Thame voters have their say – By Annie Mirza , Work experience reporter

THE day has arrived for the Thame local by-election and as voters left the town hall polling station, we asked them what they were looking for in their councillors and what influenced their choice of candidates. We also discovered a variety of issues in Thame that influenced their decisions.
A few admitted that they voted along party lines; others said it was the fact that the candidates were “good people”, and some said they voted on the issues the candidates raised. Some of these issues were to do with the Green Belt, facilities for the town’s youth and those for the elderly.

One woman spoke about how the candidate she voted for was raising good ideas about the environment. She said that this was very important because of what is happening globally.

One mother spoke about how she was very pleased with the high standard of schools in Thame, and that she was very happy with the fact that the playgrounds were being improved. But she did say that she had future concerns because, as she put it: ?the older kids don?t have much to do?. Others also mentioned the fact that teenagers did not have any place to go and that there are very few facilities in Thame for them. One man said there was nothing to keep them occupied like dancing and cinemas and that this should be thought about by the councillors that are elected as it affects quite a lot of young people in Thame.

However, one lady said that she did not have any concerns and that she was ?happy with the way things are, and they should keep on like this.? Another voter said that he thought the ?social adhesion of Thame is pretty good?. Yet, he did mention that the state of the roads in Thame should be thought about; ?there is a pothole right outside the Town Hall that could throw a cyclist of his bike,? he added.

A couple agreed that the issues their candidates raised were good but that transport for the elderly did raise concerns to them. They said that they thought: ?There should be more disabled parking because there isn?t enough and there are many people in Thame who suffer from problems that can be eased with access to spaces for them?. They also mentioned the fact that they thought the ?Pied Peddler building is very unsuitable for a new library?.

A cross section of Thame residents has expressed its views or concerns about what is going on in the town, be it the environment or people. After the polls have closed at 10 o’clock tonight, the count will begin and by around midnight tonight we shall know who has reached victory.

ThameNews.Net will have the full results by breakfast time tomorrow. So watch this space!