Thame Council To Be Asked To Fund Town Centre Youth Facility

THAME Town Councillors are to be asked to grant a loan for the purchase of a vacated town centre building to be transformed into a much needed new, town centre community facility.
The ex Woolwich Building Society Building, next to the Bird Cage in Cornmarket, Thame, has been identified by the 21st Century Thame Partnership as an ideal location for a drop-in type facility for all ages in the community, but especially for young people.

The Partnership says it sees a strong link between the lack of amenties for local youth, criminal damage and under-age drinking – the three main priorities for police and community action identified at a recent public meeting.

The building is currently under offer and has attracted a lot of interest from prospective buyers, including a large, national coffee franchise. But because the closing date for offers is July 14, there is insufficient time for the Partnership to seek funding from traditional sources and it has therefore had to resort to appealing to local celebrities and businesses to act as benefactors, but with limited response so far.

At a meeting of the Town Council’s Policy and Resources committee next Tuesday, July 3, Director of 21st Century Thame Partnership, Mary Stiles, will ask the town council to agree a loan of around