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Category: More News

  • New initiative to increase safety in Thame

    TODAY, April 5, saw the launch of a SHOPWATCH scheme in Thame, which will enable shops in the town to share quickly information about people committing offences, like shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

    Image courtesy of West Yorkshire Police

     

    Shop Watch in Thame aims to encourage better community spirit and improve communications between the retail premises of Thame.

    Police Community Support Officer, James Hopkin, based at Thame, said: “The stores that have signed up will be receiving a radio which will be linked to each other and the force itself. This will enable faster and better communication between the shops.

    “The purpose of Shop Watch is to enable instant communication between retailers. An example of when Shop Watch would show its full potential would be if a group were trying to spend counterfeit currency in one store; they could contact any other stores in the Shop Watch to make them aware. Secondly there will also be a scheme similar to Pub Watch, where a person banned from one shop will be banned from all. This will cover any offence they have committed and hopefully reduce the number of issues in the town.”

    Shop Watch is a partnership approach involving Thames Valley Police, South and Vale Crime Partnership, Thame Town Council and MRS communications.”

    Residents will start to see SHOPWATCH stickers displayed in the shop windows in Thame indicating that the shop is part of SHOPWATCH and any persons banned under the scheme will not be permitted to enter this shop.

    If you would like to know more about the scheme, or have anything you would like to discuss with the police, go along to their Community Café on Wednesday, April 26, between 6-8pm at Thame Town Hall.

    NB A similar scheme was launched in 2009 – https://www.thame.net/archives/5488

  • FREE Blood pressure event could save your life!

    THE Thame and Haddenham and District Rotary Clubs are joining forces with the Stroke Association to help raise awareness of one of the biggest risk factors for stroke: high blood pressure.

    Residents in Thame and the neighbouring villages are being invited to take a moment to have a free blood pressure test at the Cooperative Supermarket in Thame, on Saturday, April 22, between 10am and 2pm.

    Over half of all strokes can be caused by high blood pressure and it is estimated that over five million people across the UK don’t realise they have the condition.

    Sandy Davison, Thame Rotary event organizer, said: “Know Your Blood Pressure Day, on April 22, is all about raising awareness of the link between high blood pressure and stroke. Rotary are supporting the Stroke Association with blood pressure events throughout April and the rest of the year. Stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK, but with events like these, we hope to change this. A blood pressure test is quick and painless, and it could save your life.”

    Alexis Wieroniey, Deputy Director for Policy and Influencing at the Stroke Association, said: “High blood pressure often has no symptoms, and it’s much more common than people think. That’s why we’re urging as many Thame area residents as possible to take a moment and have theirs checked at Thame and Haddenham Rotary Clubs’ joint event. A blood pressure check only takes a moment, and it’s such a simple way to reduce your risk of a stroke.”

    In addition to the events taking place in Thame, there will be blood pressure checks at community events throughout the year. To find your nearest blood pressure event, you can visit www.stroke.org.uk/kybp

    To find out more about the Rotary Clubs organising this event, visit www.thame.rotary1090.org and www.haddenham-rotary.org.uk

  • Food Festival ties up with Hearing Dogs charity

    THE new Thame Food Festival location and extended programme means there is going to be a number of new attractions, including a fun dog show in association with Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

    Thame Food Festival has joined forces with the Princes Risborough-based, national charity, who will be hosting a dog show as part of the two-day event over the weekend of September 30-October 1, 2017.

    Lotte Duncan, Director and Patron of the Thame Food Festival said: “Celebrating the joy that our four legged friends bring, this promises to be a relaxed and fun event with categories to suit all natures and styles of furry companions. In addition, a selection of specialist dog treats stalls will also be exhibiting, many of which were originally inspired by their own dogs to develop quality products without the preservatives and additives often found in branded treats.”

    Northern Home Counties Community Fundraising Manager for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Michelle Sapwell, said: “I am really excited to be working with Thame Food Festival. Our demonstration team will be attending to raise awareness of the work of our amazing Hearing Dogs and the team will also be the judges in our fun dog show competition. This promises to be a fantastic, family fun filled weekend!”

    Lotte continued: “Our new location at Thame Showground and extending the event over two days means we have the opportunity to add even more attractions. The added space means that alongside a wonderful array of artisan producers selling their wares and our usual focus on chef and baking demonstrations, we can also feature an area dedicated to our four legged friends.

    “It is wonderful to be working with Hearing Dogs for Deaf People to create a fun dog show. We were keen to add some new dimensions to the event and encourage people to feel they could bring their dogs too. So, the dog show will work really well with our dedicated area for animal treat stalls too. This is just one of the added features that we are currently working on, which is going to take Thame Food Festival to a new and exciting level this year.”

    Visit the Thame Food Festival website HERE for more information.

  • Affordable Housing for Oxfordshire – will the Housing White Paper deliver?

