Category: More News

FOLLOWING his letter of complaint about the method of resurfacing roads with chippings, Mr Andy Ford from Thame has received the following response for Contractor hired to do the recent resurfacing in the town:
“Dear Mr Ford
With regards to the actual process and it?s reasons I can really only re-iterate Mr Purcell-Smith?s comments that surface dressing is a very cost effective maintenance technique carried out throughout the whole Country and much of the rest of the world.

It is also one of the most environmentally friendly processes using a lot less natural material resources than almost all other processes (approx 75% less stone than a surface course replacement), and it requires no material to be taken to tip.

With regards to East Street, this was a road completed last summer. Unfortunately it was completed towards the latter end of the season and this coupled with the worst summer for over 100 years meant there was very little natural embedment. This site has been monitored and swept as required throughout the winter and remedial work has now completed. I can assure you that this has all been at our cost and not the Taxpayers. We are a Company with an excellent reputation within the industry and pride our selves on the quality of our work. Over the past 5 years we would have completed in excess of 5 million square metres in Oxfordshire alone with less than 0.5% remedial work being required. Our normal remedial rate is and we aim for 0% but as I have said above last year was one of the worst years on record.

I trust the above is of some assistance.”
Regards
Chris Stanley
General Manager
Hazell & Jefferies Ltd.

Mr Ford what not satisfied with this reply and penned the following: (WARNING: strong language)

“Thanks you for your response but yet again, I agree this method should be suitable?

BUT its not and the recent resurfacing around Thame in particular is to put it bluntly CRAP!

1 – The surface is already coming off,
2 – There are bald patches already
3 – The pot holes that were not filled are coming apart.
4 – there are more ridges and lumps than before

“How under any stretch of the imagination can anyone professionally call this suitable and cost effective.

Cheap, not value for money and dangerous is what I call it, and I am not alone. I do not ever think I have heard so many people complain about the state of our roads as lately.

I hope some press coverage, photos and our MP? may actually open those eyes that need to see what a poor state our roads are in! More over this is the Taxpayers money that is being wasted.”

regards
Mr Ford

SOUTH Oxfordshire District council is experiencing problems with its garden waste receptacles.
On the council’s website, councillors say:
“We are currently experiencing a delay with our brown bin delivery (due to a manufacturing shortage) any orders placed after (and including) 27 June 2008 will receive a supply of garden waste sacks to use until their bin arrives.
We hope to have all bins delivered by 5 September 2008.”

THAME Town Council fears that if it carries out flood prevention work at the Cuttlebrook nature reserve, it may in future be held responsible for any future flooding.
At a meeting of the council on Tuesday (29/07), councillors accepted that they had ‘a duty of care’ to keep the Cuttlebrook clear of debris and to carry out other flood-prevention work. However, some councillors feared that committing funds to the work needed, could be construed as the council accepting responsibility for flood prevention, and therefore being left with a huge bill if flooding should happen again.

Cllr Owen Davies, however, said: “If this is going to take weeks or months to sort out, we could, in the meantime, have another flash flood. There are eight families who are homeless; we do have a duty of care to act soon.”

The Mayor, Cllr Don Butler, said: “We cannot guarantee that flooding would not happen again because the area is in the flood plane.”

Cllr David Laver said that it was his opinion that the council should seek advise that any works it carries out does not exacerbate the problem.
“We should be targetting our efforts in controlling winter flooding. Nothing can be done about the heavy downfalls we have experienced during the last two years.”

It emerged at the meeting that one of the main contributions to the recent flooding that affected several families in Cedar Crescent and Maple Road, Thame, was debris that had collected over time under the two bridges over the Cuttlebrook. This debris appears to have acted like a dam to the huge quantity of water running into them during the heavy rain storms last month.

The Highways authority is to carry out work to clear the debris.

The council voted to delay committing any funds until legal advise as to its responsibilities and obligations had been sought.

THE following planning applications considered by Thame Town Council?s Planning Committee on Tuesday, July 22.
8181
P06/E1105 FLAT 4 & 6, 22 PARK STREET
Extension to flat 4 and extension to flat 6 terrace over.
Amendment No. 1
NO STRONG VIEWS

8477
P08/E0642 ELM TREE FARM BARN, MORETON
Change of use to single dwelling with associated alterations.
Demolition of stable and formation of parking area.
Amendment No. 1
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

8496
P08/E0712 92 AYLESBURY ROAD
Loft conversion including a dormer window to rear roof slope.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

8497
P08/E0705 BT TELEPHONE EXCHANGE, 101 HIGH STREET
Removal of existing glazing to a number of windows and replacement with new ventilation louvres.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

