Fresh start for residents’ associations after merger

TWO Thame residents’ associations that played a part in the formulation of Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan, have merged and will now operate under a new Chairman.

Charles Boundy, the new Chair of PEORA – Priest End & Oxford Road Residents Association

Oxford Road Residents Association (ORRA), under the Chairmanship of Barry Yates, was officially dissolved at its AGM on Wednesday, February 10, and has now officially merged with Priestend  Residents Association (PERA) which agreed earlier in January at its own AGM, to extend its boundary to include Oxford Road. The new Residents Association will be called Priestend and and Oxford Road Residents Association, or PEORA, and the Chair of the new body is Charles Boundy.

Charles Boundy told Thame.net: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to take over the Chair of our newly merged residents’ associations. I do have some concerns about filling the shoes of such luminaries as Iain Livingston and Barry Yates; fortunately both have agreed to stay on the committee and support me as joint vice-chairmen of the newly amalgamated Priestend and Oxford Road Residents’ Association – PEORA. The committee has also had fantastic support from our Residents’ Group, all of whom are staying on, so there is continuity there too.

“We certainly see plenty of changes ahead, around such issues as the ongoing development of Site F (Ed. Oxford Road), the potential of further new South Oxfordshire housing targets plus challenges to, and full implementation of, the Thame Neighbourhood Plan. PEORA aims to continue to provide active involvement in helping to keep the Priestend area and Thame generally as a great place to live.”

Retiring Chair of ORRA, Barry Yates, explained: “Oxford Road, with 33 houses, has been the smallest of the RA’s in Thame. The original concept of creating two RA’s in this area either side of Cuttle Brook has long been achieved with the Thame Neighbour Plan. Permission for site F had been given and development commenced there. It was felt by ORRA that the time was right to merge with PERA.

“As with most small organisations, we were finding it difficult to get volunteers to take office. I had been Chairman since 2010 and wished to stand down. The new PEORA will cover a much wider area now from Bell Lane to the top of Oxford Road.”