Not the news headlines !

SO much is going on in Thame these days, apart from the big headlines, like Tesco’s officially backing away from proposals for a large supermarket on the DAF site, and the launch of Thame’s prestigious Art and Literature Festival (TAL) this week, but there are also lower level, but nonetheless significant snippets we think you will want to know about. So here goes:

Road Safety – There have been a lot of complaints about safety on the Aylesbory Road Round-about recently, including reports of two cyclists being knocked off their bikes and last week, a serious incident involving a motorcyclist. As a result, Oxford County Council is currently monitoring the situation.

A Thame Wine Fare, to raise funds for Thame Citizens Advice Bureau, will be held at Thame Town Hall on Saturday, November 12, between mid-day and 6pm. Entry is £6 for the opportunity to taste and buy a wide range of fine quality wines from around the world, shown by members of the Association of Small Direct Wine Merchants. (Visit the fair without tasting for a £3.00 charity donation) Contact Sandra Davison 01844 214498 for further information.

New Housing in Thame – Thame Town Council has decided that whilst the Local Plan consultation was underway, the council would decline to meet with any potential developers, so as not to give any sign that it might tolerate further housing in the town beyond that defined in the adopted Neighbourhood Plan. Persimmon Homes is currently seeking to increase the number of houses on its development site, on land West of Thame Park Road, from the 175 already approved, to 195. But Thame Town Councillors are not happy and have resolved not to “entertain developers about extra houses or extra sites as these would be in breach of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.”

SOUTH Oxfordshire District Plan has received 8,500 responses to its consultation on the latest Local Plan which includes a proposal for 600 more houses to be built in Thame, on top of the 700 plus allocated for in the Neighbourhood Plan – an unpresidented response!

At a recent meeting of Oxfordshire County Council, the leader of SODC, Mr John Cotton, refused to sign up to what he called “flawed” plans which would see 14,300 homes shared out across the county. The other five district council leaders voted for the plan. “This could be seen as good news in that the District Council is listening to the comments received and prepared to confront the issue,” remarked Town Cllr Mike Dyer at a recent TTC meeting.

Thame Carnival – The carnival this year will take place on June 10, 2017. The theme will centre around World War Two and the 1940s. The organisers are looking for volunteers to join them and anyone who would like to help is invited to contact Sue Martin Downhill via suedownhill@gmail.com

Emergency Services Day – On September 25, Thames Valley Police’s Thame Neighbourhood Policing Team, South Central Ambulance Service, Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue and the Search & Rescue team held a family fun Emergency Services Day at Southern Road recreation ground in Thame. Everyone who went said it was great fun and there was a great turn out despite the wet weather with around 300 people attending. A spokesperson for the team said: “It was a good opportunity for the community and children to learn about the different roles. The ambulance service were able to educate people on CPR, Thames Valley Police were on hand with crime prevention advice and leaflets, and the fire service educated people on fire hazards and information on what to do in case of a fire breaking out.

“We are planning to do some more Community Crime Prevention days, going out into the villages with crime prevention advice and leaflets. More details will be released when the locations and dates are finalised.”

New Post to Co-ordinate Thame projects –  The town council and SODC between them have funded a new post, that of Market Town Co-ordinator for Thame. Thame.Net would like to welcome Becky Reid who lives in Thame, and who will begin work, based at the town hall, on November 1, 2016.

‘Greening’ Thame – The 21st Century Thame partnership is looking for more volunteers to join its Environment Working Group, to support work on the Thame Green Living Plan, which came out of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan. A Key topic for discussion at its next meeting will be how to raise awareness with the general public of green issues around consumerism, thinking for instance about repairing a washing machine rather than throwing away and buying a new one. 21st Century Thame is also looking for someone to administer the Thame Community Equipment Bank.

Anyone who wants to learn more about these positions is invited to check out the website: LINK HERE or contact Sue Martin Downhill, the Chair of 21st Century Thame.