A planning application for a new restaurant and delicatessen in Thame, has been granted by South Oxfordshire District Council, against the recommendation of Thame Town Council.
A typical Wildwood Deli
Wildwood Restaurants proposed to subdivide what is currently Greens in Upper High Street, Thame, into two separate units: a Deli and restaurant area at the front (where Green’s shop is currently) and a second unit behind, which will be used as Green’s shop, with a separate entrance from the alley way to the left of Green’s.
The planning permission reads: “The proposal complies with the relevant development plan policies and national planning guidance. The council is satisfied, on balance, that the proposed use would not undermine the vibrancy or commercial vitality of Thame town centre or result in a loss of employment. The proposal is also acceptable in terms of the impact upon the wider conservation area and the special architectural and historic interest of the listed building, subject to the acceptability of a subsequent listed building consent
application.
“The council is also satisfied that the proposed use would not result in a harmful impact upon neighbouring amenity or highway safety.”
When the application came before Thame Town Council’s Planning Committee, it voted to recommend refusal of the application, mainly on the grounds that more large, waste wheelie bins in the area, would add to the ‘eyesore’ already created by the bins outside Prezzo and Jack and Alice, close by.
The final accepted plans however, include a statement that: “all refuse and waste relating to the proposed units shall be stored within the building or in the location shown on the approved site plan ref: P101A.”
You can see the complete plans and associated documentation HERE
A new Thame Neighbourhood Plan now seem ‘inevitable’ according to the Minutes of a meeting of Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Committee, to be submitted to Thame Town Council this evening (20/06).
Windles’ award-winning building, Thame
The particular Minute, Neighourhood Plan Review / Amendments, states that ‘..it now seems inevitable that a fully revised Neighbourhood Plan would be required to be prepared over the next two years which while still allocating land for housing, employment and retail, would need to have more detail on specific infrastructure provision’.
“It would provide an opportunity to strengthen the existing Neighbourhood Plan, a lot of which would carry over into the new Plan,” the document goes on.
Members of the committee, under the chairmanship of Cllr Bob Austin, voted to lift the current moratorium on discussions with potential developers ‘to enable evidence to be gathered at a local level, rather than being left to the Planning Authority’. Members felt that if the current moratorium remained in place, the Town Council would be left ‘out of the loop’ and developers would talk directly to the District Planning Authority.
Under another Minute, Employment Land provision in Thame, it was noted that the main barrier to expansion by SMEs,(Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) in South Oxfordshire was the lack of suitable premises and so, it goes on: “The next Neighbourhood Plan needs to reinforce policy and strategy for the implementation and promotion of deliverable employment sites and regeneration of existing sites.
“The new Local Plan still only allocated 2ha of employment land to Thame. There is a need to establish an evidence base which includes provision for employment land lost through permitted development since 2011, as well as new provision. Given the success of the Groves and Windles site any new single employment site would need to be occupier led rather than developer led.
“Residential growth needs to grow hand-in-hand with that of employment to maintain an acceptable balance, keeping both in and out commuting at an acceptable level,” was the conclusion.
A decision whether to agree to the possible siting of a phone mast in Thame, will be discussed by Thame Town Council this evening at a meeting of the full council.
A public consultation on the proposal has now closed, and responses are mixed between supporting the proposal or objecting to it on various grounds.
Those responding unfavourably to the proposal gave a variety of reasons including the location near a recreation area as unsuitable, health concerns and possible vandalism.
You can read the full report and other associated documents HERE (Item 20)
The meeting begins at 6.30pm and is open to the public.
THE charity, Medical Detection Dogs, is appealing to all its friends, supporters and service users to vote online to help them receive a £25,000 Community Award from the Freemasons.
As part of Freemasonry’s 300th anniversary celebrations, the Masonic Charitable Foundation is distributing three million pounds to 300 charities across the country, and Medical Detection Dogs is one of those selected.
Each of the nominated charities will receive a grant, but the public vote will determine how much they receive, ranging from £4,000 to £25,000. Those who want to vote should visit the MCF website mcf.org.uk/vote, select the Bucks page and vote for the charity of your choice. For Oxfordshire charities, go to https://mcf.org.uk/region/oxfordshire/ The voting period is from Monday, June 12 until Monday, July 31.
