Open Spaces, Green Routes and Biodiversity
Compared with many communities, Thame is under-provided with parks and public open space. There is also much scope for more and better footpaths and cycle routes. These will encourage walking and cycling for better health, reduced car use and increased access to surrounding areas. Changes could immeasurably improve the environmental amenities of Thame and help strengthen a sense of community, particularly where development pressures are apparent. The panel below identifies key issues, which are taken further in the schedules that follow.
Key Issues
Green Spaces & Biodiversity
- Inform and involve: Improve information, education and involvement in conservation
- Identify new areas for biodiversity: Create more nature-friendly areas
- Improve biodiversity in existing open spaces: Encourage wild flora and richer fauna
- Enhance green corridors and waterways: Let our natural world flourish
- Support agricultural practices: Encourage greater landowner focus on biodiversity
- Check planning policy and decisions: Scrutinise policy, decisions and outcomes
Cycling
- Encourage and support cycling: Improve options and help for cyclists and non-cyclists
- Create safe cycling routes: Especially through Thame Town centre
- Engage the Thame Town community: Safer and more direct links for cycling
- Revitalise connections: Improve links with Thame’s broader environment and our neighbours
Walking
- Promote walking routes into and through town, as a healthier non-car alternative
- Improve walking routes, By making them safe and pleasant
- Improve footpath connections, from key residential areas into town
- Establish more walking routes, and improve access to surrounding countryside
- Support for the less mobile, with more seating and viable transport alternatives
1.1 Information & Involvement
Improve information and education on the importance of biodiversity and nature conservation
In Progress
Create more explanatory information panels in key sites in town centre and where biodiversity action is taking place.
Completed
Support the conservation and biodiversity work of local conservation bodies.
Completed
Action: Develop an information/ education programme, including success stories, via local conservation organisations
Completed
Encourage local companies to engage in conservation work, e.g. as part of their corporate social responsibility policies.
Increase involvement in conservation work
Completed
Promote existing volunteer opportunities more widely (21CT, CBCV, RTCT, REG) and foster partnership working.
In Progress
Seek school and youth involvement with projects.
Not Started
Examine social engagement and consider innovative ways of developing this.
Private gardens and allotments
Completed
Encourage actions such as: • grass cutting – leave grass longer • plant more shrubs and trees • plant more natural pollinators • leave room for hedgehogs and wildlife
Supporting best ecological and environmental practice
In Progress
Action: Seek specialist help in planning green infrastructure improvements in Thame and its environs.
In Progress
Action: Encourage clear procedures for approving new green infrastructure and commissioning relevant expertise.
Not Started
Action: Assess the value of existing metrics and how best to use them as a tool.
Completed
Consider new methodologies as proposed in new Environmental and Agricultural laws.
Completed
Support further engagement with the farming community and NFU and other landowners in developing and monitoring green infrastructure
1.2 Identify new areas for biodiversity enhancement
Create more nature-friendly zones in built-up areas
In Progress
Complete the Google Earth survey of potential biodiversity enhancement areas.
In Progress
Seek Wild Oxfordshire involvement in a local biodiversity enhancement project.
Support local initiatives
Completed
Work on enhancement proposals with partners (e.g. Residents' Associations (RAs), District and County Councils, 21C Thame).
Completed
Help to identify suitable sites and species to support 21C Thame tree-planting initiative.
Completed
Organise public events on biodiversity enhancement in gardens etc. as part of education and awareness raising.
Completed
Explore a Mayoral commendation scheme (e.g. letter of thanks plus guidance on further sources of information).
1.3 Improve Biodiversity in existing public spaces
Improve existing green areas to encourage more beneficial wild flora and richer fauna
In Progress
Action: Promote links with biodiversity experts.
In Progress
Identify relevant areas and current approach for research and discussion, including more beneficial planting and mowing practices for wildlife and carbon capture.
