Thame.net

Category: Thame news

  • Thame School Bus Driver Reported Over Mobile Phone

    A bus driver who was seen using a mobile phone as he manoevered his vehicle outside a busy school, has been reported to his employer and the police.
    Parent, Cathy Gaulter-Carter, who was showing a County Council officer around the town’s walking and cycling routes, said she could not believe her eyes when she spotted the school bus driver steering the bus load of children from Lord Williams’s Lower school out of the school exit, turn left and then negotiate the busy zebra crossing outside the school with one hand – the other holding the phone up to his ear.
    Mrs Gaulter-Carter said: “I cannot believe that this man, who has the safety of our children in his hands, could have acted in such an irresponsible way. There were lots of children milling out of school at the time and his irresponsible behaviour put those young people at risk.”
    Mrs Gaulter-Carter complained to the school who said that they were told that the driver had been spoken to, and that the police had said that no action can be taken by them unless the incident was witnessed by two police officers.
    Emails have been sent to Motts by Mrs Gaulter-Carter and by the editor of ThameNews.Net, asking what the company’s policy is regarding mobile phone use by their drivers, and what disciplinary action will be taken against the driver, but so far no reply has been received.

    Photo: School buses collect pupils from Lord Williams’ school, Towersey Road, just before the white bus on the right is seen to be driven out of the school one-handed, while the driver uses a mobile phone with his left hand.

  • Lack Of Energy Saving To New Housing Development Disappoints Councillors

    THAME town councillors have expressed their disappointment that homes currently being built on the old Rycotewood college site will not have double glazing.
    Councillor Peter Cockayne told fellow councillors at a meeting of the Planning committee yesterday, that he had been told that apartments being converted from the old Workhouse building on the site, will not be double glazed because Conservation Officers had disallowed it.
    The irony of the District Council’s Officers’ decision was not lost on some of those present, who had been discussing the Draft Sustainable Development Strategy for 2007-2010, currently being formulated by South Oxfordshire District Council.
    The document states that the strategy will include: “…encouraging developers and architects to specify new buildings and refurbishments with high environmental standards, including energy and water saving measures..”

    District and Town Cllr David Dodds, had presented a synopsis of the Draft consultation document explaining that it included a commitment to ensure that the district council’s chosen Contractors in Procurement of services, are fully compliant with sustainability and that Building Control Inspectors would receive training about sustainability.
    He called the document: “A very important step forward for what is a very uncertain future.”

    The Planning committee agreed to write to the Conservation Officer about decisions regarding the Rycotewood development.

  • Culture or Vanity?

    THAME town councillors are to consider spending up to

  • Washing Machine Stolen – Chinnor

    POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a brand new washing machine, still boxed and wrapped in its plastic, was stolen from a block of flats in Chinnor last week (02/01).
    The Samsung P1253 washing machine was delivered to Glynswood House, Glynswood Meadow at 9am. It was taken from the communal area of the block between 11.30am and 1.30pm the same day.

    Anyone with information should contact PC Matthew Rantle at Thame Police Station via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

    If you don?t want to speak to police and don?t want to leave your name, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

  • Thame Meeting To Promote New Neighbourhood Policing Scheme

    THE rolling out of a new community policing project in the Thames Valley area is coming to the Thame area.
    A key part of this new strategy, which is a partnership between Thames Valley Police, local communities and the district council, is for public meetings to take place in each area of the neighbourhood.
    The meetings are an opportunity for the local community to tell police and council representatives what particular policing, community safety and quality of life issues concern them. From this meeting priorities decided upon by the community will become apparent and taken to a Neighbourhood Action Group that will be set up, probably in conjunction with the existing Thame Community Safety Group.

    The Thame public meeting will be at Thame Town Hall on Wednesday, January 17, between 7.30pm and 9pm.

