Category: More News

WITH the schools coming close to breaking up for summer, Thames Valley Police are anticipating an increase in Anti-social Behaviour in a particular hotspot for ASB in Thame.

In its monthly update, the Thame Community Policing Team stated: “The Southern Road recreational centre and its car park next to the 1st Thame Scout Hut has been a particular hotspot for ASB, drug use and dangerous driving. The team are aware of these issues and are actively visiting and engaging with any groups to advise on acceptable behaviour and consideration for other users of the play area and Scout Hut, taking action where needed.

“Since our last newsletter we have issued warnings for repeat and persistent offenders and will continue to monitor the situation.

“We would again like to thank those to continue to inform us of any and all incidents (and their updates) that happen in the area. Your information is appreciated and vital for us to identify repeat offenders.” Call the non-emergency number 101 to report incidents.

AS our traditional landscape faces uncertainty and change, the Chilterns Conservation Board (CCB), which is based in Chinnor, has announced that Dr Elaine King has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer and will take up the post today, July 9, 2019.

Elaine joins the CCB from her role as Director of Wildlife and Countryside Link, a coalition of 52 non-governmental organisations in England with diverse interests across nature conservation, landscape protection and animal welfare. Elaine is also a serving Secretary of State appointed Member of the Chilterns Conservation Board and will resign from this post in accordance with DEFRA rules.

As Chief Executive Officer, Elaine will ensure the Chilterns Conservation Board fulfils its purposes: to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the AONB; and to increase the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the AONB.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Elaine’s passion and experience to lead the CCB forward as we continue to care for the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,” said Ian Reay, Chairman of the CCB. “It is an exciting time in the natural environment and landscape sectors, and Elaine is an environmental visionary, with a proven track record, who is well-positioned to ensure the protection of the landscape as it faces a period of unprecedented change.”

“I am excited to have been appointed the CCBs next CEO. It is a privilege to be able to lead an organisation dedicated to caring for the Chilterns landscape,” said Elaine. “The Chilterns is a very special place and I am looking forward to working with the CCB’s staff team, Board members and our many partner organisations, to ensure that we effectively conserve the Chilterns now and into the future.”

Elaine succeeds Sue Holden who, having grown the CCB’s income and staff capacity over the past four years, leaves the Chilterns Conservation Board at the end of July 2019 to pursue new challenges in the environment sector.

“I can think of no one better to lead the Chilterns Conservation Board. Elaine’s experience as Director of Wildlife and Countryside Link, combined with her longstanding career in the environment sector and passion for the Chilterns countryside, make Elaine the perfect choice for the Board,” said Sue.

Elaine has a degree in Applied Biology from Brunel University and a PhD for her research on bovine tuberculosis in badgers and cattle from Bristol University. Before taking time out to raise her two children, Elaine was Chief Executive of the Badger Trust, a charity which promotes the conservation and protection of badgers. Raised near the East Sussex coast, she is passionate about the great outdoors and spends as much time as she can exploring the Chilterns from her Prestwood home and taking holidays in wild places.

AS the school summer holidays fast approach, Bloor Homes South Midlands is launching a campaign to raise awareness amongst children of the dangers of entering and playing on building sites.

With construction ongoing at its nearby Windmill Chase development on Mill Lane, Chinnor, the family owned builder wants to educate local teachers, parents and children, helping to prevent any unnecessary accidents during the six week break.

Construction Director, Carl Slater explains: “Whilst the number of children killed or injured on UK construction sites continues to fall, there is no room for complacency. That’s why we believe in the importance of reminding young children about the dangers of entering building sites, especially before a long holiday when they have more time to play.

“In addition to arranging site safety visits for school children to a number of developments across the region we have developed five simple reminders for parents and teachers to tell children, helping keep them safe over the summer.”

Safety first this summer

1. Never enter a building site – building sites can be dangerous places and should never be entered by members of the public, especially children
2. Large moving vehicles – large vehicles drive in and out of building sites regularly to deliver materials. Children should never play close to the entrance of a building site or on the building site itself as they may not be seen easily by a driver
3. Dangerous materials – there can be the risk of falling materials and/or hazardous and flammable materials stored on site. It is important that anyone entering a building site has permission to be there, has received the proper training and is wearing the correct safety clothing
4. Machinery in operation – while they may look like big toys, the heavy and dangerous machinery which is in operation on a building site could cause serious injury to a child. Children should never play on or near to any machinery on a building site
5. Openings and excavations – during construction there can be areas where the ground has been dug out or ledges from which building work is taking place. Whilst these will be barriered off to prevent falls, it is important that children do not enter a site and put themselves at risk.

Carl continued: “We hope that these simple facts will help parents and teachers across Chinnor to spread the word to children in the area about the importance of safety on building sites.

“Whilst we always ensure that all of our construction areas are fenced off with the correct warning signs in place we still want to make sure that children understand the dangers and can enjoy their summer holidays without risk of injury.”

CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) Oxfordshire has published what it is calling, ‘an alternative approach to planning the future of Oxfordshire’, an approach it believes is vital to protect our county’s rural character.

Summer 2019 is expected to see two major consultations on plans for huge growth across Oxfordshire. These will be on a Government ‘Vision’ for the future of the Oxford Cambridge Arc, and the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 proposals setting out the level and location of growth in the county. 

CPRE Oxfordshire is warning that, alongside the widely recognised climate change and biodiversity emergencies, ‘business as usual is just not an option’, stating that: “Growth on anything like the scale proposed would be incompatible with preserving the rural nature of Oxfordshire. Future development needs to balance economic growth with protecting the county’s communities, character and countryside.”

Helen Marshall, Director of CPRE Oxfordshire explained: “A Better Vision for Oxfordshire sets out our views on how an appropriate level of development could be brought forward in a sensitive and well-planned way that would both protect and enhance the landscape of Oxfordshire, and its towns and villages for the benefit of everyone. We hope to inspire current Oxfordshire residents to help ensure that anyone living in Oxfordshire in 2050 can still experience the advantages of our rural county.”

CPRE Oxfordshire’s guiding principles, and means of realising its Vision, are that:
• The amount of development, and its timescale, should be based on natural growth and migration
• Brownfield land should be developed first. Green Belt and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) should be developed as a last resort under proven
  exceptional circumstances
• Genuinely affordable housing should be made available, in perpetuity, to address local need
• High densities of development should become standard, to avoid losing more land than necessary
• Any new communities must be sustainable and existing rural communities need investment to support services and infrastructure
• Job creation should reflect Oxfordshire’s existing skill base while addressing areas of need to reduce unsustainable commuting

To read ‘A Better Vision for Oxfordshire. visit the CPRE Oxfordshire website: HERE  
The accompanying film can be watched HERE

THE prolific historian and former editor-in-chief of the Daily Telegraph, Sir Max Hastings, will be visiting Thame to to give The Book House Founder’s Lecture, at this year’s TAL Festival in October.

As a prize-winning author, journalist and broadcaster, his latest book CHASTISE: The Dam Busters’ Story 1943, is a dramatic retake on one of the most extraordinary episodes in British history. Remember the 1955 classic movie, The Dam Busters? Or Guy Gibson, the 24-year-old wing-commander who led the raid?
 
In the 21st Century, however, Max Hastings urges that we should see the dambusters in much more complex shades.

Max Hastings’ talk is expected to be a sell-out so order your tickets now if you don’t want to miss out on this fascinating event.

Founder’s Lecture – Thursday, October 17, 6.30pm, at the Spread Eagle, Thame. On-one booking is now open for this event HERE https://talfestival.org/thursday/

FOLLOWING the presentation given by the Thame Climate Alliance at the Thame Town Council meeting last week, June 18, although a motion asking the council to declare a Climate Emergency was lost (see report), the council has nontheless now called the promised internal meeting of Councillors and Officers.

This meeting is aimed at starting to put together a set of suggested actions and steps in response to the effects of the changing climate; actions which, the council has stated: “We are able to take, within our powers, beyond that which is being done already.”

A beautiful new River Thames Footbridge at Taplow, and Incurvo – a stunning, virtually carbon neutral house in South Oxfordshire – have been named joint winners in the Chilterns Building Design Awards 2019.

The awards, run jointly by the Chilterns Conservation Board and The Chiltern Society, celebrate design and construction projects that leave a positive mark on the Chilterns for us and future generations to enjoy.