1.4 Green Corridors & Waterways
Consolidate and extend Thame’s green corridors and waterways
In Progress
Action: Continue dialogue to further joint aims of GLP with CBCV and River Thame Conservation Trust (RTCT)
Not Started
Action: Progress Phoenix Trail links with Risborough Environment Group and Sustrans.
In Progress
Action: Liaise with CBCV on a planned extension south towards Moreton.
Completed
Liaise with relevant parties including neighbours, CBCV and others to develop and implement a landscape, planting and public footpath plan for Rycote Meadow.
In Progress
Seek to maximise the statutory role of the Local Nature Reserve in local biodiversity and flood control and harness the committee’s expertise.
Completed
Resist proposed use of former Moorend Lane site for long term waste processing.
1.5 Support for Agricultural practices
Local Agricultural Practices
Completed
In conjunction with RTCT and Wild Oxfordshire explore potential for a loose-knit local landowners’ network to work with the community for mutual benefit.
Completed
Consider a “Nature-loving landowner” scheme as a forum for sharing best practice and celebrating success in association with appropriate bodies.
Completed
Identify opportunities under new legislation
1.6 Ideas for the future
Establish Ham Wood to Phoenix Trail green corridor
Not Started
Action: Identify areas of interest, expertise and funding and involve Woodlands Trust, Sustrans, CBCV as appropriate.
Not Started
Action: Develop and seek agreement for a composite plan between local conservation bodies and landowners.
A new ‘Green Halo’ space for Thame
Not Started
Action: Explore funding opportunities through TOE (Trust for Oxfordshire Environment) and others.
1.7 Cycling awareness and encouragement at individual level
Not Started
Action: Encourage responsible cycling in and around the town.
Not Started
Action: Provide information and raise awareness through printed and online materials, town signage and general promotion.
Not Started
Action: Discuss the creation of a Bicycle Mayor role for the town (https://bycs.org/).
Completed
Action: Engage with businesses to promote ‘bike to work’ schemes ad promote cycling to employees.
Not Started
Action: Build cycling skills by 1:1 or group Bike-ability training, family events, holiday club, and maintenance training.
In Progress
Action: Help cycling to be more visible and a regular presence in the town centre.
Not Started
Action: Link to advice on cycling equipment and cycle maintenance (e.g. incl. popup maintenance workshops in town centre).
Not Started
Action: Promote school travel plans, cycle champions, Bicycle User Groups (BUGs), including the introduction of ‘bike busses’ to help increase safety of children until infrastructure is improved.
1.8 Cycling in Thame Town Centre (see also Air Quality)
Not Started
Action: Enhance cycling by dedicated or segregated cycle routes in key areas
Not Started
Action: Examine options for infrastructure changes to the High Street to reduce car use and through-traffic generally.
Not Started
Action: Establish principle of ‘prioritising pedestrians over cyclists, over buses, over private vehicles’ in the town.
Not Started
Action: Take steps to discourage vehicles driving unnecessarily through the centre of town.
Completed
Consider and consult on a 20mph speed limit across Thame town centre.
1.9 Thame centre as a hub for the town
Not Started
Action: Improve cycling connections from all residential parts of Thame.
Not Started
Action: Follow up direct cycle routes from new estates.
Not Started
Action: Improve bike access to and from Moreton.
Completed
Action: Undertake a bike rack audit of potential locations to provide more racks and their spread around the town, including near social destinations, such as cafes and the library
Not Started
Action: Consider provision of bike tool stations.
Not Started
Action: Develop metrics for monitoring short journeys.
Not Started
Action: Consider and consult on a range of options to create safer and more direct links
1.10 Connections with Thame
In Progress
Action: Develop a walkers/cyclists welcome scheme.
In Progress
Action: Continue to press for construction of planned ‘Greenway’ between Haddenham and Thame, (including a safe crossing of Tythrop Way.)
