Thame.net

Category: Thame news

  • Councillor Criticises Local ‘Marbella’ Hotel Plan

    THE design for a new 50 bedroom hotel extension to a local golf club, has been criticised by a Thame town councillor.
    Cllr David Dodds, speaking at a meeting of the town council’s planning committee, said that whilst he agreed with the concept of building a hotel onto the Oxfordshire Golf Club complex, the design reminded him of “a Marbella sea front hotel,” and suggested that it needed “a bit of architectural treatment to help it blend in.”
    Cllr David Laver said that there were many reservations when the plans for the original building were put forward and that consideration must now be made to the new proposals’ effect on the sky-line of the area.
    The final decision on the plans, which include ground and first floor extensions to provide additional office accommodation and a first floor dining room, will be made by South Oxfordshire District Council.

  • TLC Charity Open Day For ‘Gadget’

    Thame Leisure centre are hosting a charity Open Day, the proceeds from which will be donated to the Martin Gadd Charity and the Brain Wave children?s charities.
    Martin, better known as ‘Gadget’ to his friends, was paralysed from the waist down after a traumatic fall whilst on a night out with friends.
    The programme for the event, to be held on Saturday, October 21, is aimed at all the family and will include:

  • Link To Thame Cattlemarket Application

    A Planning application, recently submitted for a relocated Thame Cattlemarket and Agricultural Business Centre, can be viewed at Link

  • Time Table For Thame Library

    THE county council has presented its latest ideas for Thame’s new library.
    At a recent meeting between the county librarian, representatives from The Friends of Thame Library and town councillors, it was reaffirmed that Oxfordshire County Council’s preferred scheme is for a new building to replace the current premises (Pied Pedaller)in North Street, with a library on the ground floor.

    A mezzanine floor will apparently provide flexibe space for other uses – possibly an office, premises for the Citizens Advice Bureau etc – which will “future-proof” the development if the library eventually requires more space for itself.

    According to Thame County Cllr, Nick Carter, who will present his report to the town council this evening (7.30pm council chamber), the likely schedule will begin with an informal consultation at SODC (planning) about the outline scheme before detailed design work commences.
    “It is hoped,” states Cllr Carter, “that the proposal for capital spending will get Cabinet approval in February, moving towards a start-date around summer of 2007 and occupation a year or so after that.”

    NB The current library has 98 sq ft of public space, whereas the new building is expected to provide 262 sq ft.

  • Woman Seriously Hurt In Seven-Car Pile Up

    POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a woman was air-lifted to hospital following a collision involving seven vehicles.
    The accident happened on Friday (Sept 29), on the Long Crendon Road (B4011), just outside Thame, about 400ms toward Oakley from the entrance to Woodway Farm.

    Vehicles had been held up on the Oakley-bound carriageway, by a stationary recovery truck attempting to recover a car from the hedgerow.
    A dark blue, Ford Focus then came round the corner and collided with several vehicles before coming to rest on the opposite side of the road.

    The female driver of the Ford Focus sustained serious injuries and, after being removed from the vehicle by the ambulance and fire services, was taken by air ambulance to the JR2 where her condition is critical.

    Police are appealing for any witnesses prior to the collision or the collision itself.

    Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area between the times mentioned is asked to contact PC Adrian White at Aylesbury Police Station on 0845 8 505 505 or, if you don?t want to talk to police or give your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

    You can also give information to the police in person by visiting any police station. To find out the opening times and location of your local station please call 0845 8 505 505 or visit: Link

  • Have Your Say On Planning Development

    THAME residents are to be given the opportunity to have their say and quiz planning officers, at a public exhibition about the future development of the district.
    South Oxfordshire District Council is preparing a plan that will shape the future of the district and is, it says, asking for the public’s help in making the best decisions.
    This is your chance to have your say on new development in South Oxfordshire and give your input into planning the future of your district.
    Find out about the Site Allocations Plan by coming along to this, one of a series of District Council exhibitions where planning officers will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.
    The Thame exhibition will be at Thame Town Hall on Tuesday, October 10, from 3pm to 8pm.

    For more information, see web site,
    or e-mail: planning.policy@southoxon.gov.uk or phone 01491 823725.

  • UPVC Door Warning After Thame Burglaries

    RESIDENTS in the Thame area are being urged to double lock UPVC doors using a key, after a spate of burglaries in the area.
    UPVC doors can be locked from the inside by lifting up the handle, but offenders have been reaching in through letter boxes and pulling the handle down to get into houses to commit burglaries.

    Overnight from September 21-22, four burglaries occurred in Thame; two in Montrose Way, one in Onslow Drive, where a car was stolen, and one in Stuart Way. In each burglary offenders reached something through the letterbox to release the door.

    Crime reduction adviser, Lesley Nesbit, said: ?We believe thieves are deliberately targeting houses with these doors in the hope they will not be properly locked.
    ?It is vital that anyone with a UPVC door locks it with a key and removes the key well away from the door and out of sight. Lifting the inside handle up is not enough to secure your property.
    ?Also, ensure any other doors and windows are locked and that keys are out of sight.
    ?If in doubt, contact your UPVC door installer or your local crime reduction advisor.?

    Your local crime reduction officer is Lesley Nesbitt ?on 01844 264 945

    If you have information or witnessed any of these burglaries please contact police via 0845 8 505 505. If you do not wish to speak to police or give your name you can call the Crimestppers Charity on 0800 555 111.

  • Neighbourhood Watch – Ringmaster Message

    THIS is a message about two burglaries in Montrose Way, Thame.
    Between 11pm on September 21, and 6am on Friday, September 22, an offender gained entry to a property in Montrose Way, and stole a Satellite navigation device and a mobile phone. The offender also removed the bulb from the outside light, and discarded it on the the lawn.

