Category: More News

DETAILED planning for this year’s Thame festival and carnival are taking shape and the organising committee has sent out the following message to all those taking part.
The Festival date, June 16, is fast approaching, and it?s time to get the final plans in place, but firstly, we would like to thank those of you who have decided take part in the Carnival parade and/or F

THE following planning applications will be considered by Thame Town Council?s Planning Committee on Tuesday, May 15.

8000
P05/E1121 VAN DIEMANS ROAD
Demolition of existing garages, construction of 4 new dwellings and
6 new apartments with improved parking facilities and landscaping.
Amendment No. 4 shows a minor alteration to the configuration of
paths at the rear of Plots 5-10. TTC recommended approval of
Amendment No. 3 in September 2006.

8260
P07/E0446/RM
(Reserved Matters) 1 CHINNOR ROAD
Demolish garage buildings and construct 6 new starter homes.
Amendment No. 1: house number four has been altered to have the
same layout as other houses, removing the rearwards facing bedroom window; boundary wall links with existing wall; entrance to scheme to
have a return wall with pier, in line with Thames Valley Police
comments. TTC recommended approval of original application
earlier this month.

8266
P07/E0543 19 MAPLE ROAD
Single storey side extension.

8267
P07/E0512 KALPANA, BROOK LANE
To erect a conservatory to the side and rear of the property.

8268
P07/E0550 2 MOATS CRESCENT
Erection of front porch (amendment to planning permission P06/E0152).

OXFORDSHIRE County Council has written to the Government to ask for changes to national rules on lighting of road traffic signs so that energy costs can be cut and carbon footprints reduced.
All councils are currently bound by law to illuminate certain traffic signs – even though modern and efficient highly reflective materials are now used in the manufacture of sign plates and bollards.

The council has stated that new laws should be flexible enough to take account of local conditions and that safety should remain the prime consideration – with risk assessments being all important. In many European countries, illuminated signs are generally not the norm.

The letter, from the county council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport Policy, Cllr David Robertson, has been sent to government minister, Douglas Alexander.

In addition to the advances in technology that make signs highly reflective, the letter lists other good reasons to make rules more flexible. These include:

The costs of energy are ever rising, as are the pressures on local authorities to make efficiency savings.
The reduced use of energy would bring a corresponding reduction in carbon emissions and help local authorities reduce their carbon footprint.
The costs of installing road signs would be reduced.
There would no longer be a need to install electrical infrastructure to get power to road signs to light them.
Costs to repair failed lights would no longer be an issue.
There would be a reduction in the need for disposal of spent electrical components.

Cllr David Robertson said: “The highly reflective materials that road signs are made from nowawadays mean that car lights reflect in to them and the driver is able to see the signs clearly. That makes the need for lighting far less important.
“Of course each case needs to be assessed on its merits and there may still be occasions when the safety experts deem that lighting should be fitted. However, there should be flexibility so that judgements can be made at local level and energy and money saved in instances where lighting is not required.”

FROM tomorrow, May 9, Thame’s new museum will be extending its opening hours.
With an additional opening day on Wednesdays, it will now be open for four days a week.
2007 summer opening hours will be:
Sunday 12 noon to 4 pm
Tuesday 10am to 4 pm
Wednesday 10am to 4 pm
Saturday 10am to 4 pm

Admission is Free to all visitors

The Chairman of Thame Museum Trust, Dave Bretherton, said: “It is a great tribute to our volunteer support that we are now able to open on Wednesdays, but we are always looking for more volunteers.

