Category: Thame news

TEENAGERS get a bad press much of the time, being generally tarred with the same ‘hanging about the streets making a nuisance of themselves’ brush. But here in Thame, a new drop-in cafe at the newly refurbished Christchurch is being used by more and more young people who meet together after school to play computer games, table tennis, take part in Art projects or just chill.
The cafe is run by Fusion, an Australian-based Youth and Commuity charitable organisation that aims to go out into the commumity and enrich the lives of young people.
13 year-old Russell told ThameNews.Net that he likes going to Fusion because otherwise he would just be on his computer alone in his room.
14 year-old Charlotte said she likes to meet friends and sit on the comfy sofas chatting. “I really like doing the Art stuff,” she said. Today we will be painting light bulbs but before we’ve done stuff like animal modelling which I really liked.”
The youngsters are able to relax with their friends and chat to Youth workers Tim Shaw and Zack Holt about any concerns or problems they might be experiencing.
The Youth Cafe is open on Mondays and Fridays between 3.30pm and 6pm, and refreshments, including Fair Trade chocalate is available.

ACTOR Robert Perkins, a regular in ‘The Bill’ for many years, is coming to Thame Cinema 4 All’s showing of “Inside I’m Dancing” this Saturday, Novemeber 26, to show his stunning short film, “Close Encounter”.
Robert has recently appeared in Holby, Rosemary and Thyme, has just returned from starring in “Dancing at Lugnhasa” in Manchester. He co-wrote, as well as starred, in this short film and will answer questions about his dual role.
Robert gave a master class in top tips for TV acting as part of SummerScreen’s special workshop at Thame Youth Centre. Matt Harris (14) commented at the time “It was really cool. Robert showed us how to make the fights look really good, with great angles for the shots.”

WITH the festive season upon us, thieves will be particularly keen to spot cars with Christmas shopping in them.

Police are advising everyone not to leave their shopping on view in their car as this is exactly what local thieves will be hoping for.

Much car crime is preventable. Follow these tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of car crime, and make sure it?s the criminals who don?t have a good Christmas.

? Boots: Don?t leave valuable items anywhere in your car, but if you are going to put them in the boot, do it before you arrive at your destination; any offenders lurking around are less likely to target your car if they don?t witness you hiding items in it.

? Keys: Don?t place your car keys near the letter box of your house; keep them out of sight and out of reach.

? Stereos: Remove your car stereo when leaving your vehicle. All new stereo units have this feature and many car manufacturers now include similar security. Take the fascia with you; don?t just put it in the glove compartment!

? Laptops: It?s a dangerous tactic to leave your laptop in the boot but if you must, turn it off fully- not just to hibernate- and make sure it is password protected.

? Handbags and gladrags: Empty handbags may not contain anything, but a potential thief doesn?t know this, and may still target your car. Remove from view anything that could be of value, such as coats, wallets, mobile phones and even golf clubs!

? Christmas shopping: Try to do all of your shopping before putting it in the car, so that you don?t have to leave it unattended.

? Parking: Try and park your car in a well lit area where there may be some people and traffic nearby. When leaving the car, check your surroundings. Are there people just hanging around, looking suspicious? If there is, park somewhere else.

? Pubs: If you are stopping off at the pub to meet friends, always follow the advice already given. While you?re making a toast inside, thieves could be making off with your valuables outside. Always be vigilant.

? Mark your Property: Maintain a log of the serial numbers of your electronic items, and mark them with your postcode and house number using a UV pen. You can pick these up for free from your local police station.

Need more info? Contact your local crime reduction advisor on 0845 8 505 505.

THE controversial siting of a Youth Shelter on the Southern Road Recreational ground, will be discussed tomorrow (Tuesday) by the town council.

The shelter, which some neighbours fear will increase noise and anti-social behaviour in the area, will be discussed at the town council’s culture, Leisure and Recreation committee in the Upper Chamber of the town hall, at 6.30pm.

The area where the metal igloo climbing frame stands at present, near the Guide HQ, is the favoured site by Thame Youth Council and young people in general because, they say, the area is near their route to and from school, and in where they currently congregate anyway.

To read more about youth shelters and why Thame Valley Police think they are a good idea, visit:
Link

WOULD you like to win the District Council’s portion of your council tax back?
To be in with a chance, all you have to do is use the Council?s kerbside recycling service and register for the competition.

At the end of each month until March 2006, South Oxfordshire District Council will pick five names and addresses out of a hat, one for each of the five recycling collection days (e.g. one winner for Monday, one for Tuesday etc). We will then check the winners? recycling to see if they are recycling and the prize money will be theirs!
(A typical band D property is

BAD behaviour on the part of revellers out on the town this Christmas, will not be tolerated by Thames Valley Police.
As part of its ‘Safer Streets’ campaign, anyone who is drunk and disorderly or violent in Oxfordshire town centres could be arrested and liable for an on-the-spot

FOLLOWING the news today that two people have died from Avian ‘flu in China, local people have been seeking official advice and information about what precaution should be taken in this country to avoid an outbreak. (photo of avian flu virus copyright of Vietnam.net www.vnn.net)
South Oxfordshire District Council’s advice on its website says:
“Avian influenza is a highly infectious disease affecting many species of birds, including commercial, wild and pet birds. Recent outbreaks of a new form of the virus, H5N1, have arisen in the Far East and more recently in Eastern Europe. However, the risk of introduction of this bird disease to the United Kingdom remains low.

“All people that keep poultry and other domestic birds should remain vigilant for signs of the disease and all keepers should maintain a high level of biosecurity to reduce the risk of introducing the disease.

For further guidance and advice on control measures and the latest health advise (including very useful frequently asked questions link, visit the Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Link

A very useful Frequently Asked Questions section on the Environmental Health Agency’s website can be found at:
Link

FIRE and Rescue Services are warning against leaving lit candles unattended after it was called out to a fire in a house in Walton Street, Oxford last night.

The two crews quickly dealt with the small fire which had been caused by a tea-light candle that had been placed directly on top of a hi-fi unit.

County Councillor Ray Jelf, Cabinet Member for Community Safety said: “It is imperative that, with Christmas almost upon us and with the increased likelihood of candles being used for decoration, people remember to take extra care when using lit candles in their homes.”

David Heycock, Community Fire Safety Manager at Oxfordshire County Council said: “Whenever people use candles in their homes they should remember the following guidelines to avoid the possibility of a lit candle causing a serious house fire:

? Always place candles well away from curtains, furniture and drapes
? Keep candles out of reach of children and pets
? Never leave a burning candle unattended
? Always place candles upright in suitable holders
? Always make sure that candles are properly extinguished.”

For further information and advice ring the Community Safety Helpline FREE on: 08000 325 999 or visit:
www.firekills.gov.uk

LOCAL Yachtsman, Adrian Flanagan, who is attempting to circumnavigate the world via the Polar regions, alone and without stopping, has got underway again after being forced back to port by bad weather and contaminated water supplies. (Photo By Rob Wheal)
Adrian re-started his expedition last Wednesday, November 9, sailing a south westerly course out of the English Channel. By Tuesday, November 15, he had rounded Cape Finisterre and entered portuguese waters in a calm sea and ideal sailing conditions.
Adrian sailed along the Portuguese coast for most of Wednesday heading south west as planned and arrived in Barrabas later that day in light conditions.

Follow Adrians exploits via his diary on the website:
Link

FOLLOWING criticism and a vote of No Confidence in South Oxfordshire’s Returning Officer, he has announced that an outside authority’s RO will be brought in to conduct a review into what went wrong.

SODC’s Chief Executive and Returning Officer, David Buckle, was criticised from several quarters for errors, omissions and the mishandling of May 5’s local elections and AV referendum, including a Vote of No Confidence by Thame Town Council.

Some residents were turned away from the polling booths on May 5, and there were problems with postal votes being sent out late and to the wrong addresses. Other errors included sending out inadequately sized, pre-paid envolopes for the return of postal and proxy votes.

Chief Executive of South Oxfordshire District Council and Returning Officer David Buckle says a thorough review will be carried out.

He has been reported (by Mix ’96) as having written to the political leaders at both SODC and Thame Town Council to tell them of a review into the way the referendum was conducted and the 96 separate elections that took place on Thursday, May 5, across South and Vale: “.. to see what improvements we could have made.”

He has promised to bring in an experienced returning officer from elsewhere to carry out it out, which is likely to take a number of weeks.

David Buckle then says that he intends to publish the results and present them to each council’s scrutiny committee, and that until that is complete he does not intend to make any further statement.

He has however, thanked all the people involved in the election this year, the election team, the polling staff and vote counters for all the effort they put in on May 5 and 6.