Thame news-  End-of-the-week snippets

OK. Let’s get the C word out of the way first, then we can move on. We’ve just 36 days to go until Friday, November 30, at 7pm, when Thame’s Christmas Lights are switched on.

Back by popular demand, you’ll be able to feed and pet the reindeer, and sit in an authentic sleigh. The Snow Globe will be back again this year  providing the perfect photo opportunity for you and your family and friends! Other attractions will include Refreshment stalls, freshly-made French crepes from Thame & Montesson Twinning Association, gift stalls and local performance groups – including roaming princesses Rapunzel and Tinkerbell.

Independent shops will be staying open late for early Christmas shopping. There’ll be the tradional lantern parade down the High Street and a ‘Town Trail’ competition to be launched any day now, will give the lucky winner the chance to turn on the Christmas lights with the Mayor of Thame, Cllr Ann Midwinter.

(Last reference to Christmas, I promise) Yes, Christmas is fast approaching and the Cards For Good Causes Christmas card shop will be open in Christchurch again this year, which also, is a good thing. The shop is situated at Christchurch in Upper High Street, Thame, and supports 25 local and national charities. It will be open between November 9 and December 7, Monday – Saturday, 10am to 4pm.

Thame Fair

AFTER a year’s absence, Thame fair came and went recently without too much incident, although there were apparently quite a few complaints about the noise this year. Whilst Thame Town Council and others suggested that this could have been due to the strong winds carrying the sound further, and that we’d forgotten how loud it can be because it hadn’t been here for two years, they have admitted that the Waltzer, as usual, was the main offender – the operator having to be reminded several times througout the evening by roaming noise monitors, to turn it down.

The council has agreed, at the suggestion of Cllr Mike Dyer, that it investigates the possibility of insisting a ‘noise limiter’ be fitted to the ride’s sound system.

This year the Waltzer had been replaced by a larger ride, which unfortunately took up more space, damaging several trees in the area. The trees are to be inspected by the Ccounty Council’s Highways officer, as the trees are its responsibility.

On the plus side, £500 was raised by the town council from car parking at Southern Road Recreation ground during the fair – though for some reason, churning up the grass on the field by wheel-spinning was someone’s idea of fun.

Summer fun to look forward to

THAME Town Council is considering a proposal for a Splash Pad at Southern Road Recreation Ground. They’re currently considering the options, including where the funding could come from. If the Splash Pad goes ahead, it would be a free facility open to the public between May and September.

Future bicycle hire schemes

SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council has agreed in principle that all major planning applications should consider options to facilitate cycle hire schemes ‘where appropriate’, and has asked its officers to consider the feasibility of bringing in formal planning policies to achieve this.

The more serious stuff (feel free to peel off now if you’ve had enough – but do come back soon!)

Reducing non-recyclable plastics

THE Leader of SODC, Cllr Jane Murphy, is going to write to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to urge the Government to intensify pressure on manufacturers to reduce the production of non-recyclable plastic.

The proposal was put forward by District Cllr Caroline Newton, and seconded by Thame’s very own Cllr David Dodds. Whilst supporting the motion a number of councillors at the recent meeting of the District Council, raised several points: problems arose with discarded plastics which impact on the environment and wildlife; non-recyclable plastics are incinerated to provide energy and that there remains some public confusion regarding which plastics are recyclable.

Promoting the river Thames more for tourism

THE District Council is to investigate opportunities to better promote the River Thames for tourism and leisure activities for all residents, especially young people in the district. Councillors have particularly highlighted the many activities and options available for tourism and leisure activities on the River Thames but a number raised concern regarding access from rural areas, slipways access, overgrown vegetation on the banks of the river and the need for more and improved moorings.

‘Unitary’ authority?

JAMES Brokenshire, Secretary of State for Houses, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has responded to the district council’s proposal, made jointly with the Oxfordshire County Council and Vale of White Horse, for a single, unitary authority for Oxfordshire. The response received by SODC has been that ‘a  the three local authorities are all working well together in Oxfordshire at present, he sees no need to proceed with a unitary decision’. (You can read the background to this proposal HERE 

How should housing be allocated in the district?

SOUTH Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are looking to update their housing allocation policy and have launched a six-week public consultation on the proposed changes. They want to update the policy to reflect the districts’ changing housing needs since the existing policy was introduced five years ago. The new policy will need to reflect recently introduced legislation and regulations, particularly in relation to affordability.

Under the new proposals the councils could also accept applications from people on zero hours contracts, which were not widely available when the current policy was drawn up, and this is designed to be fair to the increasing numbers of working households on zero hours contracts.

The councils say that: “With the new Local Plans there is likely to be more affordable housing available and the new policy would clearly outline how the district councils will manage the housing allocation process.” Everyone has until midnight on November 26, to add their comments. Take the survey HERE

Dates for the diary!

Music In The Park – Sunday, May 5, 2019

Thame Music Festival – Saturday, July 13, 2019

Presentation of the Thame Town Awards – Thursday, March 14, 2019 at Thame Barns Centre

And Finally – Dog fouling!

THAME Town Council continues to get complaints about dog fouling and says that: “Additional information stickers are being deployed,” and that it will be seeing if there is any money in the budget to spend on tackling this nuisance.