    THE government’s Housing White Paper, published in February, recognises the problems of affordable housing supply but does it find the solutions? Not yet, according to a broad group of organisations with an interest in this area, pulled together in an event co-hosted by CPRE Oxfordshire and the Oxfordshire Community Land Trust.

    “There was common concern that affordability is still linked to market prices,” says CPRE Oxon on its website, “rather than people’s actual ability to pay. We now hope to be able to agree a joint response to the White Paper consultation.

    If your organisation is interested in taking part, contact: campaign@cpreoxon.org.uk

    The white paper, entitled Fixing our broken housing market, sets out a range of reforms that the government plans to introduce to help reform the housing market and increase the supply of new homes. It has also launched a consultation on planning and affordable housing for Build to Rent.
    SEE LINK

    NB Over the next few years in Thame, 78 homes will become available under a shared ownership scheme. Details HERE

    SOURCE: CPRE Oxon

  • Not long left to enter your flag designs!

    THERE’S not long left for the people of Thame to submit their Town Flag designs. The competition is currently running and will close at midnight on Monday, April 10.

    The town council reports that it has already had some fantastic entries from a mix of age groups, but that it would be great to have even more!

    The new flag will be flown outside the Town Hall throughout the year, except when the flagpole is being used to mark special and significant occasions.

    The only requirement is that the design incorporates in some way the Town Council branding colours and town logo / crest.

    Go to www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/flag-competition to download a Design Pack and for more information. You can also collect a Design Pack from the Town Hall. Designs can be submitted electronically to info@thametowncouncil.gov.uk or to the Town Hall.

    The competition is open until Monday 10 April at midnight

  • ‘Eyesore’ building on the edge of Thame criticised

    A Young People’s Assessment Centre has been branded ‘a nightmare’ by Thame’s County Councillor, who has been facing questions about the visual impact of the building.

    Cllr Nick Carter helped cut the first sod before building work began on the new Children’s Assessment Centre

    Since the fencing obscuring the building blew down in the wind some weeks ago, and hedging that was apparently supposed to have been planted failed to materialise since it was built around 18 months ago, several people, including town councillors, have complained about the way the building looks from the road, one calling it ‘an eyesore’.

    According to County Cllr Nick Carter, speaking at the anuual Thame Town Meeting on Tuesday evening (28/03), he had been unable to get any answers from Oxfordshire County Council, who run the assessment centre, about when the landscaping required will be completed. “The whole site has been a nightmare to be honest,” he said. “When the building was 4/5ths finished, the contractor (Ed.EIC) ‘went bust’ and so there was a transition period between contractors. The building was then occupied before it should have been. All I can say is that I will keep a watching brief.”

    Town Cllr Ann Midwinter said that the town councillor had no idea what goes on in the building, and that it had never been invited to visit and look round. Cllr Nick Carter said that he would try to arrange such a visit.

    LINK to background to this story

  • ‘No magic wand’ to fix Thame’s potholes

    SPEAKING at the annual, Thame Town Meeting last night (28/03), ex Mayor of Thame, Cllr Peter Lambert, compared Park Street to ‘a ploughed field’ before asking County Cllr Nick Carter, when the street’s pot holes were going to get fixed.

    “I live at the end of Park Street,” Cllr Lambert, Landlord of The Cross Keys pub, continued, “and it’s getting so bad now that I regularly see cars swerving to avoid potholes, including those outside the primary school; this is becoming a very dangerous spot.”

    But Cllr Carter was unable to offer him much hope, stating that Park Street was not a top priority of the county council and that it was his understanding that any major work was unlikely, but that some patching was due to be carried out sometime between September and December.

    Cllr Carter went on to say that there are 4,000 miles of roads needing repair in the county and that the problem was mainly due to ‘an enormous decrease in government grants for roads last year. “In that context,” he went on, “I am trying to make sure Thame has a fair a shout as possible but there are some more, very heavily used roads that are used more.

    “Patching is the best we can hope for,” he concluded.

    Thame resident, Matthew Robinson, stated that he, and others in the town were ‘fed up with the neglect of the roads’ and that ‘it was about time Thame’s voice was heard.” He had done some research, he said, into various sources of government funding, including a Pothole Action Fund. (LINK Government allocates £1.2 billion roads funding to councils) Read Matthew’s full statement HERE

    Cllr Carter responded: “Rest assured that if there is a pot of money, then Oxfordshire County County Council will be bidding for the maximum amount it could get!”

    Town Cllr Mary Stiles pointed out that not only cars are affected by potholes, but that they are dangerous for cyclists too. “We want to encourage people to cycle more,” she said, “not put them off riding their bikes because of the state of the roads.”

    The Town Clerk, Graham Hunt said that the town council was just as concerned about the state of the Parish’s roads and that every day people go into the town hall to report problems. He reported that the town council was in discussion with the county council about taking over responsibility for car parks, and that TTC was currently looking at transport issues as part of a Transport Plan (see LINK) which could present opportunities to feed back to the county council to get something better for Thame. “However, there is no magic wand,” he said, and thanked Matthew Robinson for his research, adding that the town council will keep looking for answers.