Not Started
Action: Provide a safe crossing of the ring road for the ‘old road’ route to Long Crendon and add cycle route where it meets B4011.
1.11 Cycling – Ideas for the future
A dedicated cycle route along the high street
Not Started
Action: Develop a suitable dedicated and protected cycle route though the town centre and beyond.
Improving the Aylesbury Road roundabout
Not Started
Action: Redevelop the A418/Tythrop Way (Travelodge) roundabout to encourage traffic to use the ring road rather than travel through the town centre.
Extensions to the Phoenix Trail
Not Started
Action: Promote extension of the Phoenix Trail to Wheatley and connect to Oxford.
Not Started
Action: Build on the success of the Phoenix trail – Consult with SUSTRANS.
1.12 Walking: Individual, Communal And Shorter-Term Actions – Thame Town
Encouragement for Walking
In Progress
Action: Improve signage for pedestrians through key town centre areas, including • Signposts to key town locations • Key link routes and the Phoenix Trail • Lea Park and other major housing areas • Walking times to key destinations
Completed
Action: Inner Thame Circuit. A new inner circuit route connecting St Mary’s, Lea Park, the Phoenix Trail and the Cuttle Brook area • develop route and directions • publish details in new town leaflet
Not Started
Action: Establish priorities and protocols between pedestrians, cyclists, and other users on Phoenix Trail and other key routes.
In Progress
Action: Lea Park - Identify and prioritise key walking routes into town and elsewhere.
Not Started
Action: Estate footpaths - take all reasonably practicable steps incl. with SODC to: a) enforce proper completion and opening of footpaths through and around the three most recent major development sites (known as C, D and F) in accordance with terms of their respective planning consents, b) develop more direct routes into town where possible, c) have these adequately maintained
Not Started
Action: Walkers’ group – consider promoting a new group of walkers dedicated to walking in and immediately around Thame to pursue these ideas and encourage more, etc.
In Progress
Action: Safe routes to school – Seek volunteers to promote and organise walking buses and other forms of safe routes to school, including prioritising key routes for children to stay safe.
Not Started
Action: Encourage schools and sports clubs to encourage walking as part of an overall exercise and well-being plan.
1.13 Walking | Safety And Security – Town Centre And Community – Longer-Term
Prioritising the safety and security of pedestrians in the Town Centre and other areas of Thame
In Progress
Action: Consider and consult on various options to achieve this objective
Not Started
Action: Add new or improved footpaths (with suitable habitat protection where applicable) across Rycote Meadow and alongside or close to the proposed Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve extension towards Moreton.
Not Started
Action: Integrate all these proposals within consultation on a proposed composite Thame Travel and Transport Plan.
In Progress
Action: Develop links with Estate management companies once they have taken over communal grounds and facilities to encourage best practice and opening up of travel connections
1.14 Walking | The Wider Community – Thame’s Environs
Thame Town’s connections with the surrounding communities
Completed
Action: Outer Thame Circuit. A new 20-mile outer loop around Thame on existing public footpaths, connecting outlying villages and using public transport, with 7-9 miles ‘segments’ connecting into Thame • develop route and directions • publish route and directions as town leaflet and encourage use by all local communities
Completed
Action: Tythrop Way and Moorend Lane. Re-align footpath adjacent to skateboard park to permit use of traffic lights to access Moorend Lane and routes beyond.
Not Started
Action: Access to Long Crendon. Urgently plan for new pedestrian crossing/ refuge over A418 by-pass at route of Old Crendon Road to facilitate safe access to/from Long Crendon.
In Progress
Action: Haddenham and Thame ‘Greenway’ – continue to press for implementation of planned route, including access to and through Thame / links to both town centres and H&T train station, to include safe crossing of Tythrop Way.
1.15 Walking | Ideas for the Future
THE Mid-Thame circuit
Not Started
Action: Plan and seek to protect a route: • include within Neighbourhood Plan • seek initial discussions with landowners • assess and plan potential funding sources