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  • Thame’s Deputy Mayor Questions Police Priorities

    THAME’s Deputy Mayor, Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods, has criticised Thames Valley Police’s spending priorities.
    In a letter to local press this week, he asks: “I wonder if Thames Valley Police have their priorities right?
    “I was dreadfully sorry to see the vandalism on the Phoenix Trail on your front page; what a waste and where were our police?
    Then I was horrified to read that due to a funding shortfall, the Chairman of TVP Authority tells us that they might have to scrap 40 police community officers. They can however afford to employ another 49 people to answer phones at their non-emergency lines so that we can get through quicker; little point if there is no-one to answer our calls for help!
    But great news – they can afford to spend

  • Warm Welcome For Constituency Labour Candidate

    KALEEM Saeed, the Labour Parliamentary Candidate for the Thame area constituency, has thanked the people of Thame, after his visit to the town on Saturday.
    In a statement today, he said: “I am grateful for the warm welcome I received in Thame on Saturday (Jan 15th), when I met local residents and visitors to Thame in Montesson Square, and discussed the economy with leading shopkeepers.
    Thame is an outstanding shopping centre for a town of its size, and a good example of what can be achieved in a well-balanced town with good transport links and in a long period of economic stability and growth. While staying ahead of the competition can never be easy – especially with the threat from out-of town supermarkets – Gordon Brown’s management of the economy means that initiative and hard work are rewarded.
    He continued: “Feelings about Labour amongst the general public are naturally still coloured by anger at Blair’s decision not to let America go alone into Iraq. I understand those who do not agree with that decision, though personally I hope that history, the skill, the nerve and the discipline of our troops and the courage of the Iraqi people will prove it to have been right right. Meanwhile we should not let-up in the effort to improve public services and social justice in our own country – and this is something on which we can all agree.”

  • Consultation Over New Cycle Route

    A new link from Thame to Oxford, as part of the National Cycle Network, has been proposed, which will include widening some existing Thame footpaths.
    Oxfordshire County Council, who will build the new link in partnership with SUSTRANS, the National Cycle Route charity, are inviting comments from local people regarding the proposal.

    Any enquiries or comments should be sent to the Transport Projects Implementation Team (MW), Environment and Economy, Oxfordshire County Council, Speedwell House, Speedwell Street, OX1 1NE, by January 21.
    The new link will be between Lord Williams School and the Shabbington turn on the A418 to Oxford, and will utilise the existing verge.
    NB At a meeting of Thame Town Council’s Planning committee on January 11, councillors voted to support the scheme with the proviso that a speed restriction should be introduced where the A418 meets the junction for Shabbington at North Weston. They also commented that there should be clear demarcation for pedestrians and cyclists on the path itself.

  • Mayor Berates Radio Station Poll On Cattle Market

    THE local radio station, Mix 96 is running a poll on whether local people want a supermarket on the Thame
    Cattle Market site or not.
    The Poll eroneously says: “The market is moving to a larger site outside Thame.”
    The Mayor of Thame, Cllr David Dodds, told ThameNews this afternoon: “I am absolutely amazed that an issue which has been discussed over a long time has suddenly arisen on this radio station’s website, which is inappropriate.
    “We are of course currently awaiting the Local Plan. The supermarkets themselves have down-graded their objections to the local plan, the draft of which stipulated no large retail developments, which would imply that they are no longer pursuing the site. The site belongs to SODC who are not about to sell it to a supermarket because it would be outside the remit of their Local Plan.”

  • Boris’s Challenger On Jackson Defection

    YESTERDAY, Jan 17, kaleem Saeed, the Labour Parliamentary Candidate for the Henley Constituency paid his tribute to Robert Jackson MP on his crossing to Labour.
    “Mr Jackson’s action indicates not that ‘Labour under Blair has become indistinguishable from the Tories, but that Michael Howard’s opportunism has reduced the Tories to the level of the Liberal Democrats,” he said. He continued:
    “Blair is the only current party leader who does not follow the opinion polls, but sticks to what he believes to be right. Jackson has gained nothing by crossing the floor – except the recovery of his self- respect – and that of those who value political courage.”