  • Swap Your Unwanted Christmas Gifts

    WOULD you like to swap your unwanted Christmas gifts or other unwanted possessions locally? Thame Waste Action Group (TWAG) is holding a Swap Shop on Saturday, January 20, from 10am to 1pm in the Town Hall, High Street, Thame, Oxon OX9 3DP
    What is a Swap Shop?
    It is a waste exchange event where members of the public have the chance to get rid of things they don?t want and pick up something they need ? all for free!
    Many people describe it as a kind of cashless jumble sale. Participants do not need to bring anything in order to take away goods and vice versa. Swap Shops recognise that one man?s junk is another man?s treasure and use this fact to reduce ?waste?. Many groups run Swap Shops both to divert waste going to landfill and out of a sense of outrage at our wasteful society.

    Items to be exchanged should be brought along on the day. You are most welcome to donate and not take any items and vice versa.

    Why not bring along items cleared to make way for Christmas gifts? The types of items to bring along are:

    CDs/DVDs/Videos
    Books
    Kitchen goods
    Gardening Equipment
    Clothes
    Bric -a- brac
    Toys
    Games

    Electrical items are not permitted due to regulations. If there are large items, such as furniture, which you would like to get rid of then bring along a photo with contact details and these can be pinned up on a board.

    For further information please contact Alison Isherwood, 21st Century Thame Project Officer on 07944 175633 or e-mail ai@21stcenturythame.org.uk

  • Suspected Illegal Immigrants Found In Thame Oil Drums

    THREE people, suspected of being illegal immigrants, were found by a Thame employee on Friday (05/01/07) – hiding in oil drums.
    See full story
     as reported by the Bucks Free Press.

  • Thame To Host Joint Concert With French Choir

    SINGERS from Thame will be joined by a choir from its twin town, Montesson, in May for a concert in St Mary’s church.
    The concert will be on Saturday, May 25, and the exciting programme will include the two choirs singing together Puccini’s Messa di Gloria.
    Members of the french choir will be staying as the guests of members of Thame Choral Society and other local families involved with the Thame and District Twinning Association.

    Any singers who would like to join Thame Choral Society can call Angela Tremayne on 01844 279797 for more information, or just go along to practice night, Wednesdays during term time, 7.30pm in the Community Education room, Lord Williams’s lower school. (Behind the Youth Centre).

  • New Plan For Food Waste Recycling

    FOOD waste produced by Oxfordshire residents may soon be processed rather than thrown into landfill sites.
    Oxfordshire County Council has given the go-ahead to go out to tender to find the best company to deliver the new technology. It is hoped that this will be in place in two years’ time.
    District Councils across the county work with the county council as part of the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership. The OWP indicated in late 2006 that it wanted the idea of food waste processing to be pursued.
    OCC have said: “The process will mean that collections of food waste can be conducted by district councils and will help the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership cut back even more on the amount of waste that is sent to landfill. Currently over 33% of waste is recycled. However strict Government imposed fines come into effect from 2009 if targets to divert waste from landfill are not met.
    “The county council has already set in motion the process of finding technology to deal with all waste that is not recycled. That tendering process will determine the nature of the chosen technology. The county council is neutral about which technology will eventually be chosen.”

    Oxfordshire is one of the highest recycling counties in the country. However, some European countries recycle far more, although none of them recycle anywhere near 100% and all have to use other technologies to avoid large amounts of waste going to landfill.

    Councillor Kieron Mallon, Chairman of the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership, said: “Oxfordshire is full of keen recyclers who want to do their bit for the environment. This new technology will give them far more scope to do that. All Oxfordshire councils are working together to deliver this and I look forward to the technology coming on stream.”

    Councillor Roger Belson, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “This was an easy decision to take. It is pure common sense for us to pursue food waste processing. From 2009 councils will be fined if they do not meet strict targets to divert waste from landfill. This new technology will help us along the way and will be welcomed by Oxfordshire people who have proved their green credentials time and time again.”

  • January Gardening News Letter From Jane Follis

    I HOPE you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year. We had a very relaxed time catching up on everything, including sleep and I am feeling really excited about 2007. I have some lovely projects either underway or about to start and plenty more to design. My ?to do? list now runs to three pages!

