Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

SHOPPERS going about their business in Thame on Saturday afternoon, February 3, were stopped in their tracks by the sound of a lone trumpeter, playing Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, and even more amazed to see several groups of people waving European and Union flags, emerge from different directions to join him and sing the European anthem.

The event was a ‘flash mob’ organised by ‘Thame for Europe’, a group that does not believe that the debate about our EU membership is over. The event took place outside Thame Town Hall where about 50 people from areas including London, Milton Keynes, Oxford and High Wycombe joined in despite a very cold, wet day.

“As we were gathering, we were given supportive ‘honks’ from passing cars – and one loud motorbike deliberately revving – in protest we assume!” said a Spokesperson for Thame for Europe.

The event certainly sparked a lot of discussion on local social media, with comments and opinions traded from both sypathetic Remainers and Brexiteers – not all of them in language suitable for publishing!

After the singing, the group gave out ‘It’s not a done deal’ leaflets to passers-by to encourage those unhappy about Brexit to make their position clear to their MPs and to join protests to make their voices heard.

“Details of the event were sent to many influential contacts from both sides of the EU debate to emphasise the growing support for remaining in the EU and the increasing realization of the negative impact of Brexit on our country,” added the Spokesperson.

Anti-Brexit flash mobs have been happening all over the country, including Canterbury, Newcastle, Brighton and London. A large scale event is expected in Manchester on February 10, 2018.

THAME Town Council is looking for local people to be involved in the setting up and running of a Community Land Trust (CLT) in Thame. The aim is to provide some genuinely affordable housing for people with a strong local connection to the town.

In particular, the council wants to address the difficulties experienced by first time buyers, and those struggling to afford private rents or mortgages. The sorts of people needed are those with the necessary skills, for example in architecture, planning, the building of small estates, finance, law, charity governance etc. If you have the knowledge or just the enthusiasm and passion to enable this exciting venture to become a reality, find out more or get involved by emailing: info@thametowncouncil.gov.uk

Read more about Community Land Trusts at  www.communitylandtrusts.org.uk 

And the background to Thame’s CLT project HERE

EXCITING next step for a Thame community-led housing! – THAME Town Council is to go ahead with the launch of a Community Land Trust, to provide social and/or affordable homes for local people. A potential site will now be sought and an analysis of housing needs carried out.

“We now need to get some momentum to achieve this!” said Cllr Bob Austin, speaking at a meeting of Thame Town Council last week, January 16, 2018.

Childrens’ Assessment Centre

EVER wondered what goes on in that new, large building on Chinnor Road, on your left, as you come into Thame is? Well, so did some of Thame’s town councillors. So, they invited Mr James Collins, the Children In Care Engagement Officer in charge there, to go along to a council meeting and explain.

It’s not a Childrens’ Home, explained Mr Collins, but a Childrens Assessment Centre, mainly offering support to families with young people aged 12-17 years, who are at risk, with preventative strategies, working with psychologists, family support workers, and other professionals. Most of the young people only stay for a few nights in one of six rooms with en suit facilities, as most of the work is done within the childrens’ own homes. Mr Collins explained how the young people are involved in the running of the Centre, cooking meals to share with families etc.

The young people catered for at the Centre are also encouraged to take part in outdoor activities and are given educational support. So now you know.

Searching for high risk, vulnerable people who go missing

OXFORDSHIRE Lowland Search and Rescue, known as OxSAR for short, is the group of volunteers that are called out to help the other emergency services when people who may be suicidal or have dimentia, go missing.  As a charity, OxSAR depends on raising the £15-16K it costs them the operate each year, from Corporate fund-raising, Community fund-raising and some money from Thames Valley Police.

Volunteers also raise funds by marshalling at public events such as triathlons and sponsored bike rides. But their current HQ at Thame fire station is now becoming cramped, and with no space to park their special vehicles, but on members’ own driveways, the group is in dire need of a new Headquarters, and are looking to set up a drone team with Thames Valley Police to help in searches.

To find out more about OxSAR, visit their website HERE  and follow then on twitter: @oxsar

FEARS that a lack of enough employment land in Thame could mean the town becoming ‘a dormitory’ town, have been expressed by some town councillors.

Speaking at a recent meeting of Thame Town Council to discuss a planning application for up to 180,000 sq ft of commercial buildings on land North of Rycote Lane, near Thame, Cllr Mike Dyer said that Thame had traditionally had a high number of people living and working in the town, but if the growing gap of suitable employment land within the town was not filled, such a destiny for Thame could not be avoided.

He said that it was his opinion that approval for such speculative development as that being applied for at the Rycote Lane site, should be delayed until public consultation for, and the development of, the revised Thame Neighbourhood Plan. He admitted that this was ‘not likely’.

‘Parasites’

Cllr Bob Austin called such speculative development ‘parasitical’ adding that it makes the management of the Neighbourhood Plan difficult, because the council would be ‘guessing at what might happen around the town and in neighbouring parishes’. “We need robust employment analysis,” he added.

Cllr Ann Midwinter said that it was Permitted Development that had caused the problem; turning offices, like those at the old Angus Fire Armour building, into flats. Goodson’s Yard in Wellington Street, Thame, she added, was waiting to be developed for housing and that the employment sites there were not being taken up. Cllr Helena Fickling wondered how long the Government was going to allow Permitted Development to go on. She feared that the logic would be that Employment development would be allowed and then, at some point in the future, developers could use Permitted Development rights to build houses there!

Permitted Development ‘collateral damage’ says MP

Cllr Mike Dyer said that there was no indication that the government would change Permitted Development rules. In fact, he added, Thame’s MP, John Howell, when challenged at a recent meeting, had said that ‘the impact on Market Towns of Permitted Development, was: “collateral damage!”

Cllr David Bretherton said that it was possible for planning authorities to issue an ‘Article 4 direction’ on a new build, removing Permitted Development rights, thereby requiring planning permission for any change in the future.

At the end of the meeting, Councillors agreed that their collated comments should be sent to the District Planning Officer at South Oxfordshire District Council.