    In a statement welcoming Tom to their ranks, the town council said: “Tom spoke very passionately about Thame and was extremely delighted to be voted in by fellow Members. The Town Council wishes him every success in his new role.”

    The other candidates were: Charles Boundy, Paul Cowell and Mary Ann Edwards.

    Tom will serve the town council until the local elections in May 2015, when the whole town council will be up for election.

  • Invitation to ‘le weekend’ in France

    Invitation to ‘le weekend’ in France

    FANCY a long weekend in France,  including a visit the beautiful chateau and gardens of Domaine de Villarceaux?

    domaine-de-villarceaux-05Thame Twinning Association has an exchange visit week-end arranged to Thame’s twin town of Montesson, just outside Paris, on Friday, September 19 to 21, and there are still a few places left on the charabanc – well, it’s a very modern coach with loo and all mod cons.

    So, anyone who lives locally, who would like to head off to France for the customary warm welcome and culinary delights provided by the people of Montesson, can contact: Linda Emery by email: lemery@btinternet.com for details and the cost.

    hillbillies (400x148)This year, a group of cyclist from the Haddenham Hillbillies cycle club, is cycling from Thame to Montesson, almost 250 miles in just three days, arriving at the same time as the twinning coach party. They are helping to celebrate 25 years of the wonderful and valuable Florence Nightingale Hospice  that provides end-of-life care for local people, and raise valuable funds via sponsorship.

    You can read more about their challenge and consider donating here:

     http://www.make-a-donation.org/articles/haddenham-hillbillies/

     

  • Concert will look back 100 years in Thame

    never_such_innocence (400x273)THE Thame Chamber Choir’s next concert, on October 18, at St Mary’s Church, Thame,  will be entitled Looking back: 100 years in Thame, reflecting the quote from  Philip Larkin’s poem, MCMXIV, “Never such innocence again”.

    Duncan Aspden will Direct, and the tickets will cost £12 (Full price),  £10 (concessions),  £5 Students (with card) and Children (Under 16) Free.  Available from TAL Box Office (Town Hall), CAAOS Computers (Butter Market, Thame) via www.thamechamberchoir.org and on the door.

    never such innocence (400x281)The Thame Chamber Choir is a Registered charity No. 1091186