Category: More News

OXFORDSHIRE County Council?s Trading Standards team is alerting the public to a shopping scam aimed at the elderly which surfaced this week.
The warning follows incidents in Henley-Upon-Thames and Wantage involving telephone calls from someone claiming to work for South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC).

The caller asked to carry out shopping as part of a special service offered by the authority.
On both occasions the intended victims became suspicious and contacted Oxfordshire County Council?s Trading Standards.
Trading Standards Officers have since contacted SODC, which confirmed it was offering no such shopping service.
Oxfordshire County Council does offer a home shopping service, contracted to a company called Montclair. However, Montclair do not cold call clients in this way.

Head of Trading Standards, Nigel Strick said: ?Luckily both gentlemen who received the calls sensed something was wrong, but other members of the public could still be at risk from this scam.
?We would like to urge people never to deal with anyone who calls or knocks at the door without an invitation.?

Consumer advice
For further advice contact Oxfordshire County Council?s Trading Standards on 0845 051 0845

THE Police are warning teenagers that they will have alcohol confiscated on the streets across Oxfordshire as part of a crackdown on under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour.
The operation, which started today (8/2)is being co-ordinating by Thames Valley Police Licensing Officers, and runs for two weeks ending on 24 February. It is part of a national Home Office campaign to tackle underage drinking.

Police officers and Police Community Support Officers will be carrying out high visibility, directed patrols of known hotspots for youngsters gathering in locations across Oxfordshire. Anyone under 18 will have their alcohol confiscated. Officers will also be gathering evidence during their patrols to ensure the right people and places are being targeted.

Test purchases will be carried out to tackle under-age drinking on various licensed premises. Police and council officers will also be visiting them to prosecute staff selling to under-age customers, and to promote the ?Think 21 scheme?. Anyone found repeatedly selling may have their licenses put at risk of being suspended.

The crackdown will also focus on cracking down on vandals and anti-social behaviour, especially during half-term week.

Supt Paul Emmings, heading the operation, said: ?Police and partners in Oxfordshire are committed to tackling the problem of underage drinking, and the anti-social behaviour which can go hand in hand with young people drinking on our streets.

?This campaign is two pronged in that it will prevent young people drinking in public and target the people supplying the alcohol. We will be working closely with our partners to ensure this campaign is a success and drives home the message to young people and their parents that drinking in public will not be tolerated.?

THAME Police are appealing for information and urging the public to be vigilant after an attempted distraction burglary in Chinnor.
On Monday (4/2) at about 5.15pm, two men went to a property in Elm Drive and asked to speak to a man called Michael Janes. The resident didn?t know anyone of that name.

One man went into the house and the other waited in the porch. Then the men left the property as the resident?s son arrived.

One of the offenders is white, 5ft 10ins with dark hair and was unshaven.

Det Sgt Alan Clements from Thame said: ?It is thought that there maybe three people involved in this attempted distraction burglary and I urge anyone with any information to contact the police.

?There is no reason why a stranger should ever come into your home. All agencies or utility companies should make an appointment and also use a password system.

?I would urge anyone with elderly or vulnerable relatives, neighbours or carers to check their home security and alert them to the dangers of opening the door to a stranger.

?Distraction burglars prey on the elderly and vulnerable. If you see people calling at houses and are suspicious of their intentions, I would urge you to contact police immediately.?

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Det Sgt Clements at Thame police station via 0845 8 505 505, or if you don?t want to talk to the police or give your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Lesley Nesbitt, Crime Reduction Advisor, would like to offer the following advice to Thame residents:

LOCKED – If someone knocks on your door and you are not expecting them before you go to your front door make sure your rear door is secure.

STOP ? If someone knocks at your door stop and think, ?Am I expecting someone?? Look through your spy hole or through a window to see who is at your door.

CHAIN ? Put your door chain on before opening the door.

CHECK ? Ask for the callers Identification and check this by phone.

IF IN DOUBT KEEP THEM OUT

Leaflets about bogus callers are available from your local police station.

THAME’s MP, Boris Johnson today pledge to fight any major urban extension to Oxford in the Green Belt to the south of the city.
At the end of 2007, government planning inspectors examining the South East Plan ? the blue-print for development in the region to 2026 ? recommended a limited review of Oxford?s Green Belt with the aim of allowing an urban extension to the south of the city of some 4,000 houses.

