Category: Thame news

THAME may lose its Taxi Bus service to the Lewknor Tube Bus Stop, because not enough commuters from the town are using it.
Oxfordshire County Council?s Department of Public Transport have asked the town and parish councils affected to let them know of any other communities who would like to be considered to be added to the route.
Some lobbying has already come from Milton Common but Thame Town Councillor Nigel Champken-Woods would like to hear from any other villages in the area that would like access to the Lewknor London Tube Stop.

The South Oxfordshire District Council?s Dial-A-Ride service is however well used by Thame but once again, communities are being consulted as to any changes that may be useful to them, such as the days it runs, routes, frequencies etc.

Any requests or comments should be sent to Cllr Champken-Woods via email at: ngcw@btinternet.com, or in writing via The Town Hall in Thame.

A THAME town councillor has expressed his concern that a proposed retirement development in the town could introduce an American-type gated complex.
Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods was responding to a presentation made to Thame Town Councillor?s Planning Committee, by David Barrington, the proprietor of The Spread Eagle, Thame.
Mr Barrington wants to demolish the Spread Eagle?s Banqueting suite and build 10, three storey, three-bedroomed, retirement homes in its place and on part of the current car park, because, he explained, the current lack of bookings for the suite is “effecting the profitability of the business.”
Cllr Champken-Woods made his remarks after hearing that it was proposed that both the front gates to the hotel and the rear entrance would be locked at 11pm. Other councillors expressed the view that a three bedroomed home on three storeys is not most people?s idea of a retirement home, agreeing with similar comments made by the Conservation Area Advisory Committee.
The CAAC were also concerned that an essential social facility would be lost to Thame.
Mr Barrington said that the idea of three bedrooms was so that a retired person could, for instance, have a son or daughter to stay plus a grandchild, and another councillor pointed out that some of the retirement flats in Rooks Lane were accessed by stairs.
However, the committee voted to recommend refusal of the application on the grounds of Overdevelopment, in that three storeys were not appropriate as retirement homes.

POLICE have released an e-fit of two men they would like to speak to in connection with a recent attempted robbery in Wheatley.

At around 11pm, on Wednesday 22 June, four men aged in their early twenties were at the top of Church Road, near to the telephone box, when they were approached by four males. One of the offenders was carrying a pool cue and when another demanded the men to hand over their mobiles and they refused, he repeatedly hit one of the men in the face and head with the cue. Another man was also injured.

Det Con Carron Chesterman, of Thame CID, said: ?I appeal to anyone who recognises either of these men to contact police immediately.

“The man who was hit with the pool cue went to the JR2 Hospital where he received 19 staples in his head and received treatment to injuries to his nose and jaw.
“This was a nasty, unprovoked attack and I appeal to anyone with information that could assist our inquiries to call 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.”

A LORRY driver who pulled a local woman from her up-turned car this morning is being sought so that she can say ‘thank you.’
Amanda Wise’s Peugeot 106 left the road, just seconds after she had left home for work from her home in Milton Common, around 8am this morning.
The car flipped on its side but fortunately, 18 year-old Amanda was pulled from the wreckage completely unscathed by a passing lorry driver in a large, blue unmarked lorry. Another passing motorist, a woman from Chinnor, then comforted Amanda and called the emergency services.
The A40 road, between Tetsworth and Milton Common was closed for around half an hour whilst a gas main under the damaged car was checked for leaks.

Amanda told ThameNews.Net: “I feel really lucky because if that lorry driver had not pulled me out and the gas main had fractured, I don’t like to think what would have happened to me. If he is out there, I would like to thank him properly for helping me.”

(Amanda can be contacted via email, c/o editor@thamenews.net)
Photo courtesy of Amanda’s mum: The blue Peugeot 106 that Amanda was lucky enough to escape from without a scratch.

THAME Celebrated the 60th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War across the generations on Sunday, when hundreds of Thame families came together in hot sunshine to commemorate Victory day in 1945.
As well as a children?s fun fair, a Sherman tank and other military vehicles of the time, the High Street was lined with stalls and memorabilia from the period, including an exhibition of war-time equipment that will eventually be on show in the Thame?s new museum due to open sometime next year.
One stall gave away samples of war time recipes including suet pudding and delicious cakes made with dried egg and sweetened with carrot instead of sugar which was a rare commodity in war-time Britain; all served up by ladies in those wrap around pinnies so reminiscent of the 1940?s and 50?s.
Among the people strolling around the town centre, ex-military men and women, proudly wearing their gleaming medals and ribbons, mixed with teenagers and the very young who, having never known what it was like to live in a war-torn land, nevertheless could experience a small taste of the life their older relatives endured for almost six years.

Other contributors to the event included The Bicester Town Band, the local Air Training Corp, who put on a splendid Marching display, John Hampden school with traditional Country and Maypole Dancing, Soundforce, who played nostgalgic songs and Glen Miller tunes, and the Oxfordshire Gymnastic Club with a breathtaking display of their skills.

