Thame.net

Category: travel

  • Bus subsidies delay proposed – until end of school term

    OXFORDSHIRE County Council’s cabinet is to be asked to approve a plan to delay the end to bus subsidies until after the end of the school year, so as not to affect pupils’ transport to and from school.

    Hero-Carousel bus (400x288)

    A decision on the proposal, for the extension, to July 20, will be made on March 15.

    Background

    On November 10, 2015, OCC’s cabinet met to consider public feedback to the subsidised bus service and Dial-a-Ride service proposals that were put forward in a consultation held between June 19 and September 15, and to then make a decision about how to make the savings needed from these services.

    They took the decision that the council withdraw subsidies paid to run 118 subsidised bus routes in Oxfordshire. This decision was approved at the full council’s overall budget setting meeting on February 16, 2016.

    In its announcement on Tuesday, March 8, OCC said: “It is important to note that the withdrawal of an Oxfordshire County Council bus subsidy does not necessarily mean that the service will be cancelled (or subsidised portion of the service). The operator may decide to continue running it without any Oxfordshire County Council subsidy (or another operator step in and take it on).

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1“Oxfordshire County Council is in discussions with operators and will work with them to try to maintain or commercialise services wherever possible if a subsidy is withdrawn.”

  • Grab those dancing shoes and get ready for Danceathon

    FLORENCE Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC) is introducing a brand new event into its fundraising calendar, a Danceathon – a two, four or six hour sponsored dance, on Saturday, March 12.

    danceathon (400x133)

    “Whether we admit it or not, most of us love to have a dance on a Saturday night, especially with friends,” commented FNHC’s Karen Shardlow. “Our new Danceathon challenge event gives you the opportunity to do just that and is suitable for people of all ages and abilities.

    “There’ll be something for everyone as each hour will have a difference dance or music theme to it – whether it be Zumba, 80’s, style icons, strictly or chart hits – plus we’ll have a final party hour at the very end. There’ll be regular rest breaks throughout the Danceathon, as well as plenty of water provided and lots of delicious refreshments on offer to keep the adrenaline pumping, plus accessories to buy to jazz up dance outfits on the day too. Children as young as five can take part, (when accompanied by an adult), so it’s a great event for all the family.”

    Joanna Beardmore-Dilks of JBD Fitness and Dance, who many FNHC supporters will know from the annual Midnight Walk and Colour Rush events, will be leading a number of dance sessions on the day – promising to get all participants in the mood for more whatever their chosen time challenge.

    Registration is now open. Entry costs £10pp to include a souvenir certificate for each participant on completion of the sponsored dance challenge. For more information and to register online, visit: www.fnhospice.org.uk

    Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity needs to raise over £650,000 a year to continue providing vital care and support to families battling life-limiting illnesses across Beds, Bucks and parts of Oxfordshire.

  • Thame woman fined for speeding

    SUZANNE Kavanagh, of Thame, has been prosecuted after admitted speeding in a 30mph zone in Kingsey Road, Thame on November 16.

    30mph (400x269)

    She was fined £100 by Banbury Magistrates and ordered to pay a £20 victims’ surcharge as well as £85 costs, and her Driving licence endorsed with three points.

    Thames Valley Police have reported that speeding is a concern in the area, particularly along the B4009 Kimble, A4010 Kimble, Chinnor Road Bledlow Ridge and Thame Road, Longwick, which issues have been reported by schools.

  • M40 crash reported

    BREAKING NEWS: Time – 11.56 pm; January 10;  Collision involving one vehicle, M40 northbound between junctions 6 (Lewknor) and 7 (Milton Common). Two fire crew from High Wycombe and one from Thame attended, along with a police officer. No-one was trapped.

    police_RTC_sign (400x250)An injured man was left in the care of the ambulance service.

  • Gas alley to be temporarily closed

    THE footpath between Wellington Street and East Street, in Thame, known as Gas Alley, is to be closed for underground cabling works months. Here are the official details:

    gas_alley_cropped

    Footpath closure
    Date of Order: 11 January 2016
    Coming into force: 18 January 2016
    This Order is been made to enable underground cabling works to take place in Gas Alley, Thame which is anticipated to take 10 days to complete. The effect of the order is to temporarily prohibit use of the footpath.

    Appropriate traffic signs are in place to indicate the measures are in force. Exemptions are included for emergency services and the works. The alternative route is via East Street and Wellington Street.

    This Order will remain in force for a maximum period of 6 months or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner.

