Thame Fair 2022 Information

Update – 13 September 2022

Following long and intense discussions between Thame Town Council and the Showmen’s Guild over the course of the weekend, the Town Councillors have agreed to allow the annual fair to take place in the town centre this week.

We fully appreciate that the current circumstances are very different this year, and public opinion has been mixed as to the holding of the fair.

However, we are working closely with the Showman’s Guild to ensure that the fair operates with due respect during the period of National Mourning following the guidelines issued by the Government:

‘There is no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues during the National Mourning period. This is at the discretion of individual organisations with the exception of the day of the funeral’

A large amount of time and resources has already been invested in preparation for this event and plans are well advanced.

In the democratic world we live in it is of course a personal decision as to whether people choose to attend this annual event.

If you wish to watch the fair in action it is being live streamed on https://youtu.be/xY1AA-0ERWc courtesy of Alun Rowe at Pentangle.

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Date posted: Tuesday 13 September 2022

Update – 10 September 2022

The Council are currently working with the Showman’s Guild to ensure that the annual Thame Fair will go ahead whilst showing respect to the current period of mourning for The Queen, Elizabeth II and the recognition of a new King Charles III.

Date posted: Saturday 10 September 2022

Update – 8 September 2022

Thame’s High Street will be transformed with lots of exciting rides and stalls to choose from, so come along and enjoy this annual event. The fair will open on the afternoon of Thursday 15 September and will run until the evening of Saturday 17 September 2022.

As in previous years, this also means that there will be some changes to the normal traffic flow around the town:

Road Closures:

A Temporary Road Closure and Traffic Regulation Order will be in force from 7.00am on Wednesday 14 September at North Street, Wellington Street and Southern Road. The Cornmarket, Upper and High Street Road Closure will commence at 4pm, to assist town centre businesses and will end at 12 noon on Sunday 18 September 2022. This will restrict the entry of vehicles into the centre of Thame and parking will not be allowed on the highway, including pavements.  Any vehicles causing an obstruction will be removed.

Barriers will be in position at the following locations:

  • High Street at the junction with Bell Lane
  • Rooks Lane at the Upper High Street junction
  • North Street at the junction with Wellington Street
  • Nelson Street at the Upper High Street junction
  • Upper High Street at the junction with East Street

Permits:

Access will only be permitted by means of a permit which will be available to:

  • Residents who can prove that there is unrestricted off road parking within the grounds of their property.  
  • Businesses having off-street parking who confirm that all vehicles will be on private property at all times.

Permits will be issued for individual vehicles, so vehicle registration numbers will be required for all permits.  An application for a permit should be made at the Information Centre at the Town Hall as soon as possible.  

Other Information:

  • Other traffic management arrangements for this period will be as follows:
  • Delivery vehicles will be allowed into North Street for a limited time to either deliver or collect goods.  Town centre deliveries must adhere to Road Closure conditions.
  • Disabled parking will be in North Street for a limited period between 9.00am and 4.00pm.
  • The Taxi Rank will be located in North Street.
  • Diverted Traffic Routes: No parking at any time on Wellington Street and Southern Road.
  • Entry to Nelson Street, Broadwaters Avenue, or anywhere in that area of the town should follow the diversion signs.
  • The High Street and Upper High Street Car Parks will be closed from 4.00pm on Wednesday 14 September 2022.  Residents’ parking permits for these car parks will not be valid during the closure period. Please ensure that the area is clear of all vehicles including those of your family and visitors.
  • All street furniture, e.g. A-boards, tables and chairs etc., must be removed from the pavements of the town to ensure the safety of the public.
  • Visitors to the Fair will be allowed to park in the extended parking area at Southern Road Recreation Ground.

Other Roadworks:

  • We have been informed from one of the fibreoptic companies that the Traffic lights at the top of East Street/Park Street will be in place due to excavation works disturbing a property’s cellar and this is awaiting professional advice.
  • 3 bus stops will be temporarily suspended as part of some planned utility works on behalf of BT Openreach in Oxford Road (Thame) between Tuesday 13/09 and Thursday 15/09 from 0800 – 1800. There will also be multi-phase traffic lights in place during this period. 

Image credit: James Tipping

Date posted: Thursday 8 September 2022