Category: Thame news

AT around 10.35am on Thursday (23/1) the victim, a 74-year-old woman, was withdrawing money at the Lloyds bank cashpoint in Cornmarket, Thame when an unknown man approached her.

The man leant across her and told her that the cashpoint was not working. He then left in the direction of Rooks Lane.

The victim later realised that an amount of money was missing.

The offender is described as a black man, around 6ft tall, aged between 30 to 40-years-old, of medium build, with black curly hair and a full black beard. He was wearing a black anorak coat and black trousers.

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who recognises the description of this offender please contact us using our online form or by calling 101, quoting reference number 43200025493.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

THAME’s Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is having to deal with an increasing number, and more complex cases, with less resources and is in need of more volunteers, not just advisors but also receptionists, administrators and IT support.

In the year 2018-2019, the CAB helped almost 2,500 people, 10% more than in the previous year, of which 800 were residents of Thame – up quite significantly from 630 the previous year. Many of these were people with problems with tax, Universal Credit, debt and women with violent partners. Because Housing Benefit is so low, those reliant on it have only a modest amount of money left after the high cost of housing in the area.

Although Thame CAB has been managing since the Bureau’s cut in funding from South Oxfordshire District Council, it is now looking for donors from the business community etc to help cover its costs, in this, the 40th year of operations here in Thame. Citizens’ Advice Bureaux were infact originally set up 80 years-ago to help citizens cope with war. The Bureau does receive an annual grant from Thame Town Council.

The CAB service provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. Anyone who would like more information about volunteering and training with Thame CAB, can email: thame@osavcab.org.uk

THE Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has stated that it believes Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State Housing, Communities and Local Government has no right to intervene as he has, and threaten to pass the South Oxfordshire Local Plan over to the county council.

SEE BACKGROUND STORY https://www.thame.net/archives/59603

In a statement, CPRE state: “South Oxfordshire District Council is right to resist the Growth Board’s grossly disproportionate Growth Strategy involving excessive development across the County, which the other Councils have gone along with for the money on offer from the Government and against the best interests of their own residents.”

The campaign group has accused others councils of ‘jumping into the Growth Strategy development trough’.

The statement goes on: “As we pointed out at the time of the Secretary of State’s original letter of October 9, 2019 (LINK HERE), we do not think he had a right to intervene on the grounds stated. Now, after a four-month delay caused entirely by his own actions, he seems to be searching for multiple grounds on which to base his interference.”

Meanwhile, CPRE Oxfordshire’s Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, asking to see the evidence on which the decision to issue the holding notice was made, has been refused.

CPRE’s full statement HERE

NB The Oxfordshire Growth Board has had to review itself following criticism, among other things, of a lack of consultation with the public and stakeholders. https://www.oxfordshiregrowthboard.org/

SINCE declaring a Climate Emergency on April 11, 2019, South Oxfordshire District Council has established a Climate Emergency Advisory Committee (CEAC) to recommend mitigating actions and to advise its Cabinet on matters relating to climate change – and anyone is welcome to attend.

If you would like to attend to observe the next committee meeting, go along on January 28, at 4:30pm in Meeting Room 1, 135 Eastern Avenue, Milton Park, Milton, OX14 4SB. If you would like to register to speak at the meeting, contact SODC’s Democratic Services team on 01235 422520 or email democratic.services@southandvale.gov.uk. The reports for the committee meeting will be available from January 21, on SODC’s website.

Carbon neutral by 2030

Since the CEAC first met on September 19, 2019, it has recommended to Cabinet that the district council becomes carbon neutral in its operations by 2025, and a carbon neutral district by 2030. A motion for the same targets was agreed at Cabinet and Full Council.

In a letter to local councils about the meeting, SODC stated: “A programme of work has been scoped, with options of projects to achieve the desired targets, and is structured around seven themes: council business, housing, partnership, infrastructure, transport, biodiversity and behaviour change.

“Once all options have been reviewed, we will prioritise projects based on feasibility, impact, resource required and carbon savings, and this will be drawn together into a coherent strategy for climate change.

Residents can get involved too!

“We are committed to engaging with residents and communities, particularly through town and parish councils. The programme of work includes options for how we can do this, such as, engaging with our stakeholders in the decision-making process(es) – for example through a Residents Advisory Group and/or facilitating workshops with town and parish councils to understand local needs. Where possible, we will look to connect with our stakeholders to create actions plans that complement our overarching vision for the district.”

The district council wants to hear what activities town and parish councils are doing, or projects they are starting, and welcome their views on SODC’s options for working together ‘to support this important and critical agenda’. It is hoped that there will be opportunities for CEAC members to attend town and parish council’s organised meetings to discuss their own approach to the climate emergency.

Suggestions please!

If anyone has any suggestions as to how everyone can work together to help tackle climate change, they can contact the CEAC via: haveyoursay@southandvale.gov.uk

WILLIAM Wright, 29, of Cotmore Gardens, Thame, has been disqualified from driving after he drove a Volkswagen Golf on Ellesborough Road, Buckinghamshire, with a quantity of two controlled drugs in his system (benzoylecgonine and cocaine).

He was disqualified from holding a driving licence for 12 months, fined £275 and rdered to pay a victim surcharge of £32 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

Wild Oxfordshire News

SAVE THE DATE – Saturday, March 28, 10am – 4.30pm, Benson village hall. More details next month – a Conference for all local environment groups.

