A young author from Thame, is going back to her old school to talk to pupils about her new book, Ink, the first in, what is described as ‘a dystopian trilogy’.
Author, Alice Broadway
Alice Broadway will be at Lord Williams’s Lower School on Wednesday, May 10, to chat with current pupils about her book, her ideas and her plans for the future. Pupils will also be able to buy Alice’s book at a reduced price and chat to her in the school library, as well as asking Alice to sign their copies.
More information about Alice Broadway and her book ‘Ink’ here: LINK
ON behalf of the Trustees, John Hulett welcomed the Mayor Linda Emery, children and parents, and invited guests to the official opening of the Red Kite Family Centre this morning, one year after it was threatened with closure to be replaced by a distant ‘Hub’ elsewhere in Oxfordshire.
“Last year was quite a journey,” explained John. “Our motivation to save the Centre was born out of a collective belief that family support only works properly when based in the locality it serves.” He went on to praise the ‘excellent and highly respected work’ of Amy, the new manager and her team who will now be running the Red Kite Family Centre, which is based in the old Thame Library in Southern Road.
John thanked the Working Group for their efforts and others for their generous support, including Sharing Life Trust, Thame Welfare Trust, Oxfordshire County Council, Thame Town Council, Thame Rotary – especially mentioning Errol Bateman, who jumped out of an aircraft to raise funds for the centre – the Thame Partnership and many local individuals. He also mentioned the Coop, who had provided the bear and gheko mascots that entertained the children throughout the morning, and thanked the Mayor, Linda Emery, who had chosen the Centre to be one of her designated local charities to raise funds for throughout her mayoral year, which ends in two weeks time.
“We still face many challenges ahead,” reminded John, before leading everyone outside to witness the Mayor unveil the Centre’s new sign outside.
One of the mums who uses the centre with her two year-old son, told Thame.Net what the Red Kite Family Centre means to her: “We’ve just moved to Thame after living abroad for ten years, to be near grand parents. For me the Centre is a great way to meet and get to know other parents, and for my son to start meeting and socialising with other children. We love coming here!”
The Centre is open daily to all parents and children under five years-old. Visit the Facebook page LINK HERE to find out more.
You can share some of the special moments from this very important and special day in the lives of the young children and parents of Thame – IMAGES HERE
AMONG the runners in last Sunday’s London Marathon were several from Thame. Included in those who did Thame proud were three members of Thame Runners, Roy Calcutt, and Sarah Janes and Roger Simmonds who came in on the same time. Their official times were:
Roy Calcott – time: 04:16:28
Sarah Janes – time: 05:06:50
Roger Simmonds – time: 05:06:50
Simon Munday from Thame, was not a seasoned runner but trained specially for this year’s event, determined to raise funds for Kidney Research UK, a charity very close to his heart for family reasons. He ran the London Marathon at a very respectable 04:27:31
A triumphant Simon Munday in the purple tutu he raced in, after the race.
Simon explained on his JustGiving page how Kidney disease has affected his family for several years: “Kidney disease has affected my family since 1987 when my sister, Sally, was diagnosed with Polycystic kidneys. Over time this led to a deterioration of their capability to function resulting in the need for a transplant. In 2007 my mother donated one of her Kidneys and the operation was a success.
“Unfortunately a donated Kidney does not last forever with the average functioning time between 12 and 20 years. Disappointingly, in 2013, my nephew was diagnosed with the same condition though as yet his kidneys are coping.
“We are celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the kidney transplant this year, and running the marathon allows me to help in a small way as we are all aware that there will be more problems ahead.”
THAME Town Council has failed to elect a new Town Mayor, after a stale-mate situation – twice – arose at last night’s meeting of the full council.
When a first ballot was held to decide between two candidates, Cllr Tom Wyse and Cllr David Dodds, the result was a tie. Normally in this situation the current Mayor, Linda Emery, would have the casting vote. However, other councillors said that they felt it was unfair that the result should rest on her shoulders and suggested that the ballot could be postponed until the council’s next meeting on May 9, when other councillors unable to make tonight’s meeting, would be present.
Thame Town Councillors onto the next agenda item – new town boundary signs
At this point it was suggested that a solution might be that other councillors present might add their names and a second ballot held. An ex Mayor himself, Cllr Peter Lambert, then ‘threw his name in the hat’ and a second ballot was held. This resulted in a three-way tie, and once again, the Mayor, Linda Emery felt unable to use her casting vote.
After much discussion, including a separate discussion between the two original candidates, no resolution could be agreed upon, and the Town Clerk advised that the appropriate course of action would be to hold a ballot again at the next full meeting of the council on May 9, and this was agreed.