    Useful links – Oxfordshire County Council’s Fix My Street weblink HERE
    Government’s ‘Report a pothole’ website: LINK

  • Could you contribute to Thame Day Centre’s future?

    THE Thame and District Day Centre is looking for experienced and committed people to join its Board of Trustees. The current Chair of the Trustees, Tyrell Gillman, explained the role of the Board:

    Sewing flowers at Thame & District Day Centre

    “The Board of Trustees sets the overall strategy and direction for the future of the Day Centre, to ensure the continued support for the senior members of the community of Thame and the surrounding area in the way that has existed since Thame & District Day Centre started thirty years ago in 1986,” he said.

    “Expressions of interest from those with accountancy, social media and fundraising experience would be particularly welcome. Trustees normally meet five times each year with occasional extra meetings that may need to be called for a special reason. Further opportunities get involved and to contribute are substantial and, are to some degree, at an individual trustee’s discretion.”

    If you’re interested in finding out more, or want to apply for the post of Trustee of the Thame and District Day Centre, contact Tyrell by phone on 01844 214906 or e-mail: GTyrellgillman@aol.com

  • Adwell House garden open this Sunday

    THE beautiful garden of Adwell House, near Thame, currently blooming a sea of daffodils, will be open to the public on Sunday, April 2, for the second time, in aid of Sobell House.

    To mark the beginning of Spring, Tom Birch Reynardson and his wife Imogen are kindly opening the garden of Adwell House when visitors will be welcome to go and enjoy the beautiful landscape, and admire the Springtime daffodils.

    Proceeds from the event will be donated to Sobell House as the hospice continues to strive towards its target of raising an additional £4m over four years to expand its services.

    The garden of Adwell House, with its perfect lawns and impressive array of ancient trees, has been developed by many generations of the Birch Reynardson family and spans over around fifteen acres.

    Friends and family can enjoy beautiful Spring colours including a sea of daffodils where the Birch Reynardson’s have planted about 30,000 daffodils with 300 different varieties over the past three years.

    The proceeds from the event will go to supporting the hospice, which provides specialist palliative care and support to approximately 3,000 adult patients and their families each year across the county.

    Dominique Cadiou, Head of Fundraising at Sobell House, said: “For the second year running we’ve been fortunate enough to invite our supporters and the wider public to come and admire the beautiful gardens at Adwell House.

    “We’re delighted that the Birch Reynardson’s have opened the gardens once again to raise money for Sobell House and help us to raise public awareness about our plans.

    “We are investing £9m to grow the level of end of life care that our team offers. Last year we had £5m already in place and we set out to raise an additional £4m. The fundraising has been going well and we’re excited about what this year can bring. Events like these will really help us move closer towards our target.”

    Tom Birch Reynardson said: “We’ve had a personal experience with Sobell House and seen for ourselves the level of care for the dying and the bereaved that the hospice offers. Their approach to palliative care is second to none. There is an increasing need for hospice care in Oxfordshire and Sobell House’s plans for expanding their services are ambitious and require local support.

    “I hope the sun comes out for us and we have a great turn out to support the hospice.”

    The gardens at Adwell House will open on Sunday, April 2, from 2pm to 5pm. Entry is £5 on the day and all proceeds will go to Sobell House. For more information visit http://www.sobellhouse.org.

  • Town mucks in to ‘Tidy Thame’

    MORE people than ever turned out for the annual Thame Tidy and Moreton Muckout Day last Saturday (25/03), with over 20 groups on the day and the Scouts working on Thursday and Friday evening clearing the Southern Road recreation ground and some of the surrounding road.

    Some of the residents of Lea Park cleared paths with shovels, and the Stones Close allotment holders set-to on the Thame park road bridge by cutting back loads of overgrown hedging and clearing the path to enable buggies to pass freely. They filled six, one tonne bags of waste!

    It’s refreshment time, as Morton residents takes a break from mucking out Moreton

    There were eight drop-off points for litter and recycling on the day which were gathered up on the day by ASM and taken to the playing field by the scout hut for collection by Biffa on the Monday. The skip there was sponsored by Unicarriers.

    Rosie Bryant, who organised the event for 21st Century Thame,  said: “We need to be proud of where we live! This needs to be the most pleasant place to be and it drives me insane when people just leave their rubbish after a picnic and just leave their junk in our lovely public places, like the phoenix trail.

    “On the day, we had great support from residents and community groups. A group of local residents did a brilliant job on the phoenix trail and we had lots of individuals turning up to help. The Grace Church who meet at Lord Williams lower school, cleared Towersey drive and Queens road and even our Mayor, Linda Emery turned up and worked with a a group on Chiltern Vale.

    “We had additional support this year from the Thame Lions club who helped handing out litter pickers all day. We also thank ASM who drove around in a van collecting rubbish from the collection points, and the Fire Service who picked up old dumped bikes etc and, the weather was perfect too.”