8498
P08/E0704/LB THE WORKHOUSE, RYCOTEWOOD SITE,
OXFORD ROAD
Installation of satellite dish and TV aerial.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

8499
P08/E0686 17 MONTROSE WAY
Conversion of garage to annexe and extension of roof to rear of garage.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

8500
P08/E0763 50 QUEENS ROAD
Erection of a two storey side extension. Alterations including re-roofing to existing side extension and extension of garage forward.
Construction of new vehicular access.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

IMAGINE… this time next year you could be joining the Oxfordshire Mind team in exploring the Heart and Soul of Ireland the Kerry Way!
If trekking isn’t your thing, why not tell family, friends and colleagues? Every year Oxfordshire Mind aims to raise

OXFORDSHIRE County Council’s libraries are aiming to keep young people active and reading throughout the summer holidays – with Team Read, the Summer Reading Challenge.
Children are encouraged to read six books during the summer and will receive a special pack plus a set of incentives as they read. A certificate and medal awaits those that successfully complete the challenge.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Principal Librarian, Carol Stitson said: ?Team GB may be gearing up for the Beijing Olympics, but our successful Team Readers will also be winning medals!?

Carol added: ?Nearly 7,500 Oxfordshire children took part in last year?s Reading Challenge, improving their reading confidence and enjoyment. Schools say this contributes to their confidence and reading achievement – with potentially life-changing results.?

To find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge, ask at your local library.

THE police have released further information about the fatal collision over the weekend as they re-appeal for witnesses.
At 5.30pm on Saturday (12/7), a blue Ford Fiesta and white, long wheel base, high top Ford Transit van, registration KN03 YRR, collided between junctions seven to six, between Milton Common and Lewknor. Both vehicles left the carriageway went down the embankment and into a field.

The Fiesta overturned, trapping the three people inside. A 63-year-old male driver, and a female passenger, aged 65, were both airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital. The man was released on Sunday while the woman remains in hospital with serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

Another passenger in the Ford Fiesta, Ross Shears, a 29-year-old man from Crowborough, East Sussex, was also taken to hospital but pronounced dead at hospital.

The occupant or occupants of the van left the scene of the collision before emergency services arrived.

Insp Mary Chapman, from Bicester Roads Policing department, said: ?I am appealing for anyone to come forward who was driving along the M40 early Saturday evening and possibly witnessed the collision. Did you see it take place or perhaps events leading up to it? Your information could prove vital to our enquiries.?

Two people were arrested near to the collision scene on Saturday (12/7).

A 24-year-old man, of no fixed address, who was arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving, drink driving, fail to stop, driving whilst disqualified and possession of Class A drugs, has been released on bail pending further investigation.

A 25-year-old woman, from Oxford, who was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, failing to stop and theft is currently in police custody.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information can contact Insp Chapman or Sgt Jack Hawkins via the Thames Valley Police 24-hour non-emergency number, 0845 8 505 505.

If you do not want to talk to the police, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

THERE are still some places left for this year’s trip to Thame’s twin town of Montesson, near Paris.
The Thame and District Twinning Association have organised a coach trip for the weekend of September 19-21, to join their French counterparts for the anuual ‘f

JUST after midnight this morning, the counting of the 1,173 votes cast in the Thame South ward by-election ended, and the results announced.
Clifford Baker, Conservative, 578
Michael Welply, —ditto….. 553

Margaret Bretherton, Lib Dem 380
Mary Stiles, Labour 288
Hussein Murza 269
Andrew Gunn, Labour 192

The two Comservative candidates are therefore elected to Thame Town Council.

More details to follow.

8490
P08/E0646 17 WEBSTER CLOSE
Replacement of single storey rear extension.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

8491
P08/E0604/RET
(Retrospective) 14a CROFT ROAD
To incorporate rear parking space into garden of 14a Croft Road.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

8492
P08/E0618 WAVERTREE HOUSE, 18 HIGH STREET
Change of use from offices to residential.
Correspondence was received and noted from the Thame Conservation
Area Advisory Committee.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

8493
P08/E0619/LB
(Listed Building) WAVERTREE HOUSE, 18 HIGH STREET
Change of use from offices to residential.
Correspondence was received and noted from the Thame Conservation
Area Advisory Committee.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

8494
P08/E0655/LD
(Lawful Development) 79 COOMBE HILL CRESCENT
Certificate of lawful development for proposed single storey rear
extension and loft conversion.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

8495
P08/E0700 PARK MEADOW FARM, THAME PARK ROAD
Alterations and change of use of barn to light industrial and provision
of parking.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL