More ‘snippets’ from Thame annual town meeting

FOLLOWING on from yesterday’s report about the annual town meeting on Tuesday (22/04), here is a summary of the rest of the meeting, including news from the NAG (Neighbourhood Action Group) plus the need to invigorate the Thame and District Twinning Association:
? The NAG aims to ‘engineer out’ problems of anti-social behaviour i.e. Elms Park (which is one of itspriorities) – the police want to close off access atthe rear of the park and have only one entrance so that they can ‘trap’ those misbehaving, who
sometimes escape from the police when they arrive.
? Reasons identified by NAG for the above problems in Elms park, boredom, access to alcohol, absence of a fear of consequences, lack of patrolling (though, PCSOs are engaging with the youth there said Peter Butt, Facilitator of the local NAG), lack of
surveillance – discussing the possibility of sharing a mobile CCTV unit with other towns.
Wants clear signage of the rules in the park, and proposed council employs a park warden.
? The three main priorities for the NAG are, lack of youth provision (ED interesting, considering the lack of progress with a youth shelter or motorcycle track (the latter, said the Town Clerk, because the land currently being used unofficially by the
youngsters, is privately owned and because it is on an old rubbish tip, would need money to make suitable), under-age drinking and vandalism.

? Thame Twinning Association – want to get more young people involved; Nigel Champken-Woods emphasised that people should not be afraid to get involved just because they are unable to host visitor from Montesson themselves; he said that although the organisation is currently almost skint, the group will find money somehow but the main priority is to “inject more life” into it.
“Unless we get more support,” he said, “we will struggle to carry on.”
? He invited anyone interested in finding out more to go to the AGM at the town hall on May 22, 7.30pm.

Open Questions:

? County Cllr Nick Carter, promised to look into the possible installation of lights or even moving, the Zebra crossing outside ‘Sapphire Moon’, following a submission from the floor that it is dangerous.

? District Cllr Ann Midwinter said that SODC had discussed the ending of the post of Health Walk Co-ordinator, which ended in March. Mary Stiles, who raised the question, praised the work of the organisation but feared that further walks were
unlikely to be organised.

MORE ON MONDAY