    Traffic Regulations Team (Ref ACP/T3013) on behalf of the
    Director for Environment & Economy, Speedwell House, Oxford
    OX1 1NE. 0845 310 1111

  • Fire crews currently tackling huge fire at scrap yard

    View across the fields towards the fire at Brill scrapyard - image courtesy of Mark Shipperley
    View across the fields towards the fire at Brill scrapyard – image courtesy of Mark Shipperley

    THE Oxford Road through Oakley , near Thame, is currently closed to traffic while a 200m cordon is in operation around a large fire at a scrap yard in the area. The fire started just before 8am this morning (22/12).

    Acetylene gas cylinders on the site are making for a very dangerous situation as fire crews from Aylesbury, Wycombe, Waddesdon and Thame are currently using a CAFS jet, a ground monitor and a main jet to prevent the fire spreading across the site.

    Residents close to the site are being advised to stay inside with windows closed and drivers who have to drive through the smoke, are advised to turn off their aircon and vents closed.

    Mark Shipperley’s video of the scene can be viewed on facebook here: LINK HERE

    More information and advice from Bucks Fire & Rescue HERE

  • More carriages for Thame commuters

    FOLLOWING complaints about peak time services by Chiltern Railways passengers, extra carriages are to be added to some trains, when the company’s new timetable comes into operation on December 13.

    Chiltern Railway's train at Haddenham & Thame parkway
    Chiltern Railway’s train at Haddenham & Thame parkway

    The main change affecting Thame commuters will be the lengthening of the 06.37 from Haddenham and Thame Parkway, from two to three carriages.

    Other changes include the 6.25am and 7.11am trains from Bicester North to London Marylebone will have seven carriages instead of the current six. To see the full range of changes, visit: Chiltern Railways website

  • Congestion M40 following RTC

    air_ambulance (400x241)

    PROBLEMS on the M40 Northbound between Junction 6 Watlington and Junction 7 Thame;  Motorway closed Northbound to allow Air Ambulance to land.

    Big queues. Time:17.15pm

  • FREE parking for Christmas shopping!

    free_parkingALL SODC’s off-street car parks in Thame will once again be FREE on Saturday’s throughout December in the run up to Christmas. That’s The Cattlemarket and behind the Co-op.

    Thame – every Saturday
    Didcot – every Tuesday
    Goring – every Saturday
    Henley – every Tuesday
    Wallingford – every Thursday

    You don’t have to display a ticket on these days.

  • New rail link between Oxford and London via Haddenham

    CHILTERN Railways yesterday (26/10) launched its new service into London, connecting Oxford with the capital, following a £320m investment by the franchise operator and Network Rail.

    Oxford Parkway station - image courtesy of railmagazine.com
    Oxford Parkway station – image courtesy of railmagazine.com

    The new rail link to London – the first from a major British city in more than 100 years – will serve brand new stations at Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village, passing through Haddenham and Thame Parkway on to Marylebone.

    The new station at Bicester Village will create a direct connection to the shopping destination from London for the first time, enabling many of the 6.3 million shoppers who visit each year to reach the popular retail destination from just 46 minutes from Marylebone.

    Chiltern’s new service offers Oxford commuters an alternative to travelling into London via Reading and Paddington and is expected to attract an additional 250,000 return commuter journeys each year.

    Oxford Parkway is a brand new station on the outskirts of Oxford designed to be attractive to motorists, making it easy to take cars off the road. Immediately adjacent to the congested A34, it is close to the A40 and A44 trunk roads and has 1,500 car parking spaces at the site and cycle parking.

    As an added benefit to commuters Chiltern, who first introduced free Wi-Fi in 2011, is upgrading their free Wi-Fi to 4G giving commuters a faster internet connection. Chiltern Railways carriages also have tables and power sockets making it easy for commuters to be charged and connected throughout their journey.

    Chiltern Railways has invested £130million of the £320million total cost of the new line and stations, with Network Rail contributing £190m. Today’s launch is a major landmark for Chiltern Railways, which this year was again named one of the UK’s highest rated franchise operators in the National Rail Passenger Survey. The survey, conducted by Passenger Focus, gave Chiltern Railways an overall satisfaction score of 90%.

    The new service will offer two new fast trains per hour throughout the day between Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village station and London, with journey times to the capital from under an hour.

    Commenting at the launch of the new line and service, Chiltern Railways Managing Director, Rob Brighouse, said:“This is an historic day. Our significant and unique investment will be economically advantageous for the regional economy creating competition in the rail market between Oxford and London, as well as delivering the first new service between a major British city and London for over 100 years. Passengers are at the heart of every decision we make at Chiltern Railways, which is why we conceived this new line to link London, Oxford and Bicester Village for the benefit of shoppers and commuters.”

    SOURCE: Press release