THE Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has stated that it believes Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State Housing, Communities and Local Government has no right to intervene as he has, and threaten to pass the South Oxfordshire Local Plan over to the county council.
In a statement, CPRE state: “South Oxfordshire District Council is right to resist the Growth Board’s grossly disproportionate Growth Strategy involving excessive development across the County, which the other Councils have gone along with for the money on offer from the Government and against the best interests of their own residents.”
The campaign group has accused others councils of ‘jumping into the Growth Strategy development trough’.
The statement goes on: “As we pointed out at the time of the Secretary of State’s original letter of October 9, 2019 (LINK HERE), we do not think he had a right to intervene on the grounds stated. Now, after a four-month delay caused entirely by his own actions, he seems to be searching for multiple grounds on which to base his interference.”
Meanwhile, CPRE Oxfordshire’s Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, asking to see the evidence on which the decision to issue the holding notice was made, has been refused.
NB The Oxfordshire Growth Board has had to review itself following criticism, among other things, of a lack of consultation with the public and stakeholders. https://www.oxfordshiregrowthboard.org/
SINCE declaring a Climate Emergency on April 11, 2019, South Oxfordshire District Council has established a Climate Emergency Advisory Committee (CEAC) to recommend mitigating actions and to advise its Cabinet on matters relating to climate change – and anyone is welcome to attend.
If you would like to attend to observe the next committee meeting, go along on January 28, at 4:30pm in Meeting Room 1, 135 Eastern Avenue, Milton Park, Milton, OX14 4SB. If you would like to register to speak at the meeting, contact SODC’s Democratic Services team on 01235 422520 or email democratic.services@southandvale.gov.uk. The reports for the committee meeting will be available from January 21, on SODC’s website.
Carbon neutral by 2030
Since the CEAC first met on September 19, 2019, it has recommended to Cabinet that the district council becomes carbon neutral in its operations by 2025, and a carbon neutral district by 2030. A motion for the same targets was agreed at Cabinet and Full Council.
In a letter to local councils about the meeting, SODC stated: “A programme of work has been scoped, with options of projects to achieve the desired targets, and is structured around seven themes: council business, housing, partnership, infrastructure, transport, biodiversity and behaviour change.
“Once all options have been reviewed, we will prioritise projects based on feasibility, impact, resource required and carbon savings, and this will be drawn together into a coherent strategy for climate change.
Residents can get involved too!
“We are committed to engaging with residents and communities, particularly through town and parish councils. The programme of work includes options for how we can do this, such as, engaging with our stakeholders in the decision-making process(es) – for example through a Residents Advisory Group and/or facilitating workshops with town and parish councils to understand local needs. Where possible, we will look to connect with our stakeholders to create actions plans that complement our overarching vision for the district.”
The district council wants to hear what activities town and parish councils are doing, or projects they are starting, and welcome their views on SODC’s options for working together ‘to support this important and critical agenda’. It is hoped that there will be opportunities for CEAC members to attend town and parish council’s organised meetings to discuss their own approach to the climate emergency.
Suggestions please!
If anyone has any suggestions as to how everyone can work together to help tackle climate change, they can contact the CEAC via: haveyoursay@southandvale.gov.uk
WILLIAM Wright, 29, of Cotmore Gardens, Thame, has been disqualified from driving after he drove a Volkswagen Golf on Ellesborough Road, Buckinghamshire, with a quantity of two controlled drugs in his system (benzoylecgonine and cocaine).
He was disqualified from holding a driving licence for 12 months, fined £275 and rdered to pay a victim surcharge of £32 and costs of £85 to the CPS.
Wild Oxfordshire News
SAVE THE DATE – Saturday, March 28, 10am – 4.30pm, Benson village hall. More details next month – a Conference for all local environment groups.
With such pressure for development across the county, the need to protect and enhance our green spaces, and biodiversity has never been more important. Most parishes are now drawing up Neighbourhood Plans and many local groups are getting involved in the process. If you have risen to the challenge of preparing a NP for your parish, or are wondering where to start, go along to the conference to find out more.