The Chilterns Conservation Board and Chiltern Society named the 2019 award winners at the 19th Building Design Awards ceremony on Wednesday, June 19, at the winning house, Incurvo, in South Oxfordshire. Tom Beeston, the Chief Officer of the Chiltern Society, and Elizabeth Wilson, Chair of the Planning Committee of the Chilterns Conservation Board, presented the awards.

The Chair of the Judges was Dr James Moir. He described the features of the footbridge which won the judges over: “The River Thames footbridge, designed by specialist bridge designers Knight Architects of High Wycombe, is an elegant and delightful new addition to the Thames riverside. Drawing inspiration from Brunel’s nearby Maidenhead Railway Bridge, this 35m single-span bridge has sweeping twin arcs of triangular section steel cradling the deck. Linking the regenerated and previously unconnected Taplow Paper Mill quarter to Ray Mill Island, the bridge unlocks a new tranquil walking route to the Thames Path. This light-touch intervention appears to have been effortlessly dropped into this location, opening up great views of the riverscape and creating a new and fully accessible recreational amenity.”

About the house, James said: “Incurvo, as its name suggests, is a graceful, sinuous new residence that delights the eye whichever point it is viewed from. The sculptural design by Adrian James Architects of Oxford connects beautifully with its surroundings. The imposing entrance and stair-hall rises through two storeys with rooms flowing off this and thence through two storey-height glazing to the outside. Cleverly sited on an irregular contoured plot at the edge of Goring-on-Thames, the elegantly crafted landscaped gardens respond intimately to the sinuous curves of the house, and blend seamlessly into the Chilterns countryside beyond. The warm, red handmade bricks have been masterfully laid to create curved walls and are complemented by vertical charcoal zinc panels. Concealed energy-saving measures mean the house is virtually carbon neutral.”

In a statement announcing the awards, the award sponsors said: “The Chiltern Buildings Design Awards is a prestigious biennial awards program in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, recognising and encouraging great examples of design and construction based on the principles in the Chilterns Buildings Design Guide. With development pressures greater than ever in the Chilterns AONB, it is a great opportunity to showcase the very best projects.

“Through the 2019 competition a wide variety of 19 entrants were considered for the accolade including; new buildings, restorations, extensions, conversions and one civil engineering project. Winners were carefully selected by an expert panel of six judges working in the field of architecture and planning, all who took careful account of the advice given in the Chilterns Buildings Design Guide.”

For more information on the Chilterns Buildings Design Awards, please visit: www.chilternsaonb.org/conservation-board/planning-development/annual-design-awards   Applications for the 2021 awards will open in December 2020.

FOLLOWING a Thames Valley Police investigation, two men have been charged in connection with an incident of illegal fox hunting which took place in Moreton, near Thame, on New Year’s Day.

Ian James Kirby Parkinson, aged 64, of Lower Road, Haddenham, Buckinghamshire and Mark Anthony Vincent, aged 53, of Kimblewick, Aylesbury, have both been charged with one count each of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Both are due to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on 23 July, 2019.

LANDMARKS – a revue of Thame Players by Tony Long and Bernadette Tildesley, promises to be a fun evening of sketches, songs and dances celebrating the Thame Players Theatre Company and its history.

Thame Players can trace their origins way back to 1944. In July that year – just a few short weeks after D-Day – the town held a series of fundraising events in aid of returning soldiers and one of those events was billed as by ‘Thame Players’. Since then the group has gone from strength to strength. From performing only once or twice a year to just a few hundred people in the early years to the thriving theatre we have today with some 8000 people coming through our doors each year to see our own or visiting live shows as well as cinema screenings.

Landmarks picks out the important steps along the journey, such as the acquisition of our theatre in 1977 and the major refurbishment in 2002, and presents extracts from some of the shows, the songs and the sketches. It also tells the story in words and pictures of our development and reminds us of some of the other events worldwide.

Join Thame Players on this fascinating journey. For some who have known about the group for many years it will be a journey of nostalgia. For those newer to what they do it will offer a fascinating insight into what has made Thame Players the thriving, vibrant group of today.

Tickets £5 all seats available from www.thameplayers.co.uk or Spear Travels on 01844 217228