Francesca Hockham, Fundraising Manager at Medical Detection Dogs said: “A grant of £25,000 would make a huge difference to our work. I would urge anyone and everyone to go online and vote for Medical Detection Dogs. Please remember that every single vote counts.”
The Masonic Charitable Foundation obtains all of its funding from Freemasons and their families. It is estimated that half of Freemasonry’s total charitable expenditure of over £33m goes to charities that help people in communities across the country. Gordon Robertson from Bucks Freemasons said: “We are proud to be able to support many charities across Bucks, but in this special 300th anniversary year we want to involve the public, as well as local Freemasons, in deciding which of the nominated charities should benefit most. I urge everyone to visit the website and vote.”
To vote for Medical Detection Dogs to win up to £25,000, visit mcf.org.uk/vote
THAME portrait photographer, Mark Hewitson, has raised £240 for locally based charity, Thomley.
Mark (right) hands the cheque to Joe Kitchen, Service Manager at Thomley
The Thomley charity held their annual ball on May 28, at the Oxford Belfry and Mark was the official photographer on the evening, taking images of the guests as they arrived and throughout the night. Mark also donated an auction prize worth £795, valid for a portrait experience and one of the company’s popular 20” wall art products.
Mark told Thame.net: “Having seen first-hand how Thomley supports people of all abilities, and with them being so local, I knew that I wanted to offer my support in any way I could. When I found out about the ball, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to put my skills as a portrait photographer to good use and raise money for this worthwhile local charity.”
Thomley is a local charity which supports people of all abilities and disabilities, bringing together disabled people, their families, carers and friends. It relies entirely on charitable donations with over 2000 people a year using the centre. For many of these people, the centre is a lifeline.
Joe Kitchen, Service Manager at Thomley who received the cheque from Mark, said: “We are really appreciative of Mark’s support at the event. The money generated by Mark’s photography on the evening will go towards a new sensory room, which will benefit hundreds of people with varying sensory needs.”
A 22-year-old Personal Trainer from Thame has qualified for this year’s British Bodybuilding Championships.
Ellis Quarterman, Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor at Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame, competed in the UKBFF Julian Feinstein Classic on Sunday, June 11, where he was placed second in the Junior Bodybuilding category for the under 23s, and qualified for this year’s British Championships.
Ellis Quarterman – Before and after!
The judges pick the best physiques in each category at shows across the UK, who then go through to the national championships. Only those who the judges deem to be of national caliber will receive an invitation.
“It’s always been my dream to become British Champion. This is my last year as a junior, so I want to make this amazing opportunity count,” said Ellis.
“I’ll apply myself and do what it takes to compete with the best in the country.”
Leading up to last week’s competition, Ellis was training three times a day, doing both heavy, intense weight training and gruelling cardio sessions. This was coupled with a very strict diet of seven meals a day to fuel the workouts and recover.
“I started my fitness journey as a skinny teenage boy, I was one of those kids that no matter what he ate would not put on weight, and that bothered me! I’ve had to put in a lot of work to get where I am today,” he explained. “When I’m on stage competing, I know that I’ve achieved this myself. Anything is possible if you’re willing to work hard for it.”
Ellis has been training for over five years, and competed in his first competition in 2015. He went to Lord William’s Upper School and Sixth Form, and left in 2013.
Ellis has worked at Racquets Fitness Centre since he finished school, working as a Personal Trainer to inspire others to achieve their own fitness goals.
The UKBFF British Championships are on October 14 & 15, 2017 at Nottingham Royal Concert Hall.
NINE men from Thame who lost their lives at sea during various conflicts, have been honoured in a special wreath-laying ceremony in Portsmouth, led by the Mayor of Thame, Tom Wyse.