In a letter sent yesterday to Parish Councils within his constituency which lie in the Green Belt, Boris promised to ‘put the heat on’ Ministers on this issue and particularly on the Prime Minister who he accused of breaking a commitment to protect Green belt land.

Boris stated: “It now looks as if we are going to have to wait until the end of May before Hazel Blears makes up her mind as to whether she?s going to accept the inspectors? recommendations to build in Oxford?s Green Belt. That amount of delay leaves us all in an uncertain position and is, quite frankly, unacceptable.
“I want the Parishes likely to be affected by the government?s plan to extend Oxford to know that I?m fully with them in opposing it.
“There is, of course, a great need to provide adequate and affordable housing. But, I remain convinced that it would be wrong to use Oxford?s Green Belt to do this given the benefits the Green Belt brings to our villages and to the city alike. I believe that Oxford City Council could find more land to use for housing within its existing boundaries.”

Boris described the idea of building to the south of the city as: “..unsustainable with little prospect of the necessary infrastructure being provided by government.”
He added that he believes that it will cause severe problems for the quality of life of those in the surrounding villages, those in the Blackbird Leys area of Oxford and those living in the new development.

BORIS JOHNSON MP, will be the Guest of Honour at the Barley Hill School PTA Dinner/Ball, at the Belfry Hotel, Milton Common, on Friday (08/02).
Boris will speak briefly and take part in a Question and Answer session. All monies raised from the event will go towards the Barley Hill School PTA.

THE following planning applications are to be considered by Thame Town Council?s Planning Committee on Tuesday, February 05.

8382
P07/E1248 9 NELSON STREET
Single storey rear extension to form sun room, w.c and kitchen
(as amended by drawing nos. SK07-316-01 and 02
accompanying letter from Agent dated 16 January 2008)
Amendment No 1

8410
P08/E0051/AG COTMORE WELLS FARM
Erection of an agricultural storage building.

8411
P08/0011/LD 97 CHINNOR ROAD
Certificate of lawful development for a proposed rear dormer
extension and a rear porch extension.

8412
P07/E1673/0 LAND ADJOINING RYCOTE LANE
Relocation of Thame cattle market and development of a single storey cattle market, car parking, new access and ancillary services.

8413
P08/E0007 108 AYLESBURY ROAD
Rear conservatory.

8414
P08/E0006 WHITELEAF HOUSE, LUPTON ROAD
Proposed factory portal frame extension.

8415
P08/E0048 15 RUSHALL ROAD
Single storey rear extension.

8416
P08/E0043 1 SYCAMORE DRIVE
New pitched roof (to replace existing flat felt roof) over existing
single storey side extension.

8417
P07/E1545 INTEROUTE TRANSPORT SERVICES LTD
Change of use of part of building from light industry (B1 (c) ) to warehousing (B8).

8418
P08/E0083 9 PARK TERRACE
Partial demolition of existing single storey structure and replacement with single storey and two storey extensions.

8419
P08/E0077 WARDEN?S HOUSE FORMER RYCOTEWOOD COLLEGE
Alterations to existing Warden?s House to include the addition of clay hanging tiles to elevations. Amendment to one ground floor and one top floor window. (Amendment of planning permission P05/E1331 for redevelopment of site).

8420
P07/E1600 THAME PARK HOUSE, THAME PARK ROAD
Proposed garage at rear of new east wing. (Scheme 1)

8421
P07/E1602/LB THAME PARK HOUSE, THAME PARK ROAD
Proposed garage at rear of new east wing. (Scheme 1)

8422
P07/E1605/LB THAME PARK HOUSE, THAME PARK ROAD
Proposed garage incorporating link at rear of new east wing.
(Scheme 2)

8423
P07/E1604 THAME PARK HOUSE, THAME PARK ROAD
Proposed garage incorporating link at rear of new east wing.
(Scheme 2)

DISTRICT Councillor, Sue Cooper, has been selected by the Liberal Democrats to stand in the next Parliamentary Election to fight Boris Johnson’s Henley seat (He of course, may not be standing himself if elected Mayor or London).
Sue Cooper has lived in the constituency for 33 years, where she has brought up her six children. She has been active in many local organisations in Benson and Ewelme, including the Benson Area Playscheme and is Vice-Chairman of the Governors of Benson School.
She has been a Liberal Democrat Councillor for Benson and Ewelme on South Oxfordshire District Council for 17 years, including spells as Chairman of the Council, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and a member of the Council?s Cabinet. She was actively involved in the introduction of green recycling boxes to South Oxfordshire, and chaired the County Waste
Management Group for some years.

