Category: Thame news

NEW parking restrictions are being proposed for several streets in Thame, including Chinnor Road, Park Street and Wellington Street.
Concerns about parking problems in some of the streets of Thame have been the subject of much heated discussion over the past two or three years and Thame?s Traffic Advisory committee, which includes both town and county councillors, has listened to many complaints and lobbying groups, including the Fire Service who have expressed concerns particularly about the narrowing of Chinnor Road by parking on both sides of the road.
Other streets affected are Chowns Close, Cotmore Gardens, Kings Close, Moats Crescent, Park Terrace, Station Yard, Thame Park Road and Wentworth road.
The County Council?s Official Notice of its intensions to amend the existing main Traffic Regulation Order, can be viewed at the town hall and any objections made to County Hall by July 29.

A THAME man has been found guilty of Sexual Assault against a 13 year-old girl.
The 25 year-old Thame man, who is currently the subject of a Community Order associated with an alcohol dependency problem, committed the offence in July last year (2004) in the Churchill Crescent play area in the town.
Witnesses told the court that they saw the man drinking cans of lager under a tree in the area, with a baseball bat by his side. After a while, they said, he walked over to them staggering as if drunk, with the bat in his hand. Several of the witnesses told how he stroked their friend?s thigh for several minutes whilst asking her to go off with him, and how she appeared to be very frightened.
The case was tried in the absence of the offender who failed to turn up for the hearing, having sent a message that he was receiving hospital treatment. A medical certificate was received by the deadline (last Friday, July 1) set by the judge, who extended the offender?s Bail to August 5, when he is expected to be sentenced.

PLANS to demolish a house in historic Priest End, Thame, and replace it with seven modern flats, have been turned down by South Oxfordshire District Council.
The district council kicked out the plans, which were the subject of much local opposition, because, it said: “?having regard to the size, bulk and massing of the proposed flats, to the extensive car parking area and to the location of the site adjacent to open, unspoilt semi rural land, the proposal would constitute an overdevelopment of a highly sensitive site and would appear unacceptably prominent and incongruous in the street scene.”
Both Thame Town Council and the local Conservation Area Advice Committee had objected to the plans.

THE future of the Post Office in Park Street, Thame, is uncertain, following the granting of planning permission to turn the building into a residential property.
The current owners, Mr and Mrs Odd, have placed the property on the market because, they say, the viability of the post office business as it is, is reducing whilst the overheads continue to go up and up.
Until they find a buyer, it is not yet known when or if the Post Office will close.
The deputy mayor of Thame, Cllr David Dodds, has put on record that he and the rest of the town council would regret the loss of this vital service for the people of Thame.

THE 2004-2005 trading results for the Oxfam Book shop in the Cornmarket, show more local residents than ever are spending there.
According to the shop manager, Dick Jennens, this is further evidence of a shift in local consumer attitudes towards conscience shopping which reflects a nationwide trend bucking that of High Streets nationwide.

As a result of higher sales, income from the shop increased to over

THAME Leisure Centre is offering free public swimming sessions for children this summer who enrol for swimming lessons at the Jubilee Pool.
Enrolments are now being taken for the next set of 10 weeks, which start on August 1, at the pool, which is funded by Thame Town Council.
In a statement today, the centre states that it “provides structured lessons either within a group or as a private lessons operating to the Amateur Swimming Association?s (ASA) range of skills and proficiency. Courses run continuously throughout the year offering maximum opportunities for children and adults to learn to swim.
There is never a bad time to start because the younger your child, the quicker they will adapt to water. Babies as young as 6 months old can be taught the basic skills to save themselves in water. And of course, it is never too late to learn to swim, whatever your age.”

Di Boulton, General Manager at Thame Leisure Centre, said: “You really just can’t beat swimming as a form of fun exercise; Aerobically working your heart and improving cardio strength, (promoting weight loss), and not to mention the all around physical strength from water resistance. It’s a good environment for stretches difficult on land, and most of all it feels good, it’s sociable, refreshing and saves lives!”

FIRE engines from Thame,Wheatley, Brill and Aylesbury were called to Worminghall yesterday (Sunday), at around 4pm, where a barn containing bails of straw and a quantity of manure, caught fire.
The barn could not be saved as it was well alight by the time fire crews arrived on the scene, but the joint efforts of all the pumps and water carriers were needed for several hours afterwards to prevent an adjacent barn from catching.
Pumps from Thame had earlier assisted Watlington fire officers with a 5 acre stubble fire near Watington and were later called to assist later in the evening at a field fire near Henley.
Photo: Archive

A SURPRISE celebration was held this afternoon at the Queeensdown Nursery in Thame, for retiring Headteacher, Catherine Hardy.
Catherine, who has run the nursery for the 21 years since she founded it, was presented with presents from both past and present pupils and parents, including a rag rug designed by one of the children and made by her mum. She was also presented with all the equipment needed, including a wheel barrow and a pump, for Catherine to build a pond in her garden and a huge bunch of flowers.
As well as expresssing her surprise at seeing so many past pupils and parents – at being able to remember so many of their names, Catherine said:”I am always delighted to hear about the progress of my ex pupils, which must mean that we here at Queensdown must have given them all a really good start to their educational career.”
She added that she was delighted that Natalie and Sue, her erstwhile Assistand Teachers, were going to carry on running the Nursery themselves ensuring its continuation as a very necessary facility for Thame.

LOVE her or hate her, there?s no denying that Ann Widdecombe is flavour of the month on television lately;
firstly as a ?grumpy old woman? and now with her own agony aunt show, ?Ann Widdecombe to the Rescue? on BBC2 every Wednesday. On top of this her latest novel, Father Figure, has just been published. So what a coup for Thame Players and the Players Theatre to get her show ?An Audience With Ann Widdecombe? at the theatre on Sunday, July 24 at 7.45pm.

Ann Widdecombe was a minister in the last Conservative government, serving at the Department of Employment and the Home Office. In 2001 she decided to retire from the shadow cabinet in order to be able to speak on issues without the constraints that being a front bench spokesman would impose.
She is a brilliant speaker. Whilst her conservative principles shine through, this is a million miles from being a party political broadcast. She reveals what life is really like as an MP, as a judge and as a TV personality, and she will be answering questions from the audience in the second half of the show.

According to the show?s agent, “This not to be missed and amusing evening has a definite ‘something of the night’ about it”. Furthermore she will be signing copies of her latest novel, Father Figure after the show.

Whether your politics are left or right or dead centre, be there on Sunday,July 24. Tickets cost