A contingent from the Thame Remembers group, travelled to Southsea Common yesterday, June 14, where they were joined by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth and members of the local British Legion at the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, to remember the lost sailors. They were Fred Keene, Fred Hake, Francis Cartland (whose father landlord of The Six Bells pub in Thame), Frank Tickner, Jack Summersbee, Hugh McRae, Sydney Richardson, Edward Holbrook and James Carter. All their names are engraved on various panels of the Portsmouth Memorial.
L to R Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Mayor of Thame Tom Wyse, Cllr Matelot Green, James Green, Lady Mayoress of Portsmouth & Lt. Commander James Fickling RN
During the service, the Exhortation was given by Nichola Dixon. The reading of names was carried out by Catherine Jones, Bran West, and Peter Gulland, and Tony Buggins read the Epitaph to the dead. Four wreaths were then laid by the Mayor of Thame, Cllr Tom Wyse, on behalf or Thame Remembers, the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Cllr Ken Ellcome, on behalf of the City of Portsmouth, the Chair of South Oxfordshire District Council, Cllr Jeannette Matelot Green, on behalf of the Council and Lieutenant Commander James Fickling, on behalf of the Royal Navy. A personal wreath was then laid for Ann Barrington, a Thame Resident, in memory of her grandfather who is also remembered on the memorial.
A minutes silence is held for the nine remembered sailors
Mike Dyer, Project Coordinator, Thame Remembers ) pictured in the pink shirt, said: “The Portsmouth visit was another landmark in the Thame Remembers project, enabling more than thirty people from Thame plus naval veterans and members of the Portsmouth community to join in commemorating nine men from Thame who lost their lives at sea. Assistance from the Portsmouth branch of the Royal British Legion and from the crew of HMS Dauntless enabled us to carry out our act of remembrance according to naval tradition, complete with standard bearers and with naval pipes in place of bugle calls. It was an honour and a privilege to be a part of this special event which was conducted in a most respectful manner and had an emotional impact on all those present.”
All aboard HMS Dauntless
Following the ceremony, the Thame group was treated to a tour of HMS Dauntless, a state-of-the-art naval destroyer, by her current Commanding Officer, Lt. Commander James Fickling, who hails from Moreton, and whose mother is Town Councillor, Helena Fickling.
Later in the afternoon, the group visited the Mary Rose Museum, dedicated to the amazing Tudor warship of that name, raised from the deep in 1982, from the Solent where she sank in the sixteenth Century when Henry VIII was on the throne; a fitting contrast to the modern day warship, HMS Dauntless!
NB The aims of the Thame Remembers project is to commemorate the centenary of World War One by researching all the names on Thame War Memorials, for all conflicts and to discover more about their lives; to identify the location of each of their graves or memorial and place a Thame Remembers cross on each resting place wherever in the world that may be.
MORE photographs taken during the visit can be viewed HERE ( ALL images copyright of Sonja Francis and may NOT be reproduced without permission – contact: editor@thame.net )
THAME High Street retailers showed off their creative sides last week, with eleven shops taking part in a competition that saw them styling their shop windows to tie in with the 1940s theme of this year’s Carnival.
Part of Green’s 1940s winning window display
Green’s Furnishings (4-5 Upper High St, Thame) was crowned the winner of the first ever ‘Dress to Impress’ competition, judged by Mayor Tom Wyse and Lucy Wyatt, one of the carnival organisers. This winning display used the 1940’s theme to both promote the Carnival and seamlessly link in with the extensive range of Haberdashery products that they sell. Austins of Thame and Thame Jewellery workshop both received Special Commendations, with the staff of Thame Jewellery Workshop going the extra mile and dressing in costume on the day, to match their display.
Each year teams of volunteers work hard to run events in the Town Centre that engage the whole community. This competition aims to see Thame’s retailers joining in to make the sense of occasion even bigger.
“It was great to see so many shops taking part in our community event,’ said Mayor Tom Wyse. “The competition entries were all of a very high standard, and are definitely worth the short walk around Thame to appreciate the effort and creativity that has gone into them.”
The other shops that took part were Baban, Helen & Douglas House, Oxfam, Oxfam Bookshop, Piece of Cake, Shaw Trust, The Book House, and What’s Cooking.