Sue said: ?I am delighted to have been selected to fight the next parliamentary election on behalf of the Liberal Democrats. With my experience of and commitment to southern Oxfordshire, I believe that I have the ability to take on Boris Johnson, who is clearly much more interested in London politics than in the problems of his rural constituents.?

Philip Allison, Chair of Henley Constituency Liberal Democrats, said: ?Sue Cooper will be an excellent Parliamentary Candidate and MP. She has the energy and commitment to make a real difference in this area, continuing the excellent work she has done as a District Councillor. I am looking forward to working with her to increase our vote very significantly at the next election. With such an excellent candidate and a new leader of the national party, the Liberal Democrats are poised to make a big breakthrough in this area.?

THE ORCC Supports communities in rural Oxfordshire –
www.oxonrcc.org.uk – EVENTS 2008 – including Oxfordshire Climate Change Communities Competition ? deadline 8 February.
The Challenge of Community Change ? 13 February, Didcot.
Changes to the Post Office Network ? 14 February, The Holt Hotel.
OPFA Play and Sports Seminar – 14 May, Steeple Aston.
Parish and Community-Led Plan training day ? 1 March, Yarnton.

CONTENTS:
Events and News
Oxfordshire Climate Change Communities Competition
Challenge of Community Change
Changes to the Post Office Network
Play and Sports Seminar
Parish and Community-Led Plan Training
ACRE Rural Life Conference
Oxfordshire Village Shop of the Year Competition 2007
Partnership Working
Affordable Housing

FUNDING
Village Halls ? OCC Grant Aid
Trust for Oxfordshire?s Environment and ?Places for People?
WREN Communities Challenge
OCVA Funding Advice Surgeries

GENERAL INFORMATION

Your views ? ORCC would like to receive Bulletin readers’ comments and feedback on this newsletter.
Do we have your email address? ORCC can send this newsletter to you electronically, and save paper at the same time. orcc@oxonrcc.org.uk
You are welcome to reproduce any of the information included and ORCC requests that you acknowledge the source of the material.

NEWS AND EVENTS

Oxfordshire Climate Change Communities Competition

THAME Farmers Auction Mart, which runs Thame’s battling cattlemarket, is to open a new Monday auction centre at Home Farm, Foscote near Buckingham with the first sale on February 4.
The opening of this converted farmyard to a livestock market is brought about by the closure of Winslow Market, the last remaining market in Buckinghamshire.
Winslow has been an important centre for sheep producers and has been run as a satellite market to Thame.
The directors of Thame felt it important to provide facilities for producers of both cattle and sheep in the Buckingham area and with the co-operation of the Pullin family have created a covered market with penning for 2,000 head of sheep or 320 cattle at Home Farm.

Thame cattlemarket wants to move to a new, shared facility on the Thame show ground, but three planning applications have been rejected by South Oxfordshire District Council.
Both Thame cattlemarket and The Thame Show organisation await the result of a Planning Appeal against the decision.

The Developer, Bob Williams, who is behind the planned Thame move, has said that the Thame Cattlemarket may move out of Thame completely if its proposals are unsuccessful, fearing that “the death knell” for both the cattlemarket and Thame Show has been sounded by the district council’s lack of support.

HUNDREDS of adult learning courses run by Oxfordshire County Council have been launched for the spring and summer, offering local people the opportunity to take on a new challenge in 2008.
Courses range from DIY garden design and Egyptian dance to internet safety and foreign languages.

One adult learner, Mario Coelho, is now working as a storyboard illustrator for a movie director after attending a course run by the well known illustrator Korky Paul.

Localised brochures

In response to feedback, localised brochures have been launched this year, setting out what is going on across the county. Also new is a brochure of countywide tasters and weekend workshops that are ideal for people who are short of time.

Jim Couchman, Oxfordshire County Council?s cabinet member for social and community services, said: ?Many of our learners tell us that our adult learning courses have made a difference to their lives.

?Some have talked about how much their confidence and skills have improved, or how they have made friends.

“We are pleased to offer this great service, which can help enhance leisure time or give people a new direction in their career.”

For more information, a brochure, or to enrol, call
0845 351 0646 or visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/adultlearning
Alternatively pick up a brochure from your local library or adult learning centre.