Category: More News

SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council is giving nearly

FOLLOWING the success of the first Soha youth talent contest in January this year (2009), the housing association is already taking applications for the next.

Last year’s Runners up were the band, TerrorFret from Chinnor.

Singers, dancers, entertainers ? any young person in South Oxfordshire aged 11-18, whether solo or as part of a group, should contact Jackie Silver on 01235 515 900 for an application pack.

Jackie told ThameNews.Net: “I?m also looking for gifted young photographers and video whizzes to record the event ? maybe even a pencil portraitist as well,” she says.

The contest itself will take place at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot on Thursday, January 28, 2010.

A GROUP of climate change activists currently touring the south of England with horses and cart, will be stopping in Thame on Friday.

The oil-free tour by the campaign group, Climate Rush, is designed to raise awareness of climate change on the lead-up to the Copenhagen talks, and to get people involved in campaigning to reduce the harmful emissions effecting climate change.

Members of the group are dressed as suffragettes and lead by Tamsin Omond, she who has been banned from going within 1km of the Houses of Parliament after scaling its walls and leading a mob of 600 people who stormed the entrance of the Palace of Westminster last year.

Also in the group is Deborah Grayson who was one of the other four wall-climbers, and who is awaiting trial after supergluing herself to a statue inside the Houses of Parliament.

Before coming to Thame on Friday (venue to be announced – watch ThameNews.Net for details tomorrow), Climate Rush will be joining forces with Transition Thame and District in the lounge area of the Red Lion pub in Haddenham (7-10pm) for an evening on the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference (Dec 7-18th 2009). This will be an opportunity to learn about what is going on in the lead up to Copenhagen, and particularly about ?The Wave?, the big climate change march in London on December 5.

To find out more about Climate Rush and how to get involved, follow the LINK TO THEIR WEBSITE

WHERE can you learn where the local pets hotel is, that pot holes are rare in Spain, that South African gold miners have their own unique language, and the intricasies of a hip re-lining operation?

Answer: on a Saturday morning bike ride with the recently formed Thame Cycling Club.

Setting off from Racquets Fitness Centre every Saturday morning at around 10am, the club is lead by an experienced road cylist who ensures that, whatever your level of fitness or cycling experience, no one gets left behind. The group includes experienced cyclists dressed in licra as well as leisure cyclists more used to poodling along the Phoenix trail, looking for a bit more of a challenge.

As well as tips on safe cycling in groups if needed, the chat amongst the group members if very amicable and illuminating too!

And at the end of what is a great physical workout and a social occassion, there is a very welcome bacon roll and a coffee provided by Sue and Simon at Racquets.

So, take advantage of the beautiful autumn sunshine forecast for this weekend (as we speak, obviously, 04/09/09), dust off that bike you’ve been meaning to get on all summer, and join us tomorrow morning. You’ll be really glad you did!

THERMAL IMAGING REVEALS WASTED HEAT – The Mayor of Thame is to have her home photographed by a special camera which will demonstrate just how much heat energy is being lost from the building.

During a two week period beginning November 14, the environment group, Transition Thame, will be out and about in the town using a Thermal Imaging Camera to film the waste energy escaping from roofs, walls and windows of local schools and public buildings, including hopefully, Thame town hall, and Cllr Jeannette Matelot Green’s home in the High Street.

INSULATING BUILDINGS

The aim of the Transition movement is to help communities plan for when world oil supplies have peaked and the Thame and Haddenham groups hope with this project to draw attention to what can be done about insulating buildings against heat loss.

EXHIBITION

At the end of November, venue and date to be announced, there will be an exhibition of the all the images taken with the special camera showing comparisons between buildings that have been insulated and those that have not.

CALL FOR STRICTER PLANNING LAWS

Transition Thame is particularly eager to support Friends of the Earth’s campaign to persuade local authorities to do more about insulating their own housing stock and official buildings against wasteful heat loss, and to encourage stricter planning regulations relating to new build energy saving such as solar panels and underground heat pumps. It is much cheaper to incorporate such energy saving when a property is being built than to add such things retrospectively.

All local authorities must cut CO2 emissions by 40% by the year 2020, and by 80% by 2050 but there are penalties if they do not make year-on-year improvements.

HAVE YOUR PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPHED

Anyone who is thinking about insulating their property and would like to have a picture taken of their property with the Thermal Imaging Camera can contact Robin Aitchison via: editor@thame.net

Long Crendon and Cuddington will be taking part in a similar exercise in January.

PLANNING Applications Considered by Thame Town Council?s Planning Committee on Tuesday, August 25, 2009.

8271
P07/E0579 THE OXFORDSHIRE GOLF CLUB, RYCOTE LANE
Erection of 50 bedroom hotel and extensions to existing clubhouse.
Amendment No. 2 shows provision of improved escape during a fire, from the lower ground floor level.
The original application was approved by TTC
in May 2007; refused by SODC in August ?07 and allowed on appeal in June
2008.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

8644
P09/E0747 23 CHINNOR ROAD
Single storey rear extension and loft conversion, to include dormer window.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

8645
P09/E0783/LD 34 MAPLE ROAD
Certificate of lawful development for a single rear extension.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

8646
P09/E0799/LB LASHLAKE COTTAGE, 46 AYLESBURY ROAD
Re-thatching, including lowering of ridge height, chimney repair, overhaul, lining and new pots. External redecoration, replacement of three ground
floor windows at east elevation, repair and maintenance of remaining windows. Entrance door maintenance including rear door replacement,
and internal door replacement. Bathroom and wc refitting, cleaning and redecoration of internal timbers, renewal of radiators, rewiring and electrical installation. Installation of loft hatches.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

8647
P09/E0824 ADELAIDE HOUSE, 17 HIGH STREET
Change of use from B1 (a) to A1 shops (ground floor and basement).
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
Comment: There should be no external change to the building.