A 43 year-old man from Thame who was arrested as part of a murder enquiry, and later bailed until April 10, has been rebailed until July 6. 2017.
The man was originally arrested following the discovery of the body of 47 year-old Samantha Blake-Mizen at a property in The Green, in the village of Ludgershall, Buckinghamshire.
DESPITE assurances from government following the Localism Act 2011, that Neighbourhood Plans would give communities control over ‘where they want new homes, shops and offices built, and have their say on what those new buildings should look like and what infrastructure should be provided’ (see LINK for full details), Thame Town Council are angry after a string of incidences where it says Thame’s NP has been ignored.
Photo by the late Nick White
As a result, Graeme Markland, Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer, has submitted evidence to the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) on a list of key planning decisions, contrary to the Thame Neighbourhood Plan policies, that have been decided by South Oxfordshire District Council. In his evidence, Mr Markland states: “In each case the vision and objectives of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan have been seriously compromised.” He particularly highlighted the following examples:
LOST JOBS
Goodson Industrial Mews, Thame
On an office/industrial development on the edge of Thame Town Centre an application for demolition and replacement with housing was approved. This was in spite of a policy in the Thame Neighbourhood Plan that prevents change of use without prior proof of active marketing of the site, and the site being no longer viable for employment purposes. No tangible proof was given by the developer. Using accepted Homes and Communities Agency methodology, we can see that space for between 60 – 75 jobs was lost from this single site because of this application. It is worth noting this decision was also contrary to the LPA’s own evidence from their Employment Land Review (November 2015) which stated that with vacancy rates so low for B-use class land and buildings in Thame, all employment land should be retained.
Key details: Planning application P15/S3848/FUL, the policy ignored was Policy WS12 from the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.
LOST OPPORTUNITY FOR STARTER HOMES
Elm Tree Farm, Moreton, Thame
A specific policy within the Thame Neighbourhood Plan aims to integrate windfall sites well into their surroundings. On an area of land in a small hamlet a developer had permission granted for two extremely large dwellings on a site of 0.4ha in area, a density of five dwellings per hectare. Adjacent, modest dwellings are developed at almost 23 per hectare. The site could have yielded much-needed starter or family accommodation for Moreton/Thame, in line with the vision and objectives of the Neighourhood Plan. The development was also against the LPA’s own Core Strategy policy regarding housing infill in villages.
Key details: Planning application P16/S1470/FUL, the policies ignored were Policy H5 from the Thame Neighbourhood Plan and Core Strategy Policy CSR1.
HIGHER ENERGY BILLS & CARBON EMISSIONS
Land at Wenman Road, Thame
One of the core parts of the vision and objectives of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan was to encourage energy efficiency in developments. An application was submitted by a developer on an allocation site to remove the requirement to build their dwellings to Code Level 4, contrary to both Neighbourhood Plan and Core Strategy Plan policy. Although much of Code Level 4 has been brought into Government design standards/Building Regulations, the specific issue of energy conservation has not. A Ministerial Statement confirmed that local authorities would be able to continue to demand energy efficiency measures equivalent to Code Level 4, where a legacy policy exists. The LPA chose not to distinguish this element and granted permission. This will lead to the future occupants of these buildings paying much higher energy bills than their neighbours on the development next door. Associated carbon emissions will be similarly higher.
Key details: Planning application P16/S2874/FUL, the Policy ignored was ESDQ13 from the Thame Neighbourhood Plan, CSQ2 from the Core Strategy and written Ministerial Statement of 25th March 2015.
Additional Protection For Neighbourhood Plans
Thame’s Town Clerk, Graham Hunt, told Thame.net: “it seems planning balance is currently in favour of the developers, though the Thame NP has also helped achieve some significant victories. All Neighbourhood Plans have recently been given additional protection by the December Ministerial Written Statement and there are already situations at SODC where NPs are being additionally supported as a result.”
Amending Neighbourhood Plans?
With regard to possible amendments to the TNP, Graham Hunt explained: “There is nothing major as yet from within Thame that has triggered a need for amendment, though a clear need for additional/refurbished employment land is emerging, to maintain and increase opportunities for Thame residents to work in Thame. I think that need would have triggered an amendment in the not too distant future, had legislation existed to allow amendment (current law is a complete rewrite / inspection / referendum – even to change just one sentence in a Neighbourhood Plan – which is why none have yet been amended). Thame would have been a trail blazer again!
