Category: Thame news

THAMES VALLEY POLICE have reported that criminal damage has fallen by over 43 per cent in Thame since Operation Mend was launched in June this year.
The figures compare June to August with the previous three months, March to June. Chinnor has seen a 36.4 per cent reduction and Wheatley has seen a 36.8 per cent fall.

Oxford-based charity Oxfam, whose shops include two in Thame, is moving with the times to launch Britain’s first online charity shop.
The charity, now based in Cowley, hopes that the new venture, will generate

A GROUP of 20 people from Thame has just returned from a weekend of culture and fun in and around the town?s French twin town of Montesson, near Paris.
The visit included a trip to Anet Castle (Ch

THAME Police are appealing for witnesses following a serious assault in Thame on Friday (14/9).
At around 11pm, a 25-year-old man was walking along Wellington Street from the direction of North Street when, as he approached Ludsden Grove, he was attacked from behind by three men. Then he was punched repeatedly and fell to the ground.
The offenders were seen leave in a silver hatchback car and drove off in the direction of East Street.
PC Adam Flello said: “The man has a fractured cheekbone, possibly a broken nose and his face is bruised and swollen.
“I am keen to speak to anyone who may know who the offenders are and anyone who saw anything suspicious that evening. I would also like to speak to the occupants of a silver mini, a purple or silver Ford Escort and a silver Fiat Punto, all of which were seen in the area at the time of the attack and could be vital witnesses. If that was you then please come forward to help us catch these people.
“This was a particularly nasty, cowardly incident. The man was attacked from behind in what appears to be a completely unprovoked attack.”

If anyone has any information they are requested, to contact PC Flello of Thame Police on 0845 8 505 505 or alternatively they can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A 23-year-old man has been charged with arson following a fire at Lord Williams’s School in Thame on June 30.
The man, known as Craig Michael Hughes, currently of no fixed abode, has been remanded in custody by Oxford Magistrates? Court and will appear again on September 24.
A 22-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy have been released without charge.
The fire destroyed the school’s drama studio and caused the school to be closed for several days while what remained of the structure was made safe.
The school was recently granted planning permission for the siting of a temporary building whilst the drama facility is rebuilt.

LAND Owners, residents, the Police and others likely to be effected by widening Thame’s Designated Drinking Area, are to be consulted by the district council.
Following a meeting by Thame Town Council’s Policy and Resources committee on Tuesday (11/09), the proposal is to add Park Street, Southern Road, Moreton Lane, Spring Path and the car parks behind the High Street, to the existing area.
The town council has felt it necessary to extend the existing area to deal with the problem of anti-social behaviour associated with the mis-use of alcohol, which has been displaced to other areas, since its introduction in 2004.
The Designated Drinking Order gives the police the right to demand that anyone acting in an anti-social way, who is drinking alcohol from an open container, pour that drink away and if asked, give their name and address to the requesting officer.
Contrary to popular belief, it does not mean that drinking alcohol within the area is unlawful.

THE terms of an offer from the district council to sell the old Market House to Thame Town Council, have been rejected.
Negotiations between SODC and Thame Town Council about transferring ownership of the Market House to the town council have been going on for some time. Suddenly, in August, the town council was informed that the Citizens Advice Bureau, which currently occupies the top floor of the building, was to have the old Tourist Information shop space included in its lease, leaving only the public toilets and the basement available for other use.
The new terms include a proviso that the CAB stays where it is and pays the council an annual rent of

COLD callers planning to visit Little Milton will be given the cold shoulder from this Thursday, when a ‘No cold-calling zone’ is to be introduced.
It is hoped that the zone will protect residents from distraction burglars and unscrupulous door-to-door sales people.
The Police have joined forces with Trading Standards, Little Milton Parish Council and local residents to put the zone in place.

Each household will receive a ‘No cold-calling zone’ pack and crime reduction literature with an ultra-violet marker pen to mark their electrical property, mobile phones and other valuables.
Signs will be put up in the area to let visitors know that cold callers are not welcome.

Lesley Nesbit, a Crime Reduction Officer, said: ?A No Cold Calling Zone empowers people to turn cold callers away. It makes it far harder for distraction burglars to prey on the elderly and vulnerable and reduces the risk of people being ripped off by rogue traders simply because they will not get past the door.
“In other areas, these zones have reduced distraction burglary and rogue trading dramatically.”

Officers from all the agencies involved will be in Little Milton between 10am and 1pm to discuss the initiative with residents.

STAFF at Thame Cattle Market were this afternoon devasted, at the news that a second outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease has been confirmed, this time in Egham, Surrey.
Just as things were beginning to get back to something like near-normal after the lifting of the ban on animal movements, Cattlemarket staff and management were looking forward to 5,000 sheep arriving at the market on Friday, to be sold. Now that will not be happening and all staff can do is sit and wait for instructions from DEFRA, and fear the worst – that hundreds of farmers’ incomes and livelihoods will once again be threatened, and the future of the cattlemarket itself is jeopordised.

A movement ban of cattle, sheep, pigs and other ruminants has now been imposed in England and parallel arrangements are being made by the Scottish and Welsh administrations. No movements of susceptible animals are allowed except under licence.

In England, controls are in place on movement of animal carcasses, animal gatherings, shearing and dipping are restricted, and all farms must increase levels of biosecurity. In both the Protection and Surveillance Zones, there will be requirements for increased levels of biosecurity on farms, movement controls, controls on transportation of dung/manure and treatment of animal products to ensure destruction of the FMD virus.

Secretary of State for the Environment, Hilary Benn, said:”This is news that no one wanted to hear, least of all the farming industry. The immediate establishment of both a Protection Zone, with footpaths closed within it, and a national animal movement ban shows our determination to contain and eradicate this latest outbreak. Having spoken this morning to farming industry representatives, I know they share this view and the utmost vigilance is now needed from everyone.”