Elections 2015: Profiles of the candidates (2)
On 16/04/2015 At 12:35 pm
Category : Missed a ThameNews story?, More News, Thame news
Responses : 6 Comments
THAME.NET is inviting all the local candidates for Election 2015, for a short profile. The following are from from Bob Austin and Catherine Jones, who are both standing as Independent candidates in the Thame South Ward, in the Parish Council elections, on May 7.
Catherine Jones and Bob Austin
CATHERINE JONES: I moved to Thame in 1994 when my husband left the army. Having lived in numerous places we decided to settle in Thame, because of the delightful town centre, the good schools and the real feeling of community that we found here. It is a decision I have never regretted for a second. I have three children who were educated at John Hampden School and Lord Williams’s – two of whom still live locally.
I left school at 18 and was an army officer for 8 years. When I had to give up my career for family reasons, I started writing books. To date I have had 18 published – 2 non-fiction works and 16 novels.
I have always believed in giving back what I owe to organisations or communities that have helped or supported me and my family. I was a very active member of the John Hampden PTA and was on the Schoolhouse 2000 committee. I was also on the committee of the Romantic Novelists’ Association for 10 years, serving as secretary, PR officer, vice-chairman and, finally, chairman. Now I want to serve on the local council so I can repay something to this wonderful town.
I am standing as an independent so I can make my own decisions about what I feel might be best for the town. I am keen to see Thame grow and develop but within the structure of our agreed neighbourhood plan so we don’t lose our terrific town centre, its sense of community and its vibrancy – all the things that attracted me here over twenty years ago.
BOB AUSTIN: MY primary objective as a councillor will be to focus on the maintenance of Thame’s character as a market town in a period when that character is under threat from potential, misplaced, overdevelopment. That character must include the continued vitality of the town centre – a vitality that is being threatened by the prospect of an edge of town superstore.
I also want to ensure that Thame’s infrastructure will meet future demands as development happens and not when it’s too late. Parking is a priority for the Town and District Councils and we need to ensure that the County Council provides adequate health and education facilities for the growing number of residents.
I have been a resident in Thame for 28 years and brought up a family with my wife, Jenny. After a career as a Chartered Accountant, Finance Director and Chief Executive, I am now retired but endeavour to keep busy. I have a keen interest in Archaeology and obtained a degree from Reading University as a mature student. Also, since retirement I have worked, for a period, as a volunteer adviser at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and as a Teaching Assistant at Lord Williams’s School- until part time child minding of grandchildren came to the fore. I am Chairman of the East Thame Residents Association and a member of the steering group of the ‘Thame Centre First Campaign’.
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Dear Tony,
I have to admit that I don’t know who is responisble for paying our traffic warden but I am doubtful that the local community would appreciate a hike in their council tax to fund another one. Perhaps a better way would be to encourage more people to bike or walk into town rather than use thier cars
Dear Catherine,
Thank you for taking the time to respond to some of my question. Have you any views on part 2 of the question, regarding the current abuse of parking restrictions
Dear Tony,
Given the constraints on space in the town centre I think very little can be done to increase the area for parking. If the parking limit in the market square was reduced from three to two hours hours it might ease the problem a little, but it isn’t going to have a huge effect. I feel there ought to be some sort of residents’ parking scheme for those who live in Park Street, East Strret, Southern Road and North Street but short of putting up a multi-storey car park – which I would oppose – there is little that can be done. If the catlle market were to be moved out of town it would ease the problem but not if a large supermarket moved onto that site as Sainsbury had plans to. I think if this was an easy problem to solve it would have been done so by now.
If it is believed that a Tesco for Thame will be detrimental to the town centre shopping what plans would you put forward to improve parking in the town,( to encourage more shoppers ) and how would you address the fact that illegal parking is considered by TVP to be a low priority and is often left un controlled ?
Dear R Jeffries,
I am against The Ems project but I have to accept that we need more affordable housing in Thame. As a result I support the Neighbourhood Plan but I do not wish to see further development beyond that. I have no wish to see what has happened to Bicester happen to Thame i.e. that Thame becomes a sprawling mass of housing estates and not a market town with a defined center. More house will be good for businesses in Thame – more footfall in the shops, more money in the local economy – but it mustn’t be allowed to get out of hand. I aim to make sure, to the best of my ability, that the Neighbourhood Plan is adhered to.
Dear Bob,
From your profile it is clear that you are concerned by the threat of overdevelopment of Thame. What is your opinion of the manner by which the Thame Town Plan was adopted and, specifically, do you agree with development on The Elms Field?
Dear Catherine,
You say that you are keen to see Thame develop; do you think that the Thame Town plan is delivering the protection of Thame which we were promised it would? Do you agree with development on The Elms Field?