Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

THE people of Thame are being asked to suggest sites around the town that could be described as ‘community assets’, as a way of, in the future, having first option to purchase them should they become available on the open market.

This ‘Community Right to Bid’ is part of the Localism Bill published by the Government, in 2011, which allows such sites to be registered to protect this new right. Another Right under the Act, is ‘Community Asset Transfer’ which empowers local authorities to transfer the ownership of land and buildings to communities for less than their market value. This is known as ‘discounted asset transfer’ or ‘asset transfer’.

For Thame this could include sites such as the Cattlemarket, Thame Show Ground, the Post Office or perhaps land alongside the Phoenix Trail to extend the Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve, as has been suggested by a town councillor.

A Working Party, lead by Cllr Mike Weply, will garner suggestions from the public before taking the suggestions to full council at a later date to decide which will be nominated for Registration.

A full explanation of the details of the Community Right to Bid can be found here: LINK

A Thame Town Councillor has accused the county council of bullying, after Oxfordshire County Council threatened the town council with legal action over an unpaid invoice.

The invoice in dispute is for the sum of £65,000, for maintenance costs relating to the swimming pool, between 2009 – 2011. The town council however, is refusing to pay the invoice until the costs are clearly itemised and described so that it can be satisfied that the individual items can be related to a contract it had with the county council.

The Town Clerk, Helen Stewart, told councillors at Tuesday’s Policy and Resources committee meeting that the invoice just says ‘For sundry items’, despite her having asked the county council for more detailed information.

Cllr David Bretherton said: “They (Oxfordshire County Council) are just trying to force a smaller body into submission. We are being bullied.”

In July, 2010, responsibility for running Thame Swimming Pool transferred from Thame Town Council to South Oxfordshire District Council, five years after it was built under a Joint Use Agreement between OCC, SODC and the town council.

The committee agreed to support the Clerk in her endeavors to hold out from paying the invoice until the information demanded is provided by OCC.

TIDY Thame, the annual, voluntary event to spruce up the town, is looking for a new project leader to organise and motivate the local community.  If you have the skills to organise this important event held over one day in the summer, then the town council wants to hear from you.

In 2011 it cost taxpayers £900,000 a year to keep the district clean. Thame Town Council believes that this figure could be cut by half if more people stopped dropping litter. It was in response to this phenomenal figure that  Tidy Thame was launched that year, and has been headed up by the then-Mayor, Adam Buckland for the first two years, before Cllrs Mary Stiles and Andy Gunn took over last year, 2013.  Tidy Thame is now looking for its next champion. 

A grant of £500 from Thame Town Council has already been secured to assist with the costs, and waste management company, Biffa, are willing to work with Tidy Thame to arrange the collection of any litter that is gathered. All that is required is a motivated individual to chair the Tidy Thame committee and lead the event for 2014 and in future years.

If you feel you are up for the challenge then contact the Town Hall 01844 212833 or email oss@thametowncouncil.gov.uk to declare your interest or to find out more information about the project.

AFTER its recent experience of dreadful flooding throughout the village, the community spirit in Sydenham, near Thame, has had some positive news to report – news that may just save a life.

The villagers have pulled together and make time to raise money for an extremely worthwhile piece of equipment; a lifesaver that could provide a happy outcome to an otherwise tragic situation. Through a wide range of fundraising activities including a sexy car wash, a quiz, coffee mornings, a village hash, a sponsored run, a cake and biscuit stall, pressed apple juice and more, they have raised enough money to purchase a defibrillator.

The equipment has been placed inside the disused village telephone box which has been give a new coat of shiny red paint donated by David Beckford, the MD of Pronto Paints Ltd through the scheme started by British Coatings Federation. Martin Fagan from Community Heartbeat Trust, one of the key coordinating charities, advised and steered the village organisers through the process.

Gilly Harrison was the driver of the Sydenham defibrillator project, assisted by Siobhan McKee and Fiona Kermack, who all enthused villagers to dream up the fundraising ideas, and BBC TV presenter (and villager), Lizzie Greenwood – Hughes cut the heart embroidered ribbon at the official opening. The villages then attended a familiarisation session with Martin Fagan who demonstrated and explained just how easy the defibrillator is to access and operate.

As Gilly Harris said: “Through the tremendous efforts and support of the village, its phone box has been converted into a beacon of hope for those in need. “