ELECTED for Chinnor in the District Council Elections, were:
Christopher Hood (Cons) 887 26.07&
Mr Geoff Andrews (Cons) 832 24.46%

Not Elected

Pat Haywood (Ind) 731 21.49%
Martin Wright (Ind) 611 17.96%
Julie Marfleet (Labour) 194 5.7 %
Jeneva Paul (Lib Dem) 147 4.32%

THE Captain of England’s Ladies’ hockey team, Kate Walsh, has helped set a Thame school on its next step to sporting excellence.
Kate was at Lord Williams’s Upper School today, where she met the Mayor, Nigel Champken-Woods and staff from the school, to officially launch the school’s new, all-weather playing surface facility.
The event began with a Year 10, inter-tutor group Decathlon and in the afternoon, pupils from the area’s primary schools were given the opportunity to try out football, hockey, netball and athletics on the new pitches.
Pupils Alex Parker, James Morris, Beth Gibson, Becci Hickman and their friend Oliver, all agreed that the new surface was brilliant – providing a better grip when its wet than conventional grass and easier to run on.
“The only downside,” said Oliver, “is when you fall over it scrapes a bit but its not a problem.”

Kate, whose England team faces its next battle in August’s 2007 EuroHockey Nations Championships in Manchester, told ThameNews.Net: “We had nothing like this when I first started out and I feel sure that the much easier and quicker playing surface will make it so much easier for young people to pick up the skills needed for hockey.”

Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods, who was carrying out his final official duty as Mayor, said: “This is a fantastic new facility which can be used for so many things.
“We are getting there with sport in Thame – we’ve got the pool, the fitness suite and we are hopefully on the way with football but we have no hockey in Thame. So, if we can get that off the ground, we will be there!”

Top photo L to R: Chair of SOLL Leisure, Roger Cowdrey, Mayor or Thame, Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods, Captain of England’s hockey team, Kate Walsh, Ger Philips and Rob Brooks, Head of PE at the school.

Lower photo: Alex Parker, James Morris, Beth Gibson, Becci Hickman and fellow pupil Oliver.

TEENAGERS in Oxfordshire who have been involved in a car crash are being asked to come forward to take part in a television commercial that will focus on safety.
The commercials will be used on MTV. Oxfordshire County Council is one of several authorities around the country helping the government to find teenagers to appear.
Ideally the youngsters should have been aged between 14 and 16 when they were involved in the accident. Injuries sustained need not be long lasting. The team is particularly on the lookout for passengers who were involved in an accident due to the actions of a driver who had been drinking, taking drugs or driving dangerously.

Any teenager who was involved in an accident in which a loved one was killed or sustained serious injury is asked to come forward.

Empowering teenagers

Oxfordshire County Council Road Safety Officer Julie Jones said: “We are only too pleased to help with this national campaign. Teenagers may not feel that they can tell a driver to slow down or stop mucking about if they feel at risk. We want to empower teens to take control of their lives before they get into a car in which a driver will put them at risk.”

Anybody who is interested should contact Glyn Robinson on 020 7944 4341or email glyn.robinson@dft.gsi.gov.uk. The commercials are due to be filmed on 12/13 May so any likely candidates are asked to come forward quickly.

BY THE WAY….
KEEPING DEATH OFF THE ROAD OR?TAKE YOUR TIME, NOT YOUR LIFE!?
By Nicholas Newman Editor Oxfordprospect.co.uk 28/04/2007

Did you know 25,000 people died on Europe?s highways last year, and during the same period, there were 65 fatalities on the Oxfordshire?s highways? So far 9 people have been killed in motoring accidents on the county?s roads, this year alone. That?s one less than for the same period last year- which ultimately saw the highest fatality rate on local roads for 16 years.

Thames Valley Police is taking part in a European campaign to try to reduce this needless slaughter, led by the European Commission and coordinated by TISPOL ? the European Traffic Police Network.

At a Thames Valley press conference to launch the campaign, spokesman, Sgt Chris Appleby, Road Safety Team declared: “It aims to be working to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads in the region, particularly young people.”

When asked why this campaign is focusing on young people, Sgt Appleby responded:”?Every year around 150 people are killed on the roads in the Thames Valley. Around nine of these fatalities are young people and a further 1,000 young people are injured each year. We are doing what we can to let young people know how they can keep themselves safe.”