  • New Local Police Area Commander

    SOUTHERN Oxfordshire has a new Local Police Area Commander.
    She is Superintendent Jill Simpson who has been working as Area Commander for the area for the past year and says that she is now looking forward to balancing competing priorities, in particular making sure the area continues to reduce crime.
    Jill said: ?Southern Oxfordshire is one of the safest places to live in Thames Valley and I intend to keep working with our partners and communities to keep it that way, focusing on reducing anti-social behaviour and at the same time improving the amount of crimes we detect.?
    Aged 40, Jill began her career with Thames Valley Police in 1989. She has since served at Reading and Slough, was a trainer at the police training school and then moved onto High Wycombe where she was a shift inspector.
    She then worked in Operations before moving on to Crime Support five years ago where she was the Force Crime Support Manager. Jill has also worked as a senior investigating officer.
    Ex-Thame Inspector David Purnell, is the new Local Police Area Commander for the Vale of White Horse area.

  • Great Adult Learning Courses In The Thame Area

    LOADS of interesting and worthwhile Adult Learning Classes now available, ranging from Circus Skills in Chinnor, Family Cooking and Chess For Families, at the Thame Centre, and Garden Planning & Design at Wheatley Park School. Call THAME on 01844 213400
    Click on the Link
     for a full and comprehensive list which has something for everyone!

  • Thame Fire Officer Honoured By Colleagues

    A Long-serving Thame Fire officer has been honoured by his colleagues.
    Robin Lockwood, affectionately known as the ?Thatch King of Oxfordshire,? because of his expertise and special interest in thatch fires, retired after 30 years in the service, last December. But it became obvious at his farewell party on Friday (January 14), that his commitment to the job will influence his colleagues at the Thame fire station for a very long time to come.
    Presenting him with his Certificate of Service, Oxfordshire?s Chief Fire Officer, John Parry, spoke movingly of how Robin had influenced, supported and encouraged his fellow officers and maintained very high standards. He spoke of the unstinting support of Robin?s wife, Pauline, who, with Robin, has now moved to near Minehead in Somerset.
    Robin?s successor, Andy Ford, said: ?Robin leaves a big hole to fill. He has been a fantastic influence, leading through example and will be sorely missed.?
    Robin himself spoke emotionally of the thanks he owed to he sons, who missed so much swimming, football and other childhood activities because he was ?on call?; to his mum and dad, who always had to spend Christmas at his home even though they would have like to have spent it at their own home from time to time; But most of all to Pauline who he described as ?a brick?.
    ?She never complained about the stench I would often bring home with me, the stories, the moans and groans, the spoiled meals and not being able to go out because I was on call,? he said.
    Robin spoke of the pride he felt in having worked with all his fellow officers, and spoke fondly of those who were no longer around. Looking forward to the future, spoke of his intension to take up sea fishing again and use the rod that his mates had presented him with.
    Both the Station Managers from Wheatley and Watlington thanked Robin for his support of them and also presented him with gifts.
    It was obvious by the end of the speeches and just before the real celebrations began, that Robin Lockwood was indeed, a role model for anyone to be proud to follow.

  • Mr R To Change Hands

    STUART and Sharon Rogers, the proprietors of the Thame Dry Cleaners, Mr R, in the Cornmarket, have sold the business.
    The shop will remain as a dry cleaners however, under the management of the Multi-national Johnson Cleaners, who recently bought up the remaining Sketchley shops for a token

  • Family Tribute to Haddenham Crash Victim

    THE family of Pat Eyres, of Haddenham,who died in a collision near Stanton St John last week, have paid tribute to her.
    “Pat was 54 years-old nd a systems analyst. She was the wife of John Eyres, mother to James and Rachel and recently became a grandmother to Samuel Joseph, who, while only three weeks old, had the opportunity to meet her before she died.”

    Husband John said: ?Pat was a vibrant, intelligent, intense, lively and brave person; she was never, ever, afraid to fight for a just cause.

    ?Pat had some serious health problems in her life, but had overcome them. In recent years she had become very fit and had run several races for charity, raising a great deal of money for victims of cancer.

    ?She will be sadly missed by family, friends and work colleagues.?