And in other news……

DESPITE requests from two Town Farm Road residents, to move the location of allotments to behind their homes, instead of a row of bungalows now proposed, Thame Town Council recommended approval of plans to build 203 dwellings, with new allotment plots, public open space, new pedestrian and cycle routes on Site F, Oxford Road, Thame, for Bloor Homes.

Last year’s flooding (Feb 2014) Ford bridge on Oxford Rd looking West across Cuttle Brook field towards Thame by-pass

The two residents, Fiona Guy and Carol Warwick, claimed that the latest detailed planning application went against the Thame Neighbourhood Plan version of the proposal, which showed public open space behind their houses. They were also concerned about increased traffic on Oxford Road causing an increased potential for danger for Town Farm Close residents turning right out on to Oxford Road.

Of particular concern to them and to several town councillors, was the fear of flooding – already a frequent occurrence on the land during wet weather, that had often over-whelmed the current drainage system and had caused very unpleasant flows down the hill of Oxford Road, in the past.

In response, the Bloor Homes representative, David Josephs, said that the position of the allotments and the bungalows had been debated and agreed by Thame Town Council representatives, and that the developer intended planting and landscaping between Town Farm Close and the development. He added that it was thought the allotments placed where they are now proposed would provide a good buffer between the development and the site reserved for a school.

After much debate, the council voted to recommend approval of the plan providing that it had full involvement in a solution for foul water drainage, minor amendments are made to boundary treatments, bin storage, soft landscaping and road finishes, as well as a condition that the Council has full involvement in matters relating to the Section 106 Agreement. The foul water solution proviso would be a so-called ‘Grampian condition’ which would prevent the start of work on the development until the outstanding drainage problem had been solved and agreed.

The application will now be considered by South Oxfordshire District Council at a date that is to be confirmed. RELATED REPORT JAN 2015

MAYOR’S BOOST TO SKATE PARK FUNDS

THE Mayor of Thame’s Civic Ball, held at the Spread Eagle Hotel in Thame last weekend, raised £4,000 towards the new Thame Skate Park. Cllr Matelot Green, thanked everyone who contributed, either by buying a ticket for the ball or bidding in the raffle, for their generosity, Paddy Harris for ‘being an amazing auctioneer’ and raising £2640 from the auction, and others, including artist Alan Kidd, who donated a painting that helped raise £565 in the Raffle.

FOOD BANK RUNNING OUT OF SPACE

A REQUEST from the organisation that runs Thame’s Foodbank, has been refused permission by Thame Town Council to use the council’s depot as a storage centre for donated food. The Sharing Life Trust wanted to use the town council’s Lupton Road Depot because the Guide hut is no longer big enough to hold its stock. Town councillors however, at a recent meeting of its Policy and Resources committee, were concerned about possible security risks and the fact that in the council’s ‘Continuity Plan’ (in the case of some sort of emergency accommodation being needed) and that of the Fire and Rescue Service, required this space to be available.

The council did though agree to continue to support the work of the Food Bank and help find alternative accommodation.

CHILLY CHALLENGE FOR MUSEUM

THAME Museum is hoping that next winter will not be too cold, as a recent inspection of the building, the old Thame Court house, leased from the town council, showed that the heating system is still not working effectively, despite some repair work. At the recent meeting of the town council’s P and R committee, Cllr David Dodds said that the boiler had not been installed correctly in the first place and that it needed professionals to go in ‘and do the job properly’.

Last winter, the museum had to remain closed for January and February because it was felt the cost of trying to keep the museum heated with electric heaters sufficiently for visitors, would have been too high. The inspection also revealed that there was damage near the fireplace, due to water seaping in through external walls which previous work to instal a special drainage channel had not solved. The council voted to note the report.

NO LOCAL OMBUDSMAN FOR THAME LIKELY

THE government is currently consulting on whether to extend the jurisdiction of Local Umbudsmen to allow for members of the public to complain about larger parish/town councils to the Local Government Ombudsman when they think that they have been let down by their parish/town council.

The proposal is that any new arrangements would only apply to larger parish/town councils be defined as either having a population of 35,000 or above, or an annual pre-cepted income of greater than £500,000/annum. It is unlikely therefore that Thame, with a population of under 12,000, would be included. Speaking at last weeks’s P and R committee meeting, Cllr Mike Dyer said that he thought it was a pity that Thame would not be included as he thought it would be a good thing.

FASTER BROADBAND FOR BUSINESSES

A BROADBAND upgrade is on the way for two business buildings opposite the DAF site in Thame, once two new cabinets currently being installed in Thame, bring faster broadband on stream for the area.