    I spent New Year?s Day with my Marshall?s Seed catalogue planning the vegetable garden for this year. I invested in a new juicer over the break and have been stunned at the delicious recipes. My veg patch is going to reflect a lot of the ingredients I will need, including a new blueberry shrub. I have also decided to get rid of my fruit cage and all the fruit bar one row of raspberries. I think they are past their sell by date and I found I couldn?t physically eat all the fruit. This will give the extra space needed for the more exotic vegetables I want to grow.
    www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk

    If you missed sowing sweet peas last year, Marshalls offer plug plants which they send out at the appropriate time.
    My grand hopes of digging it all over during the break were thwarted by the inclement weather and lack of physical energy, (plus needing to do three months worth of accounts) but hopefully I can get out there this weekend and start preparing the ground. The timing will be perfect particularly if we get some sharp frosts as these help to break down the soil ready for planting in the spring. It will also be a great opportunity to empty my compost bins and incorporate this into the soil.

    Thank you to everyone who gave me contacts for the database. I have had to put this on hold for a wee while, but having said that a friend gave me a very good idea on New Year?s Eve which could push the whole idea ahead more quickly than I anticipated. I just need to find time to make some phone calls and find out how much it might all cost.

    NOTE: We have been experiencing technical difficulties with my website. If anyone has tried to reach me via the ?Contact? page, do please try again, or give me a call. We think it has been out of order since May!!

    RECIPE
    Roast Vegetables
    1 Squash Sweet potato (optional)
    Carrots Parma ham
    Potatoes Peccorino cheese
    Garlic
    Rosemary
    Olive oil

    This combination goes really well with almost anything and has a slight sweetness to it. It is equally good as a meal in itself.
    Chop all the vegetables into equal sizes. The sweet potato is optional ? not a favourite of mine, so I tend to leave it out. Leave the skin on the garlic and bash it with the back of a knife. Use about five cloves. Chop up the rosemary and toss everything in plenty of oil.
    Put into an oven about Gas Mark 5 or 180 Electric and roast for about 30 minutes until golden brown and not too soft. Add the parma ham, ripped up and return to the oven for about 5 minutes. Flake the peccorino cheese (you could use Parmesan) and sprinkle over.

    SEASONAL TIPS
    Although we still have a few months of horrible dank, cold weather to endure, I can?t help getting excited at this time of year. As already mentioned the seed order is in the post and I will probably get some of them started in the kitchen as soon as I can, in the hope of an early crop.

    I finally pulled, or dragged would be more appropriate, my pots of Agapanthus into the greenhouse and hope they will be comfortable there for the winter. As mentioned last month, do start putting protection around the more tender plants, such as Phormiums and Astelias, particularly if they were planted this year. If you need any advice, please contact me.

    All my tools are sitting in the shed ready for a clean. This is a good time to do it, although it is best to clean tools after each use. My intentions are always good, but I am guilty of not following my own advice and tend to leave it. I also try and wash all my pots ready for all those seedlings, using warm water and washing up liquid. At the same time the greenhouse will get a good clean and tidy up.

    Some of my grasses, particularly Miscanthus floridulus and Miscanthus zebrinus have really taken a battering by the wind. Normally, I would leave them until early spring before cutting them down, but they are looking tatty rather than attractive, so I shall have a bonfire very soon. I have also lost a huge branch of my buddliea, so this will be going the same way. The rest of the garden is looking remarkably good and just needs a gentle tidy up. I shall be removing any diseased leaves from the hellebores so that I can get the full benefit of their lovely nodding blooms over the next few weeks.

    Despite the drought conditions this year, we now have some very wet lawns. Try not to walk on them too much ? this goes for frost as well. The compaction damages the roots and will result in brown patches.

    Plant or transplant trees and hedging.
    Continue to check ties. The winds have been very strong.

    VEGETABLE & FRUIT GARDEN
    Sow broad bean, leek, brassicas and onion seeds under glass.
    Marshalls sell onion sets and I can thoroughly recommend ?Red Baron?. 100 onions cost about