As to what causes of all these accidents, Sgt Chris Appleby observed:”Speeding is the biggest cause of fatal collisions, with people not wearing seatbelts in vehicles, a close second.”

OXFORDSHIRE parents who have children with special educational needs and disabilities can get practical tips on the best ways to support their child?s learning at free workshops in May.
The annual ?Nuts and Bolts? day run by Oxfordshire County Council aims to provide useful information, advice and guidance.

This year?s event takes place on Saturday, May 12 at the Ormerod School and the Roundabout Centre on Wayneflete Road, Headington, Oxford between 9:30-13:00.

Sign up for free workshops

More than a hundred parents signed up for the free workshops last year. The workshops cover areas such as challenging behaviour, support for children with autism and asperger syndrome, helping your child to develop language through play and how to help your child with handwriting at home.

There will be lots of activities for children and young people with special educational needs on the day including arts and crafts, dance, drama and music, a sensory bus, football and games.

Supporting parents

Oxfordshire County Council?s Parent Partnership Co-ordinator, Wendy Cliffe, said: ?The conference is an opportunity for parents to gain valuable information to help them in their vital role as parents of children with special educational needs.

?It?s also a great chance to talk to other parents who are in a similar position and share experiences.

?There?s been a really good turn out in the past and parents have given really positive feedback.

?The workshops in particular are really useful and provide parents with useful tips and new ideas to support their child?s learning, enabling them to enjoy and achieve more fully.?

Parents who want to book a place at the conference need to call 01865 810516 by May 7 as booking is essential.

IN the coming months, the Chilterns Conservation Board will be bringing you ?up close and personal? with a family of red kites.
CCTV technology is being used to get an insight into the breeding behaviour of a pair of red kites as they build their nest, lay and incubate eggs and rear their chicks.

A CCTV camera has been erected at a secret location in the Stokenchurch area and live pictures of the nest are now being beamed into the Studley Green Garden Store where volunteers will be on hand to explain what?s going on.

“It?s a very exciting time!” said Cathy Rose, Activities and Education Officer. “The parents have been busy re-building the nest over the last few weeks and now two eggs have been laid. The chicks will hatch towards the end of May, and that?s when things will really get interesting!”

You?ll be able to view the live ?Nest Watch? images at the Studley Green Garden Store coffee shop until late July and you can keep up to date with all the latest happenings on the nest by logging on to www.redkites.net

THE people of Thame and surrounding area are being invited to a social event to find out what their Twinning Association gets up to and how they can get involved in a thriving, fun and interesting movement.
Thame is twinned with Montesson, a town of similar size to our own, located just outside Paris, and have exchanged visits both ways for almost five years. The Thame and District Twinning Association is holding a French Wine and Cheese evening on May 10, at Thame town hall, when members will show photographs of previous exploits (including a cycle ride from Thame to Montesson), share experiences and impressions and talk about future projects.
The event will be followed by a short AGM. Everyone is welcome.

Members of the Montesson Choral and friends will be spending the weekend in Thame, May 25 – 27, which will include a joint concert in St Mary’s church, Thame, between Thame Choral Society and their French counterparts.

The Association would particularly like to hear from anyone who would be willing to accommodate friendly french choristers over the weekend – a great way to quickly form friendships and have fun too. A programme of visits and activities is planned to help entertain guests who will mostly need a bed and breakfast and an evening meal on Friday and Saturday.

So, dust off the French phrase book (although most of the Montessonaise speak a lot of English) and get involved in this great organisation which is committed to: “……the promotion of exchanges of all kinds, the development of lasting friendships, respect and understanding, in furtherance of the true spirit of European unity.” (Extract from the Thame and Montesson Twinning Charter)

For more information about Thame Twinning, visit Link

Photo: Members of Thame & District Twinning Association enjoy a spot of Christmas Shopping in Paris, near Thame’s Twin town of Montesson.