The ‘nuts and bolts’ will be addressed during a series of presentations in the morning and, after lunch, there will be a guided walk around Benson showcasing the achievements that Benson’s Nature Group has already been able to make through the process. By the end of the day, we’ll all know more about getting gains for wildlife out of the Neighbourhood Planning process.
Wild Oxfordshire needs a Director
Wild Oxfordshire is currently recruiting for the position of Director. The role will provide an opportunity for an enthusiastic, experienced and committed person to help shape and lead the response to the many challenges that nature faces within Oxfordshire. The job is described as ‘an opportunity to deliver, at a county-wide level, the UK ambition to become the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we received it’
NOMINATIONS have opened for this year’s Community Policing Awards (CPAs). Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond in their role? Someone who you believe should be recognised for their hard work and efforts over the last year? Could you provide an example of how they have exceeded what is expected of them?
The CPAs are a chance for people to nominate officers, staff and volunteers who have made a real difference to their community while working for Thames Valley Police. They take place each year at a ceremony held at Eynsham Hall near Witney in Oxfordshire in May and are now in their nineteenth year.
Nominations for the nine award categories are open until Monday, February 24. To nominate someone for an award visit the Thames Valley Police website to fill out a short form explaining your reasons. LINK HERE
DATES for your diary – the dates for this year’s TAL Festival, which will be this growing festival’s 10th anniversary, are October 15 – 20, 2020.
THAME Children’s Cinema’s next showing is The Lion King. Sunday, 26 January, 2.30pm, The Players Theatre, Nelson Street. Tickets £5 each. All profits to the Red Kite Family Centre. Available from: redkitefamilycentre.org/events.
THAME CARNIVAL 2020 – Saturday, June 13, 2020 – 12 noon – 4pm – Theme for this year, ‘Heart of Thame’ – All parade entries have the freedom to dress as they want to!
Thame Carnival Organisation needs help!
If you can help with anything at all, no matter how big or small, please get in touch. The carnival team really needs an Event Lead as after four years, Sue Martin-Downhill has stepped down this year.
Sue said: “We would love this community event to take place again this year and prove that the “Heart of Thame” is beating strongly.
“We are also looking for Sponsors and advertisers for this year’s Carnival – please go to the website for more information or to book your spot.” www.thamecarnival.co.uk
Charities for this Year: Thame & District Day Care Centre, LWS Young Carers and Thame Girl Guiding.
A public meeting is to be held about the future of South Oxfordshire District Council’s Local Plan, following the news that the Secretary of State is considering moving planning powers away from SODC to Oxfordshire County Council.
The event will be hosted by the non-party-political campaign group, A Better South Oxfordshire, who are concerned about the change that the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick, may authorise at the end of January.
In a press statement, A Better South Oxfordshire said: “As residents of South Oxfordshire we are very concerned. Many people seem to share our concern so we have asked our elected representatives to update us on the background to this and the possible consequences for our villages and rural life, on Saturday, January 25, at 2pm at Wheatley Park School in Holton, near Wheatley.
The invited panelists include MPs John Howell, Anneliese Dodds and Layla Moran, as well as Councillors Sue Cooper (SODC), Susan Brown (Oxford City), Emily Smith (Vale) and Ian Hudspeth (Oxfordshire County). The Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick has also been invited.
LAUNCHED today, Taste of Thame is a new food and drink event in the town, to celebrate the amazing food and drink offer on our doorstep.
On Saturday, May 30, 2020, this multi-venue event will be an opportunity for participants to pick up a feature trail map and use it to explore a variety of destinations in and around Thame Town Centre. On their travels they will have the opportunity to experience new tastes, attend behind the scenes workshops, enter competitions, watch live demonstrations and much more besides.
Applications to take part in the first ever Taste of Thame are now open. The organisers want to hear from any producers from within a five mile radius of Thame, or with a strong connections to Thame, who would like to feature in the event. They are also keen to hear from Town Centre Venues who want to take part. Although the theme of the event is Food & Drink, venues do not need to be a food or drink business to take part. Any businesses can take part – the only criteria is that they have a space that a producer could use for a pop-up exhibition of their produce and are in, or very close, to the town centre. For more information visit the Taste of Thame website: www.tasteofthame.co.uk
FOLLOWING the news that the environmental movement, Extinction Rebellion (XR) had been labelled on a list of extremist ideologies, in a Guide aimed partly at schools, any concerned parents in Thame can rest easy after today.
A spokesperson for Lord Williams’s School in Thame, told Thame.Net today: ” I can confirm that Lord Williams’s School did not receive the ‘Safeguarding Young People and Adults from Ideological Extremism’ guide and therefore no action has been taken in response to the document.
The leaflet, issued by Counter-terrorism police in south-east England, advised teachers and anyone to flag up young people taking part in non-violent direct action, such as sit-down protests, banner drops or ‘writing environmentally themed graffiti’. The document also advised listening and looking out for young people who ‘neglect to attend school’ or ‘participate in planned school walkouts’.
They were asked to look out for people who speak in ‘strong or emotive terms about environmental issues like climate change, ecology, species extinction, fracking, airport expansion or pollution’ and report them to Prevent, the government’s anti-radicalisation programme.
According to reports in the national press, the Police have said that they were recalling the guidance and that XR had been included ‘in error’ in the guide, which was distributed to police, government and teachers in November 2019.
The three primary schools in Thame have not yet responded to Thame.Net’s enquiry as to whether they had been sent the Guide.
THE 21st Century Thame partnership recently launched ‘The Thame Tree Plant 2020’, its commitment as part of the ‘One million trees’ Woodland Trust mass tree planting campaign — part of National Tree Week, and the Big Climate Fightback.
The aim is to achieve 500 pledges from local people in and around Thame during 2020, to plant trees. Once the trees have arrived, at an expected cost of around £2K, 21st Century Thame will instigate voluntary small and large tree planting events.
How to get involved
* Businesses can pledge to sponsor to buy the trees next year * Volunteer to plant trees on specific tree planting event days * Volunteer to nurture a tree or two until they have grown enough to be planted * As a resident, plant one or more trees in your garden * As a local landowner, pledge to allocate some space for a small wood
For information about 21st Century Thame’s Tree Plant 2010 project and to make a pledge, visit the website HERE
UPDATE – The funeral service for John Miles will be held on January, 27th, at St Joseph’s Church, Thame, at 11am. All are welcome.
THAME witnessed the loss of two of the towns stalwart volunteers in recent weeks, with the death of Norman Brand at the end of November, and John Miles, who passed away shortly after Christmas.
The late Norman Brand
Norman passed away shortly after taking a sudden fall, but without pain or stress, his family said. John, who had been suffering with Leukaemia for some time, died after being admitted to hospital on Boxing Day with a chest infection.
The late John Miles
Norman was a news paper reporter and political journalist before his retirement, and was a volunteer driver for the Thame and District Day for many years. John was Chairman of the Thame Community Car.
A group of environment activists from Thame and Towersey were among over a thousand others from all over the country, who joined Naturalist, Chris Packham at Denham Station on Sunday, for the Stand for the Trees event at Denham Country Park.
The day was aimed at highlighting the fact that despite there currently being a review of HS2 which could lead to the project being cancelled, ‘the destruction continues unabated’, not just around the Colne Valley, but along the entire 140 miles of Phase 1, of HS2.
The route meant walkers could see first hand the destruction that has already happened and the even more devastating loss of wildlife and habitats that would happen should HS2 go ahead. The event also highlighted the fact that HS2 potentially endangers the water supply of some 3.2 Million Affinity Water Customers and there has still been no published assessment of this risk.
Protection camps
The event was the latest in a number of collaborations between Stop HS2 and Extinction Rebellion, many of which have focussed on the Colne Valley Protection, which is one of four sites where campaigners have set up protection camps, with the intent of stopping HS2 Ltd from damaging habitats and the ecosystem, especially given that HS2 is not only under review, but has not received final ‘Notice to Proceed’.
