Category: Thame news

A NEW plan to build flats on land at the rear of Chinnor Road, Thame, has been proposed.
Ian Slater explained to members of Thame Town Council’s Planning committee that his plan was for six, two bedroomed flats, which was two less than a former plan turned down at appeal recently.
The new plan provided for a smaller footprint and less car parking space, and according to Mr Slater, “would make good use of redundant land and provide affordable housing in Thame.”
Cllr David Laver said that he was still concerned about access in and out of the proposed development from Chinnor Road, but Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods said: “We need to bear in mind that we are making efforts to reduce the amount of vehicles using Chinnor Road, and therefore I am minded to support this application.”
The committee, which on Tuesday was made up of four members, voted to recommend approval of the application. Cllr Laver abstained.

A CAF

POLICE have released an E-fit of a man they want to speak to following a distraction burglary on Monday, January 13.

At around 10.20am, a man knocked on the door of an elderly woman?s home in Elderdene, Chinnor,claiming that he was an electricity official. Once inside the house he stole cash and cards from her handbag.

The man is described as white, aged 25-35 years-old, 5? 8?? tall, slim with short fair spiky hair and a thin oval-shaped face. He wore a light-coloured tracksuit and spoke with an Irish accent.

Officers are appealing to individuals who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area on Monday or who had people calling at their door unexpectedly, to contact police immediately.

Anyone who recognises this man or has information is urged to contact PC Stephen Palmer at Thame police station, via 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.

Police have stressed that elderly people should not allow unexpected visitors into their homes. It would, they say, be unusual for a representative of any of the utilities to call without first making an appointment, and anyone who does call unexpectedly should always be checked out before being allowed in. If the caller is genuine, they will understand why they are not allowed into the house without a check call being made first.

THAME’s Deputy Mayor, Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods, has criticised Thames Valley Police’s spending priorities.
In a letter to local press this week, he asks: “I wonder if Thames Valley Police have their priorities right?
“I was dreadfully sorry to see the vandalism on the Phoenix Trail on your front page; what a waste and where were our police?
Then I was horrified to read that due to a funding shortfall, the Chairman of TVP Authority tells us that they might have to scrap 40 police community officers. They can however afford to employ another 49 people to answer phones at their non-emergency lines so that we can get through quicker; little point if there is no-one to answer our calls for help!
But great news – they can afford to spend

THE local radio station, Mix 96 is running a poll on whether local people want a supermarket on the Thame
Cattle Market site or not.
The Poll eroneously says: “The market is moving to a larger site outside Thame.”
The Mayor of Thame, Cllr David Dodds, told ThameNews this afternoon: “I am absolutely amazed that an issue which has been discussed over a long time has suddenly arisen on this radio station’s website, which is inappropriate.
“We are of course currently awaiting the Local Plan. The supermarkets themselves have down-graded their objections to the local plan, the draft of which stipulated no large retail developments, which would imply that they are no longer pursuing the site. The site belongs to SODC who are not about to sell it to a supermarket because it would be outside the remit of their Local Plan.”

SOUTHERN Oxfordshire has a new Local Police Area Commander.
She is Superintendent Jill Simpson who has been working as Area Commander for the area for the past year and says that she is now looking forward to balancing competing priorities, in particular making sure the area continues to reduce crime.
Jill said: ?Southern Oxfordshire is one of the safest places to live in Thames Valley and I intend to keep working with our partners and communities to keep it that way, focusing on reducing anti-social behaviour and at the same time improving the amount of crimes we detect.?
Aged 40, Jill began her career with Thames Valley Police in 1989. She has since served at Reading and Slough, was a trainer at the police training school and then moved onto High Wycombe where she was a shift inspector.
She then worked in Operations before moving on to Crime Support five years ago where she was the Force Crime Support Manager. Jill has also worked as a senior investigating officer.
Ex-Thame Inspector David Purnell, is the new Local Police Area Commander for the Vale of White Horse area.

A Long-serving Thame Fire officer has been honoured by his colleagues.
Robin Lockwood, affectionately known as the ?Thatch King of Oxfordshire,? because of his expertise and special interest in thatch fires, retired after 30 years in the service, last December. But it became obvious at his farewell party on Friday (January 14), that his commitment to the job will influence his colleagues at the Thame fire station for a very long time to come.
Presenting him with his Certificate of Service, Oxfordshire?s Chief Fire Officer, John Parry, spoke movingly of how Robin had influenced, supported and encouraged his fellow officers and maintained very high standards. He spoke of the unstinting support of Robin?s wife, Pauline, who, with Robin, has now moved to near Minehead in Somerset.
Robin?s successor, Andy Ford, said: ?Robin leaves a big hole to fill. He has been a fantastic influence, leading through example and will be sorely missed.?
Robin himself spoke emotionally of the thanks he owed to he sons, who missed so much swimming, football and other childhood activities because he was ?on call?; to his mum and dad, who always had to spend Christmas at his home even though they would have like to have spent it at their own home from time to time; But most of all to Pauline who he described as ?a brick?.
?She never complained about the stench I would often bring home with me, the stories, the moans and groans, the spoiled meals and not being able to go out because I was on call,? he said.
Robin spoke of the pride he felt in having worked with all his fellow officers, and spoke fondly of those who were no longer around. Looking forward to the future, spoke of his intension to take up sea fishing again and use the rod that his mates had presented him with.
Both the Station Managers from Wheatley and Watlington thanked Robin for his support of them and also presented him with gifts.
It was obvious by the end of the speeches and just before the real celebrations began, that Robin Lockwood was indeed, a role model for anyone to be proud to follow.

THE family of Pat Eyres, of Haddenham,who died in a collision near Stanton St John last week, have paid tribute to her.
“Pat was 54 years-old nd a systems analyst. She was the wife of John Eyres, mother to James and Rachel and recently became a grandmother to Samuel Joseph, who, while only three weeks old, had the opportunity to meet her before she died.”

Husband John said: ?Pat was a vibrant, intelligent, intense, lively and brave person; she was never, ever, afraid to fight for a just cause.

?Pat had some serious health problems in her life, but had overcome them. In recent years she had become very fit and had run several races for charity, raising a great deal of money for victims of cancer.

?She will be sadly missed by family, friends and work colleagues.?

TWO fire crews from Thame were called to a Thame Inn today, when a chimney fire started at around lunch time.
Customers in the bar, residents and staff of the Swan Hotel, Thame, were evacuated from the building after allegedly, a wooden box was put on an open fire just before the chimney itself caught.
A crowd gathered in Swan Walk, which was cordoned off for around an hour, to watch the firemen at work and very soon they had the situation under control.

THAME police are appealing for information following the theft of a fruit machine from a Thame pub.
The machine, along with a bottle of Courvoisier brandy taken from behind the bar, was carried out of the front door of the Falcon pub sometime between 11.30pm on Sunday, January 9, and 7.45am on Monday, January 10, and put into a vehicle.
PC Russell Hounslow of Thame Police can be contacted on either 08458 505505, or via Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555111, by anyone who may have any information about the theft.