    In the early hours of Friday, September 22, another property in Montrose Way, was burgled. Entry was gained through the UPVC front door which had been left open.
    Property stolen included a handbag and its contents, and photographic equipment.

    Anyone with information that may help the police with enquiries, is asked to call 08458 505505.

    To find ourt more about Neighbourhoold Watch in YOUR area, see: LINK

  • October Gardening News Letter

    WHAT a beautiful month September has been. I returned from holiday on the 6th and the sun seems to have been shining ever since. The odd drop of rain has helped the gardens and it is lovely to see them looking healthier and greener.
    The down side is the weeds are still growing. October is one of the busiest times in the garden and I have given some tips, below, on what you should be doing. I always think of this month being the beginning of the gardening year.
    I have had a busy time this month. I attended a wonderful seminar at my nursery. As most of you know, they grow almost specifically for designers and it was a delight to walk around the nursery looking at all the new stock. I shall certainly be including some new specimens in my Planting Plans. We were discussing the impact of continuing drought conditions and seeking solutions to this ongoing problem.
    I also attended the results of the New Homes Garden Awards at the Royal Garden Hotel in London last Friday. It was a fascinating day, meeting up with old colleagues and making new contacts amongst the developers. It was a very grand occasion with a champagne reception, reasonable (should have been better!) food and entertainment. We could have done without the latter, which bordered on crass, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. My very dear friend and fellow designer won her category and took the most coveted award of Best Garden of the Year. I?d like to enter next year, but the criteria might be against me. It has to be a
    garden in a new build property and I rarely get to do these.
    If any of you know of anyone moving into a brand new property who would like their garden designed, please do let me know.
    SEASONAL RECIPE:
    Roast Tomato Soup
    2 kilos of ripe tomatoes 2 Cloves Garlic
    Sugar Olive Oil
    Seasoning Stock
    Lemon juice

    Slice the tomatoes in half and place on a roasting tray in a single layer, cut side up. Crush the garlic and scatter over the tomatoes.
    Season well and sprinkle over some sugar, then drizzle over the olive oil.
    Roast for about 30 ?45 mins (180/Gas mark 4).
    Remove from the oven. When they are cooled sieve over a bowl to extract all the juices.
    De-glaze the pan with a bit of the stock or water, to get all
    the juices up.
    Add this to the sieved tomatoes and thin with more stock until you get the consistency you like.
    Add a squeeze of lemon and more sugar until you find the taste you like.

    You can stop at the first stage of this recipe and use the puree
    of tomatoes in stews and casseroles.

    SEASONAL TIPS
    Continue to cut down the stems of perennials. After they have been in the ground for a few years some perennials really benefit from being split. This is the ideal time to do it. Cut them down leaving a few inches of stem and then dig up the clump. Tease the roots apart and either re-plant or pot up. You can be quite brutal using two spades back to back or even a knife if you come across thick roots. If you have autumn flowering perennials, such
    as Asters, leave these until the spring to divide.
    Remember to go and buy those sticks! When you have cut the perennials down, place a stick next to the plant so that you can identify what are perennials and what are weeds next Spring.
    You can still take cuttings from shrubs and September and October are the best months for moving them if need be. If you don?t have time now, leave it until April next year.
    Sew sweet pea seeds in long pots. If you plant them at this time rather than the spring, you will get the earliest flowers next year.
    This goes for other hardy annuals, such as Cornflowers, Nigella and Larkspur.
    Prune back young growth on Pyracanthas to expose the ripening berries.
    Plant spring flowering bulbs, such as Tulips and Lilies.
    This is the best month for repairing and planting new lawns.
    For established lawns the best treatment is to aerate the whole area. There are gadgets available for doing this, but a good old- fashioned method is to use a fork dug into the lawn and wiggled around. This is very time consuming, but worth it. Then scarify and remove the debris to the compost heap. Top dress with a compatible seed mix together with soil or compost.
    Prune roses if you did not do it last month.

    VEGETABLE & FRUIT GARDEN
    The tomatoes are still going strong. Trim the leaves to expose any fruits that might still be ripening. Use cloches to cover any lettuces, spinach and parsley sown in
    late July. Plant spring cabbages and cauliflowers. Sow radishes and turnips to produce ?tops? for harvesting in spring and winter spinach for early winter and spring harvesting.
    Spray fruits such as peaches, plums and nectarines to protect against leaf curl.
    Remove fruit canes from soft fruit, such as raspberries. Cut them down to ground level and tie in the new canes.
    Dismantle climbing frames and store away. Plant garlic for next year?s crop in June/July.
    Continue to store apples. Pick up any fallen fruit to avoid disease.
    Plant up bulbs in containers for next spring, either for displays in the house or garden.
    I have just purchased another black compost bin from the council for the princely sum of

  • Mayor’s Cattlemarket Move Fears

    THAME’S Mayor has expressed his concerns over a proposal to move the town’s cattle market up to the Thame show ground.
    At a meeting of the Town council’s Planning committee last Tuesday, September 19, Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods spoke of his worries that increased traffic generated by the proposed move, would turn the A4129, Kingsey Road, “into the Berlin wall.”
    “The plan shows no consideration for the residents of Lea Park,” he said, “who sometimes have to wait for up to four minutes at peak time in the mornings now, to get out onto the by-pass with their vehicles.
    Mr Williams told the council that a full traffic assessment had been carried out.

    The town council decided that: “This is an important application and the documentation is considerable. To allow more time to absorb the papers, and being aware that the District Council would not be making an immediate decision, it was agreed that a recommendation on this application be deferred, pending a special Planning meeting to be held in October.” (Oct 10, at 6.30pm.)