07/09/11…Guided tour of the town for Thame’s MP

THAME’S MP, John Howell, will tour the town to see for himself the work of the 21st Century Thame Partnership, projects aimed at enhancing the town’s economy by making it more appealing for residents and visitors.

On Friday morning (9/09) John will see for himself how thousands of pounds worth of funding from SEEDA (South East Economic Development Agency) matched by funding from SODC and the support of Thame Town Council, has been spent in the town. He will see how town centre businesses have benefited from the Shop Fronts Improvement Scheme, the new Shopping Guide boards in the Cattlemarket, Sainsbury’s car park and the Co-Op car park; the Blue Plaques on buildings previously occupied by historic and famous residents, as well as experiencing guided Historic Walks around the town. An associated project, way-marking the points of interest on the Historic walks with metal, engraved discs in the pavement, is currently with the Town Clerk for finalising. John will be given the new Cycling and Walking Map and talk to retailers and customers taking advantage of the Thame Loyalty Card scheme. John will also be the first to receive one of the new Welcome Packs which have been distributed to all Estate Agents in the town and to the Sales Office of the new Windmill Road development of David Wilson Homes.

Hopefully too, he will notice the new planters at the main entrances to the town, beautifully maintained by the town council’s maintenance team, as he drives into Thame.

The funding for these projects is part of SEEDA’s Small Rural Towns Programme which is matched locally by funds raised by the community group; SEEDA?s funds are funding similar programmes in towns across the South East and Oxfordshire has six towns that currently are beneficiaries including Thame. Without government support such projects would not be feasible. This funding round will end in March 2012 and there is no intention on the part of the Government to replace it with anything else.

The accountable body in Oxfordshire for administering the funding has been the Oxfordshire Rural Community Council which is seeking other sources of funding to continue the work.

NOTE: 21st Century Thame was established in 2004, and is made up of representatives from the local community, businesses and local authority groups including Thame Town Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and Oxfordshire County Council, to take on the responsibility of implementing Action Plan projects that evolved from the Market Town Healthcheck process.

To find out more, visit the 21st Century Thame website http://www.21stcenturythame.org.uk/

To find out more about ORCC, visit: http://www.oxonrcc.org.uk/what-we-do/market-towns