With such pressure for development across the county, the need to protect and enhance our green spaces, and biodiversity has never been more important. Most parishes are now drawing up Neighbourhood Plans and many local groups are getting involved in the process. If you have risen to the challenge of preparing a NP for your parish, or are wondering where to start, go along to the conference to find out more.

The ‘nuts and bolts’ will be addressed during a series of presentations in the morning and, after lunch, there will be a guided walk around Benson showcasing the achievements that Benson’s Nature Group has already been able to make through the process. By the end of the day, we’ll all know more about getting gains for wildlife out of the Neighbourhood Planning process.

Wild Oxfordshire needs a Director

Wild Oxfordshire is currently recruiting for the position of Director. The role will provide an opportunity for an enthusiastic, experienced and committed person to help shape and lead the response to the many challenges that nature faces within Oxfordshire. The job is described as ‘an opportunity to deliver, at a county-wide level, the UK ambition to become the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we received it’

For further details, a role specification and information on how to apply visit: https://www.wildoxfordshire.org.uk/about/

Community policing awards 2020

NOMINATIONS have opened for this year’s Community Policing Awards (CPAs). Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond in their role? Someone who you believe should be recognised for their hard work and efforts over the last year? Could you provide an example of how they have exceeded what is expected of them?

The CPAs are a chance for people to nominate officers, staff and volunteers who have made a real difference to their community while working for Thames Valley Police. They take place each year at a ceremony held at Eynsham Hall near Witney in Oxfordshire in May and are now in their nineteenth year.

Nominations for the nine award categories are open until Monday, February 24. To nominate someone for an award visit the Thames Valley Police website to fill out a short form explaining your reasons. LINK HERE

DATES for your diary – the dates for this year’s TAL Festival, which will be this growing festival’s 10th anniversary, are October 15 – 20, 2020.

THAME Children’s Cinema’s next showing is The Lion King. Sunday, 26 January, 2.30pm, The Players Theatre, Nelson Street. Tickets £5 each. All profits to the Red Kite Family Centre. Available from: redkitefamilycentre.org/events.

THAME CARNIVAL 2020 – Saturday, June 13, 2020 – 12 noon – 4pm – Theme for this year, ‘Heart of Thame’ – All parade entries have the freedom to dress as they want to!

Thame Carnival Organisation needs help!

If you can help with anything at all, no matter how big or small, please get in touch. The carnival team really needs an Event Lead as after four years, Sue Martin-Downhill has stepped down this year.

Sue said: “We would love this community event to take place again this year and prove that the “Heart of Thame” is beating strongly.

“We are also looking for Sponsors and advertisers for this year’s Carnival – please go to the website for more information or to book your spot.” www.thamecarnival.co.uk

Charities for this Year: Thame & District Day Care Centre, LWS Young Carers and Thame Girl Guiding.

A public meeting is to be held about the future of South Oxfordshire District Council’s Local Plan, following the news that the Secretary of State is considering moving planning powers away from SODC to Oxfordshire County Council.

The event will be hosted by the non-party-political campaign group, A Better South Oxfordshire, who are concerned about the change that the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick, may authorise at the end of January.

In a press statement, A Better South Oxfordshire said: “As residents of South Oxfordshire we are very concerned. Many people seem to share our concern so we have asked our elected representatives to update us on the background to this and the possible consequences for our villages and rural life, on Saturday, January 25, at 2pm at Wheatley Park School in Holton, near Wheatley.

Anyone who would like to attend can click on this link for a free ticket https://southoxoninthedark.eventbrite.co.uk

The invited panelists include MPs John Howell, Anneliese Dodds and Layla Moran, as well as Councillors Sue Cooper (SODC), Susan Brown (Oxford City), Emily Smith (Vale) and Ian Hudspeth (Oxfordshire County). The Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick has also been invited.

If you’d like to receive more updates, you can sign up at www.abettersouthoxfordshire.org.uk/volunteers

Watch this ten-minute film about the campaign so far:

www.abettersouthoxfordshire.org.uk/oxfordshire-is-under-threat

FOLLOWING the news that the environmental movement, Extinction Rebellion (XR) had been labelled on a list of extremist ideologies, in a Guide aimed partly at schools, any concerned parents in Thame can rest easy after today.

A spokesperson for Lord Williams’s School in Thame, told Thame.Net today: ” I can confirm that Lord Williams’s School did not receive the ‘Safeguarding Young People and Adults from Ideological Extremism’ guide and therefore no action has been taken in response to the document.

The leaflet, issued by Counter-terrorism police in south-east England, advised teachers and anyone to flag up young people taking part in non-violent direct action, such as sit-down protests, banner drops or ‘writing environmentally themed graffiti’. The document also advised listening and looking out for young people who ‘neglect to attend school’ or ‘participate in planned school walkouts’.

They were asked to look out for people who speak in ‘strong or emotive terms about environmental issues like climate change, ecology, species extinction, fracking, airport expansion or pollution’ and report them to Prevent, the government’s anti-radicalisation programme.

According to reports in the national press, the Police have said that they were recalling the guidance and that XR had been included ‘in error’ in the guide, which was distributed to police, government and teachers in November 2019.

The three primary schools in Thame have not yet responded to Thame.Net’s enquiry as to whether they had been sent the Guide.