Category: More News

THAME Town Council now have available to buy clear sacks for items to be recycled.
These sacks cost

HAVE you done something special for wildlife in the Chilterns this year? If so, then you may be in line to win the Chilterns Conservation Award.

The Chilterns Conservation Board is calling for entries for the 2005 Chilterns Conservation Award. This annual award, now in its seventh year, recognises and rewards work to conserve the natural environment for the benefit of people and wildlife in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

If your organisation or a group or individual you know has carried out some conservation work such as restored an area of chalk grassland, created a pond or managed an area of farmland with wildlife in mind, the Conservation Board would like to know about it, however small. Last year the Award was presented to Andrew Ingram of Greenfield Farm, Christmas Common near Henley-on-Thames who transformed arable land into wildflower meadows under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and planted new woodlands greatly increasing numbers of farmland birds, butterflies and bumble bees. Previous winners have carried out conservation work in derelict allotments, river-side meadows, woodland and an old chalk pit.

The Chilterns Conservation Award is open to individuals, voluntary organisations and community based groups alike. Applications must be submitted to the Chilterns Conservation Board by 1st July 2005. Entries will be short-listed and visited by a panel of judges in July, and the winner will be announced in August. The winner will receive a unique carved hare trophy and

A CAR was damaged by vandals over the week-end, after a mixture of soup, cereal and eggs was thrown over the bonnet.
The Police would like to hear from anyone who may have any information about this incident which occurred between 6pm and 6am, overnight on Friday, May 13, and Saturday, May 14, in High Street, Wheatley.
Contact the Police Enquiry Line 08445 8505505 or Crime Stoppers anonymously 0800 555111

I would like to thank all the people who voted for me
in the General Election last week. During the campaign
I met many people who expressed empathy with Green
Party policy, though clearly not all of them voted for
me in the end. However, despite the landslide victory
for Boris Johnson with both Labour and Lib Dems losing
out, the Greens were the only other party to improve
their share of the vote. So thank you once again to
all who supported me. I will continue to work for
improvement and progress in the constituency. Anyone
who would like to keep in contact with the Oxfordshire
Green Party can call us on 0845 458 0757.
Mark Stevenson

Political Party Candidate Votes
Labour Aitken, Euan Hunter 1,392
Conservative Carter, Nick 3,333 Elected
Green Drew, Sandhya 447
Liberal Democrat Haywood, Patricia 3,292
Liberal Democrat Laver, David Arthur 3,238
Labour Marfleet, Julie 1,169
Green Tickell, Oliver Thomas 498
Conservative Wilmshurst, David 3,476 Elected

Total votes cast for candidates 16,845
Spoilt votes cast 38
Total votes cast 16,883
Electorate 13,103
% Turnout 64.57%

TEENAGERS between 11 and 16 years-old, from Thame’s twin town of Montesson, would like to hear from youngsters of a similar age to become pen friends and perhaps later on to spend exchange holidays with them.

Already several year seven pupils at Lord Williams’s, under the guidance of Miss Jacquline Jewell are preparing replies to letters sent to them from France.

Diane Ansell would like to hear from anyone who would be interested in writing to or hearing from someone around their own age from Montesson. Contact Diane on 01844 215165, or email her at: dianeansell@hotmail.com

DOGS for the Disabled, a national charity based in Banbury, has received a cheque for

CARRYING on from the presentation from the two Youth Councillors and discussion about possible sites for a shared community facility in Thame, councillors were asked for the latest information on the Cattle Market. It was explained that the final draft of the District Plan was awaited and that much hinged on the Farmers Mart wanting to leave the Cattle Market and moving to an alternative site. Sarah Hayes issued a reminder of a public meeting about the future of the Cattle Market Site, to be held at the town hall on June 20.
Cllr Adam Buckland, who is the town council?s representative on the Youth Council, thanked Ben and Archie and said: ?The energy that was in this room during that presentation was amazing. We want the Youth Council to engage youngsters from different groups of our community. If they can harness that energy, the Youth Council will go from strength to strength.?
The next speaker was Keith Slater, Chair of Thame and District Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Thame in the 21st Century Partnership Steering Group, who explained what had happened during the eight months since the Partnership was launched.
?At the beginning,? he explained, ?none of us had much of an idea of what we could not do, what we could do and how we could do it. We discovered that the money we had been given was to employ someone and that there were strict limitations on who that person should be, and that the

ON the last day before polling begins for both the General Election and the Local County Council election in Oxfordshire, Thame.News.Net interviewed the Liberal Democrat?s General Election candidate for the Thame area, David Turner.

Q: What are the main areas of concern raised by local people on the door steps as you canvas around the county?
A: ?Lack of affordable housing, particularly for young people in the villages. When we controlled the district council, we built 700 new affordable homes in the previous five years. When the Tories took over they managed only an average of 61 in a year.
Concerns about the health service was another issue people raised with us. We say that Targets are costly to administrate and that we should just let the professionals get on with their jobs.
Education seems to be another focus for concern and we propose to reduce class sizes, particularly for the under elevens.

Q: What would you say are the personal differences between yourself and the other candidates?
A: ?As a district councillor, I have a deep knowledge of South Oxfordshire and so am very much more aware of the problems. It is my contention that you can?t be a good MP unless you have lived in the area for a long time and it is essential to work at it full-time and not have lots of other jobs outside. After all it is what an MP is paid to do!?

Q: So, would you give up being a County Councillor if you were to become an MP?
A: ?No; many MPs have been county councillors in the past, and I would do my best in both roles ? I think they are complimentary.?

Q: What are your main priorities as the General Election Candidate?
A: ?Affordable housing I have already mentioned, free personal care for the elderly, which we as a party have achieved in Scotland, and the abolition of all tuition fees and top-up fees. Also, we want to introduce a local income tax, based on the ability to pay.

Q: So where will the money come from to pay for further education?
A: ?From an increase in the top rate of income tax, to 50% from 40%, for those earning over

AS the links between Thame and its twin French town of Montesson continue to grow, the Thame & District Twinning Association is keen for even more local people to get involved.
On Wednesday, May 18, TDTA is holding a cheese and wine supper, followed by its Annual General Meeting, at Thame town hall. Whether you?re already involved as a host family or would like to help plan for Twinning in Thame, why not go along and share your thoughts and ideas?
RSVP Jenny Todd 01844 281579, or Sheila Hancock 01844 217629.
Cheese and Wine at 7pm, AGM 8pm