Category: More News

OXFORDSHIRE fire chiefs are saying ?Pull your finger out? in a bid to get residents to check their smoke alarms as part of a government campaign launched this week.
According to new survey results from the government, 94 per cent of Oxfordshire?s households have a smoke alarm, however, 83 per cent of those do not test their alarm often enough, risking the safety of homes and loved ones.

Fire kills

Latest statistics show that on average, there are 394 accidental house fires in Oxfordshire each year, injuring 95 and killing four people. People who don?t own a working smoke alarm are twice as likely to die in a fire2. That is why Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service is supporting Government’s Fire Kills Campaign: ?Pull your finger out?.

Fire Risk Manager Mike Bingham said: ?Despite the fact that a high number of people in Oxfordshire own a smoke alarm, a disturbing number do not maintain their alarms on a weekly basis.

?The message is simple ? smoke alarms save lives, but only if they work! We?re urging all Oxfordshire residents to pull their fingers out and test their smoke alarms ? this simple action could save the lives of their loved ones.?

Television adverts

A new wave of TV advertising is accompanying the campaign. Fronted by actress Julie Walters, the advert highlights the devastating and potentially fatal consequences of not testing your alarm often enough. Running from 15 January to 9 March, the advert shows the aftermath of a fire in the home with a burnt out kitchen providing the backdrop to the scene.

Apathy seems to be the main reason that people from Oxfordshire do not test their smoke alarms, with many people attributing forgetfulness, being too busy or just simply ?can?t be bothered? to do an action that only takes a few seconds, but could potentially save their lives.

Fire safety tips

Ensuring you stay safe from fire is quick and simple. Fire Risk Manager Mike Bingham has provided five essential fire safety tips to help you protect yourself, your family and your home from fire:

Step 1 – Fit a smoke alarm on each level of the property. When a fire starts, you only have a few minutes to escape so an early warning is vital. Make sure you replace battery operated smoke alarm units after 10 years. Alternatively, consider installing a 10-year battery smoke alarm or mains powered alarm.

Step 2 – Test it weekly. A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and dial 999.

Step 3 – Plan your escape route. Make sure you and your family know the quickest way out in the event of fire. Consider an alternative route in case your usual one is blocked.

Step 4 ? Stay safe in the kitchen. This is the area where most house fires start. It only takes a minute to check electrical appliances are switched off. Also, never
leave cooking unattended.

Step 5 ? Ask the experts. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service offers free home fire risk checks to identify potential fire risks and advise what to do to reduce or prevent them. To find out more, contact the Risk Reduction Team on 08000 325 999 or visit www.fire.gov.uk

1 Survey conducted via TNS Omnibus on behalf of the Fire Kills campaign amongst a nationally representative sample (1747) of adults aged 16+ in England, from November 2 – 6, 2007.

2 Source: Communities and Local Government Fire Statistics 1996-2006.

A GROUP of singers from Lord Williams’s Festival Chorus will be singing in Carnegie Hall this coming Monday night (Jan 21).
The group will be joined by a choir from Salisbury (UK), Australia, Canada, America, South Africa and a children’s choir, to sing The Armed Man, composed by Karl Jenkins.

OXFORDSHIRE has taken a step nearer to acquiring a waste incineration plant, possibly taking the so-called ‘energy from waste’ option.
Read an article published on the website, More Than Waste, today. LINK

TYTHROP Park, just outside Thame, has been sold at a knock-down price, after being on the market for two years.
Nick Wheeler, founder of the Charles Tyrwhitt shirt company, and his wife Christian Rucker, who set up The White Company, have bought Tythrop Park, a 14-bedroom, Grade I listed mansion in 56 acres, for

DEAR Editor, a positive reason for choosing an area for town expansion is its effect on institutions in the town, e.g. the schools’ catchment area in towns, and road systems.
The decision in 1972 to develop Lea Park and its increase thereafter has led to an imbalance in pupil numbers between Barley Hill Primary School (up) and John Hampden (static, now with St Joseph’s down) and the C of E churches, St Mary’s and Barley Hill. There is an (overworked) bypass on the South, but none on the North.
Henry Blyth (Thame High Street).

ELECTION fever has come to Oxfordshire, thanks to the UK Youth Parliament being re-introduced to the area by the county council’s Youth Support Service.
Oxfordshire is entitled to three Young Members of Parliament – one in each of South Oxfordshire, North Oxfordshire and Oxford.