The next ‘Dress to Impress’ competition will take place in the run up to Thame Town Music Festival on July 8, so look out for some ‘music’ themed windows to amaze and inspire.
If you are a shop owner and want to take part, please contact Becky becky.reid@thametowncouncil.gov.uk
THE Liberal Democrat candidate, Laura Coyle, who stood in the recent General Election in the Henley constituency, has written an open letter to the winning candidate, John Howell. The letter reads:
Laura Coyle
The Honourable John Howell MP
Congratulations on your re-election as MP for Henley.
On June 8, the British people rejected the Hard Brexit advocated by Theresa May. But the right wing of your party and the Democratic Unionists will no doubt still try and impose a Hard Brexit on our country.
When the results were announced Edward Vaizy, the Conservative MP for Wantage, called the vote a rejection of a Hard Brexit- remarks which I endorsed. Will you pledge now to stand by your principles and to stand with him and other Remain voting MPs of all parties in opposing any attempt by the right of your party to impose a Hard Brexit which would be a catastrophe for Henley and our country and in working for a deal which maintains as close a relationship as possible with our European neighbours.
Yours sincerely
Laura Coyle
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Henley
BlazingJune w eather arrived right on call for Thame’s annual Carnival and fete on Saturday, June 10, attracting between two and three thousand residents who came together to enjoy a packed programme of arena events, a dog show and a variety of attractions provided by stalls offering everything from cake, pizza and Pimms, to champagne, cuddly toys, burgers, ice cream, egg races and welly-wanging!
John Hampden School ‘evacuees’ with their specially-made steam engine.
The Carnival was organised once again by a small band of volunteers, mostly members of 21st Century Thame, and committee member, Thame Music Academy’s Simon Markland, was obviously very pleased with outcome. He told Thame.Net: “This years Carnival was a wonderful and sunny event! The parade was spectacular with all the local schools and businesses providing wonderful 1940’s themed floats and costumes. We would like to thank all the participants and congratulate Thame Town Council on winning the ‘Best Parade Entry’ trophy this year!
“As always the stalls, entertainment, food and drink provided for the fete was fantastic and the turnout for the day was huge! Also thanks to all our fantastic entertainment, classic cars, stalls, games and food and drink providers this year!
“We hope to have raised a large amount of money for our charities this year and this is thanks to everyone who came along to support this wonderful community event.
“Finally, thank you to all the hard working volunteers, without whom we would not be able to run the event. See you all next year!”
The winners of the Welly-wanging tournament are due to be published by Racquets Fitness Centre later today (Monday) so visit their facebook page from time-to-time to see who won in the difference categories.
The Thame Carnival Trophy was awarded to Thame Town Council’s carnival entry, depicting all the main characters in the popular and ever-green TV programme, Dad’s Army.
Fete compare, Dan Blazer, presents Thame’s Mayor, Tom Wyse, with the Carnival Cup for best carnival entry
The festival fun continued with a 1940s Dance night, to ‘The Glen Miller’ sound of the Velvet Tones and The Andrews Sisters tribute band, The Sisters of Swing, held in the evening at The Spread Eagle, Thame. Vic Winslade, who plays saxaphone in The Velvet Tones, said: “It was great night and we finished with the crowd calling for more! Lots of money was raised for Sobell House and the Fire-fighters’ charity.”
AS the theme for this year’s carnival was the 1940s, it’s sobering to think about what was happening on June 10, 75 years-ago, in 1940.
In France, German troops crossed the River Seine, and British troops began to evacuate from Le Havre and St. Valéry. Italy declared war on England and France and President Roosevelt made his first speech pledging aid to Britain, in a speech at the University of Virginia, where his son, Franklin Jr., was receiving his degree.
Loads more photos from the carnival parade and fete HERE – ALL images are copyright of Sonja Francis and may NOT be reproduced without prior consent. email: editor@thame.net
When the application came before Thame Town Council’s Planning Committee, it voted to recommend refusal of the application, mainly on the grounds that more large, waste wheelie bins in the area, would add to the ‘eyesore’ already created by the bins outside Prezzo and Jack and Alice, close by.