“BUT“, he warned, “the real trigger now is the emerging SODC Local Plan. Once that is adopted (expected some time in 2018), the current Thame Neighbourhood Plan will immediately have less weight in planning terms – though there are promises of a 12 month protection window beyond LP adoption for any new Neighbourhood Plan to be prepared. Given likely Local Plan content, that will require a significant overhaul of the current Thame Neighbourhood Plan, which would go through the full new plan process, as last time.
Thame Needs More Infrastructure – A Battle Ahead!
“We have already started evidence gathering. The opportunity will be taken to ensure that any new plan, as well as delivering housing allocation policies, will also provide even more for infrastructure needs. And probably much more detail on retail provision, employment land provision, elderly housing, etc. Our current position is that Thame needs significant infrastructure (as defined in the existing Neighbourhood Plan – a Community Facility / Health Hub / Education / Parking / Transport / Green Space / Burial Space / Sports Facilities / Town Centre infrastructure etc etc) to be developed before any further housing allocation, but controlling timing of further housing development will be a battle. We hope that we will be able to establish good evidence to support our position.”
Graham Hunt concluded: “The detail of a new TNP is needed by April 2019. We have two years of lots of hard work ahead, to help ensure that Thame continues to be developed in the way that the community of Thame wants.”
FOLLOWING the Prime Minister’s call for a snap General Election to be held on June, 8, the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Henley constituency, is telling voters why they should vote for her.
Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for the Henley & Thame constituency
Laura Coyle, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Henley, said in a statement today: “The Liberal Democrats are standing on a clear platform to prevent a hard Brexit by staying in the Single Market, and to give the British people the final say on the Brexit deal through a referendum.”
She continued: “This election is a huge opportunity for voters in Henley to change the direction of our country and prevent a disastrous hard Brexit. People in the Henley constituency voted decisively to remain in the EU, and certainly did not vote for the extreme form of Brexit that Theresa May has imposed on us after being backed by Labour.
“For all those who want to protect our local economy by staying in the Single Market and ensure the people have the final say over what comes next, this is your chance.
“The Liberal Democrats are the real opposition to the Conservative Brexit Government and the only party fighting for a Britain that is open, tolerant and united,” she concluded.
No announcement has yet been made by any other political party as to who their candidates for the General Election on June 8, will be.
Theresa May is expected to win parliamentary support for calling the election.
ON the night of the official launch of Atalay’s brand new, extra long kebab van, the Atalay family decided that they would donate the evening’s profits to Thame charities, and today, after considering all the suggestions made by their customers, they have announced which local charities will benefit from the £3,047.12 raised.
The Atalay family receive their award for the Best British Kebab Van at the recent British Kebab Awards 2017 ceremony
Announcing their decision on social media today, the Atalay family said: ” On the April 8, YOU helped us raise £3047.12 for charity at the opening of our new van! We have never seen anything like this! Thank you all for your patience.
“We now have clearance that the money will be tax free as we raised it through sales which is excellent! This has been so successful we are considering doing it again next year (If you would like to support it again!)
“We’ve looked through your votes and decided to split the money raised as many ways as possible:
“Thank you to everyone who turned up to help us to see such a great success! Also a big thanks to the all the team that donated their wages that day! Hope to see you all for another kebab soon! “
TWO 15 year-old boys, one from Thame and one from Aylesbury, have been arrested on suspicion of arson and released under investigation, following yesterday’s fire in Haddenham, which destroyed a huge stack of elephant grass, destined to be used as green fuel.
Image courtesy of photographer Simon Jones and Brill Firefighters
The incident occured between 3pm and 3.30pm at Manor Farm, next to Station Road in Haddenham, and caused the road to be closed for several hours while firefighters dealt with the blaze and police officers carried out an investigation.
Investigating officer, Police Constable James Holmes, based at Aylesbury police station, said: “These fires could easily have caused people to be seriously injured, and had the fires continued to grow and spread, there could have been significant damage to the farm.
“I am appealing for anyone who has any information which they think could help our investigation to please call the Thames Valley Police non-emergency number on 101.”
Anyone with information relating to this case, is asked to call 101 quoting reference 43170110615, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.
STATION Road in Haddenham is expected to be closed for the next 24 hours, following a serious fire in a field, just fields away from where this weekend’s Thame Country Fair was taking place.
Image courtesy of Neil Wetherall
According to reports a huge stack of, what is described as ‘ Miscanthus elephant grass’ used as a ‘green’ fuel for Oxfordshire power station, is still burning and is expected to burn all night. This material is apparently also used in anaerobic digesters to produce electricity. The public is warned to stay away from the area.
This is the second time such a fire has occurred involving this material; a similar event occurred two or three years ago on the same spot.