All the Primary school children of Thame were given a certificate to mark the occasion and on the day, many received a package of goodies donated by Waitrose and The Royal British Legion, Thame. Other costs had been met by the Lottery Fund.

Thame?s senior citizen, ex Mayor, Len Webb, who was one of the organisers, said: ?I am really delighted with the turnout and the way that the organisation has paid off. This has certainly turned out to be a very special occasion befitting a very special day and we couldn?t have hoped for better weather.?

The hot sun however did contribute to the one casualty of the day, a young St Johns Ambulance cadet who fainted during the Service, but was soon helped back to her feet by fellow Cadets and Officers.

THE people of Montesson, Thame’s twin town in France, yesterday sent a special message following the tragic events in London yesterday.
The message reads: “Dear friends at Thame,
It is with horror that we have learnt of the tragic attacks which have taken place in London this morning. We express to you all our solidarity and friendship from your friends in Montesson. Our thoughts are with the British citizens who have been victims of these hateful acts and also with their families.”
The message is signed by Didier Breuzet, the Chairman of Montesson’s Twinning Committee, on their behalf.

ALL Chiltern Rail trains are at a standstill from the area, following the series of explosions in London.
All routes into London are closed and police are advising no one to travel to London.
A spokesperson for Chiltern Railways said:
“In view of the current situation in London, we are not able to run trains into London Marylebone.
We are currently able to run the following services:

PARENTS opposed to a new swimming lesson timetable at Thame Leisure Centre, have asked Thame Town Council to intervene.
A row between parents and the management of the TLC, has been brewing since a 50 week programme was imposed to replace the previous 36 week, term-time scheme, against the expressed wishes of many of the parents.
Mrs Linda Newton, speaking to the Policy and Resources committee of the town council on Tuesday, said: “We started this campaign because of the imposed change in swimming lessons, despite our opposition as stated at a meeting with SOLL a month ago.
“SOLL’s actions have left us feeling ignored and frustrated.”
SOLL have offered free public swimming for children who enrol in their lessons but Mrs Newton called this “a sweetener” which would contribute to the projected loss of profit the pool is expected to experience.
She claimed that the extra cost to parents, most of whom she suggested would have other committents and so would not be able to take children for all 50 lessons, would amount to an extra term’s swimming.
Mrs Newton suggested that the ASA’s option of a 40 week programme “would go along way to meet the needs of the people of Thame and help bridge the financial gap.”
She concluded: “We need to ensure that the needs of all parties are listened to, respected and acted upon, not ignored and run rough shod over.”
The committee agreed to request a meeting with Mark Jaggers, of SOLL Leisure, at the earliest opportunity to explain why the decision had been taken without consulting the Town Council, who own the pool.
Cllr Adam Buckland said: “The drive for profit should not come before the needs of the community.”

THAME Town Council has been asked to intervene in a row over swimming lesson programmes at its Jubilee pool.
A group of parents opposed to the introduction of a 50 week programme to replace a 36 week programme, are angry that their wishes have been ignored by SOLL Leisure who manage the pool.
Mrs Linda Newton, representing the parents, told a meeting of the Policy and Resources committee on Tuesday: “Despite a round table discussion, where SOLL agreed to consider proposals that were discussed and then to decide a way forward after a meeting with yourselves, they have instead handed all families who currently swim, a letter detailing their commitment to continue with the unpopular swimming over the summer, and offered a sweetener of free, public swimming for children who enrol.
“It is clear that the main driving force is income. In fact SOLL themselves admitted that their goal was an increase in income from swimming.”
Mrs Newton questioned the financial benefit of the scheme and suggested that the ASA?s alternative option of a 40 week rolling programme would go a long way to meeting the needs of the people of Thame and help to bridge the financial gap.”
She concluded: “We need to ensure that the needs of all parties are listened to, respected and acted upon, not ignored and run rough shot over as we have been.”
The committee agreed to seek a meeting with SOLL Leisure as soon as possible to explain why they had taken the action they had, as Cllr David Dodds expressed it: “without any consultation with this council; it?s our pool.”
Cllr Adam Buckland said: “The drive for profit should not come before the needs of the community.”

THAME Fire Service was called to the public toilets in the Market Place, Thame last night, when a group of youngsters set fire to rubbish in the building.
Fire Officers were able to re-ventilate the facilities with special equipment, after burning plastic bottles and cans filled it with toxic, acrid smoke.
A police spokesperson told ThameNews.Net that nobody was arrested following the attack but that a group of young people were “spoken to,” and that the incident was more one of “high jinks” rather than of any malintent.

NB The toilets are part of the historic old Market House in the Upper High Street, which is currently a focus of discussion between its owners, South Oxfordshire District Council, and Thame Town Council over future ownership.

Thame’s Fire Station Officer, Andy Ford, today issued a warning following three recent field fires.
“At this time of the year when very little rain has fallen, it is important to be aware that sparks from a bonfire or a carelessly discarded cigarette through a car window, for instance, can so quickly catch hold in grass, stubble of field crops and spread fire quicker than any one could do anything about it.”