‘Expect ferocious public opposition’
Chris Packham, on behalf of the Rethink HS2 alliance of environmental organisations said: “HS2 involves one of the largest deforestation programmes since the First World War, damaging more than 100 ancient woodlands along the planned route, along with dozens of wildlife habitats. If this project gets the go ahead, and I sincerely hope that it doesn’t for so many reasons, you can to it, and I will be happy to lead that from the environmental perspective.”
Cathy Gaulter Carter, who lives in Towersey, was among the group from Thame who joined Chris on Sunday. She explained why she decided to support Chris Packham’s walk:
Cathy Gaulter Carter (left) with fellow HS2 protestor
“I have been opposed to HS2 from the start: the destruction of our countryside with no benefit to locals. Since joining the walk I have actually seen an example of just one the magnificent areas for wildlife that is about to be devastated.
‘It is criminal for this scheme to go ahead’
“As we are facing a climate emergency, it is criminal for this scheme to go ahead. The area where we were walking is above an aquifer that naturally purifies drinking water for London – this will be replaced by concrete pylons. This is literally right by Boris’s constituency in Uxbridge. Horrifying! Birmingham airport is already spending £500 million to expand for the proposed increase in passengers. This a a nonsense when I thought the whole point of the train was to replace the aeroplane.
“HS2 must be stopped! The walk has made me much more aware of the tragedy that is unfolding.”
Sarah Green, founder of the Colne Valley HS2 Protection Camp said: “People need to be made aware of the horrendous impact HS2 will have, especially on water supplies. If people knew what was actually happening, there would be an outcry as the chalk is prone to cracking and fissuring and working around historic landfills is a recipe for disaster. The work HS2 are conducting now must be halted.”
200 year-old Plus Oak tree threatened with felling to make way for HS2
‘Wanton devastation’
Joe Rukin, Stop HS2 Campaign Manager said: “Even though there is currently a review that could lead to the cancellation of the project, the destruction continues relentlessly, and it is now clear that while HS2 Ltd want to continue with this wanton devastation, the HS2 project will face more and more direct action against it. HS2 has only got this far because it has been lobbied for by the construction industry, and the whims of these vested interest bodies cannot be prioritised against taking action to fight the climate emergency.”
Threat to the Chilterns
Part of the phase 1 of the HS2 route cuts right through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Beauty and the Chilterns Conservation Board, based in Chinnor, has been opposed to HS2 from the beginning. It welcomed the review announced by the government and has recently written to Douglas Oakervee at the Department for Transport, explaining why it believes HS2 should be scrapped. In the letter, the Board writes:
Scheme is ‘directly contradictory to key Government policies and ambitions’
“Since the HS2 route was first announced in 2010, we believe the context of HS2 has changed considerably. In particular, the nation’s -and the Government’s -understanding and appreciation of the value of our natural world has increased significantly. We therefore take the view that to continue with HS2 would not only be damaging to the environment and people’s wellbeing, but also be directly contradictory to key Government policies and ambitions. In recent years the Government has increased its focus on the environment and has made a commitment to leaving the natural environment in a better state for future generations. It also aspires to be a global leader on the environment.”
What could HS2 mean for Thame?
LINK HERE – HS2 Railway – What it could mean for Thame –
The case for HS2, phase One
According to the government: “The main benefits of Phase One (from London to Birmingham) will be to provide more intercity train services; additional capacity on the main lines for commuter services in to Birmingham and London and additional capacity for freight. In addition, from day one, Phase One will improve journey times and train services to the North West because these will use the new track from Birmingham to London.” LINK https://www.hs2.org.uk/
Rev John Fieldsend has been awarded a BEM for his services to Holocaust education, having spent a decade touring schools, colleges and churches to talk about his escape from Nazi Germany.
Rev John Fieldsend, BEM
The 88-year-old great-grandfather, who lives in Thame, has spoken to thusands of students about how he and his brother fled Germany as young boys in 1939, travelling to England by train via the Kindertransport programme.
Tragically, his parents stayed in Czechoslovakia during Hitler’s genocide of Jewish people, and later died in the Auschwitz concentration camp.