HERE is the latest Thame update for August 2009, from Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Diane Jackson C9610.

LOCAL NEWS

During the school holidays high visible patrols will continue especially in the park areas to reduce any Anti Social Behaviour and under age drinking which often leads to criminal damage.

We have received several complaints about cycling on the footpaths, adults as well as youths. This is an offence over ten years of age, and if caught carries a

THIS is a Ringmaster message from Thames Valley Police – DURING the evening of wednesday 19th August 2009 a distinctive green and brown camouflage Apachi Quad bike with a damaged rear mud gaurd was stolen from Sydenham near Chinnor.

If you have any information relating to this message, please call the police on 08458 505 505 and state you are responding to a Ringmaster message.

YOUNG people who are uncertain about their future options upon receiving their A-Level and GCSE results can access a wealth of information and advice through the county council’s Connexions service.

Connexions Oxfordshire, part of the council’s Integrated Youth Support Service, gives guidance from trained professionals to teenagers about opportunities, jobs, apprenticeships and courses.

Young people in Oxfordshire, like most sections of society, have faced greater difficulty in the job market in recent months. Connexions Oxfordshire is able to offer advice to 16- 18-year-olds who want to avoid not being in education, employment or training about courses which are available locally in sixth forms, colleges and universities.

Face-to-face support

People can access face-to-face support at various points all over Oxfordshire through Connexions Centres, Youth Centre Access Points and Connexions Outreach locations.

Connexions Centres are offices located in town centres where teenagers can access information about further education, as well as support on other topics, including housing and sexual health. The centres in Abingdon, Banbury, Bicester, Didcot, Oxford and Witney also produce job bulletins about opportunities in their areas.

Access Points are areas in Young People’s Centres where information is dispensed by youth workers about life skills, training, confidence-building and more.

Drop-ins and job clubs for young people are provided at Connexions Outreach locations, including community centres, youth centres and other locations, depending on demand.

People can also meet with a Connexions Personal Advisor who can give advice on issues which may affect younger people at school, work or in their personal or family life, as well as providing information about jobs and voluntary work.

Go to www.connexionsoxfordshire.com for more information about Connexions Oxfordshire and for locations of Connexions Centres, Youth Centre Access Points and Connexions Outreach locations or email askconnexions@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

Further information can be obtained in confidence from Connexions advisors over the telephone, online, by text or email between 8am and 2am everyday. Contact details are available at www.connexions-direct.com.

Use Connexions Oxfordshire for your benefit

Councillor Louise Chapman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “There is a huge amount of advice and guidance available for young people through the Connexions service. I would urge any young person who is uncertain about their future to get in touch and discuss what options are open to them.

“It is particularly important for everybody to maximise their potential in these trying economic times – Connexions is an excellent tool to find out what support and services are available.”

THE Students and staff of Lord Williams?s School, Thame, are celebrating another outstanding set of A Level results.

From a record number of 607 exam entries, 97% achieved a pass grade. An impressive 73% achieved A-C grades and 46% A-B grades.

Three students, Hisham Sherif, Alice Carstairs and Tim Kew achieved five A grades. Florence Batten-Turner and Sammy Daubney achieved four A grades and the following students all achieved three A grades: Jonathan Goggs, George Millo, Luke Ounsworth, Tarik Sharif, Danny Spiteri, Charlotte Clarke, Maisie Faulkner, Tanith Jackson, Rebecca Johnston and Iman Nafi.

FIRST OXFORD UNIVERSITY BURSARY AWARDED

Two students, Rosie Morris and Thomas Merriman were the first to achieve the new A* grade awarded for the Extended Project Qualification. In addition, Ed Smith received the Rycote Bursary from New College Oxford, which has been introduced for the first time this year.

PRAISE FROM HEADTEACHER

Headteacher David Wybron commented: “After a long and sometimes anxious wait, students can now celebrate their excellent achievements. Very high academic standards have been maintained by our sixth form students. They have worked very hard and have impressed staff with their high levels of skill and dedication. They have benefited from excellent teaching and support in school and at home.”

HEAD OF YEAR CONGRATULATES ‘FANTASTIC ACHIEVEMENTS’

Kate Sheehan, Head of Sixth Form said: “We are immensely proud of all our students whatever grades they achieved in their exams this year. A Levels are not easy; students should be congratulated on their fantastic achievements which are the result of two years of hard work. We are pleased that these results will enable our students to progress to their chosen field of employment or to university. They have a bright and exciting future ahead of them and we wish them all the very best whatever they decide to do.”

BATTLE OF THE UNIVERSITY PLACES – STUDENTS CONCERNED

After the news today that there are seven students fighting for every available university place this autumn, most A level students interviewed by ThameNews.Net at Lord Williams’s school today, said that they were confident in finding a place at university. However, some AS level students with one more year to go, said that they were concerned that things may be worse by next year. They seemed determined though to achieve the best results they could to improve their chances in the battle for places in 2010.