In October three open days were held in different areas of the county and the young people signed up as a candidates and have been working on their manifestos and campaigns since then.

Elections have taken place across the county in schools and youth centres this week (14 – 17 January) and the successful candidates will be announced on Friday, January 18 at County Hall, Oxford.

The elected members will then be in post for a year attending all regional and national meetings and liaising with local MPs and youth services to tackle some of the issues that young people need addressing.

The national version of the Youth Parliament is seen as an integral tool to involve young people in politics and voting processes. County Cllr Louise Chapman said: “We need to get young people involved in all issues. Politics is not all fuddy-duddy, younger people can make a real difference and I’m glad to see these elections taking place.
“I look forward to working with our newly elected Young Members of Parliament to tackle local and national issues.”

A FLOOD warning has been issued for the River Thame.
Moreton could be affected – see the Environment Agency’s website for details and what to do in the event of flooding. LINK

A FORMER Reading Borough Councillor has been selected as Labour?s candidate to fight Boris Johnson in the next General Election.
A Russian and German speaker, Richard McKenzie lists his interests as railways, scooters and saxophone playing. Like Boris, he is a keen cyclist.
He is aged 41, married with two children and has been described in the local Reading press as a ‘Labour Big Hitter.’ Richard has fought campaigns for road safety, equal pay for women, when he asked Reading shoppers to sign a petition, and worked with local traders and Martin Salter MP to have parking regulations overturned in Tilehurst. Following the campaign, Reading council removed its parking restrictions.
Richard has also been involved in campaigns to improve the standards of Social housing, to improve transport and to prevent what he calls ‘Inappropriate over-development.’

The aspiring MP said that he was looking forward to presenting Labour?s case to the voters of the Henley Constituency, adding: “Henley deserves an MP who concentrates on the needs of the Constituency and makes sure that the needs of his constituents are his prime concern.” He went on to say that if elected he will not be looking for extra work in London.

Marketing Manager, McKenzie said: “I look forward to working with residents to deal with their issues, presenting Labour?s achievements since 1997 to the electorate and our plans to continue to increase prosperity for all.” He continued: “My wife and children are very supportive and I look forward to taking them to the House of Commons for a large meal to say thank you if I win the seat.”

Photo: Richard McKenzie (left) with Dalek, during the ‘Big Draw’ event in Reading, in November 2007.

A HEATED debate over the future of Thame’s cattlemarket is expected tomorrow (Wednesday 16/01)when the district council’s Planning Committee will vote on a plan to move it to the Thame Show ground.
Planning Officers are to recommend that the plan is refused stating: “..having regard to its location in an attractive area of countryside, beyond the existing built development of Thame, the proposed buildings, hardstandings and access way and substantial works to construct a new roundabout, would detract from the rural landscape character and visual amenity of the locality, and the setting of Thame, contrary to Policies G2, G4 and C1 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan. Insufficient justification exists to justify overriding these policies.”

As well as opposition by some residents of Lea Park, this plan has the support of Thame Town Council and a previous plan was turned down by the casting vote of the committee’s Chairman. That application is now the subject of an Appeal and the date for the public inquiry is awaited.

You can read the full details and history of this application by following the LINK
and clicking on the ‘Thame showground’ link.

PEOPLE living in Thame no longer have to travel to Oxford or Aylesbury to take advantage of what the relationship service, Relate, offers in the way of counselling.
Both relationship councilling and psychosexual therapy are now available on Wednesday mornings in the centre of Thame.
The local Relate organiser in Thame, said: “All sorts of people come to Relate and find it helps them to understand what?s going on in their relationships and change things for the better.
“Relate is the UK?s largest provider of relationship counselling, family counselling and sex therapy which delivers its services through a Federation of local independent charities.
“Our services in Thame include weekly sessions on Wednesday mornings in the centre of Thame, assessment sessions, relationship counselling, sex therapy,
counselling for those experiencing domestic abuse or violence and counselling for those contemplating divorce.
“It?s good to talk and talking about your problems is the start of solving them.”

Phone any time to speak to an appointment secretary on
01865 242 960.

Relate Oxfordshire is a member of the Relate Federation and has provided services in the County for nearly 60 years.