Crime & Safety
Thame Farmers Auction Mart to move to new location
Thame Farmers Auction Mart has been granted planning permission by South Oxfordshire District Council to move its operations to a new, purpose-built site on the edge of Thame.
The relocation, expected to take around 12 to 18 months to complete, will secure the future of one of the South East’s most important livestock trading hubs and address longstanding concerns about congestion, noise and odour in the town centre.
Richard Roff, chairman of Thame Farmers Auction Mart, said: “We are delighted with South Oxfordshire District Council’s planning committee’s resolution to grant planning permission for the new livestock market site, subject to dealing with a number of planning conditions.
“Once these conditions are resolved this will secure the future of livestock trading in the South East at a time when a number of markets across the country have closed in recent years.”
The market has operated in Thame since the Middle Ages and moved to its current site on North Street in 1951.
Its relocation to land near Christmas Hill Business Park will create a modern, state-of-the-art facility designed to meet the needs of farmers, staff and the wider community.
Mr Roff said: “While the resolution to grant planning permission is a significant milestone, further work is required to deliver the planning consent.
“At present, the future use of the current market site remains uncertain, with a number of uses being considered by its owners South Oxford DC who have been supportive of the application for the new market.”
The project involves a partnership with W. Lamb Developments Ltd, who will deliver the commercial business units on part of the application site, which will help fund the project and are part of the application.
Mr Roff credited the contributions of Will Taylor, surveyor with Briggs & Stone, for his advice and guidance throughout the project.
The new market will feature covered pens and improved facilities for hauliers, with the potential for expanded operations and increased sales.
It is hoped the move will attract additional buyers and sellers and enable more operating days.
Thame was awarded its Market Charter in 1215 and has maintained an unbroken connection with livestock trading ever since.
The current mart is operated by shareholders who took over from South East Marts in April 2000.
The site employs 15 staff on market day.
Regular sales are held on Wednesdays for prime sheep, cull ewes, and rams, and on Fridays for store cattle and sheep.
Residents reported seeing the smoke early this evening (Tuesday, April 7) above the city centre and towards the Iffley area.
One local on X said: “What on EARTH is going on regarding the massive billowing CLOUD of BLACK SMOKE in central Oxfrod and greater Iffley area?”
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Chantelle Gunby posted a photograph of the large smoke cloud on the social media site and added: “Uhm? What’s on fire?”
Rod Hiles added: “I was just saying the same. Sirens are going off.”
The smoke has now largely dispersed as of 7.30 pm, with no confirmation as of yet on what caused the billowing to take place.
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has been approached for comment on the situation.
We will bring you an update on this incident as soon as we get more information.
Children’s channel CITV is being turned off for good, having launched in 1980.
The channel was home to hit shows like Art Attack, My Parents Are Aliens, Tots TV, and Fraggle Rock.
However, it has now been reported that CITV will be closed for good on April 10.
ITV is closing down CITV
CITV first began as Watch IT, then was rebranded as Children’s ITV and later shortened to CITV.
In 2006, its late-afternoon slot on ITV1 was axed as it got its own channel on Freeview but was still available on weekend mornings on ITV channels.
The CITV Freeview was later shut down and replaced by the streaming service ITVX Kids Hub on ITVX in 2023, with the weekend showings moving to ITV2.
It has now been claimed by a media account that the ITV2 showings will now be ending, marking the end to CITV after 42 years on air.
Reporting the claims, X account, Media Central UK, wrote: “In TV news, the CITV block on ITV2 is officially ending on 10th April. This really means the end of the iconic CITV brand that has been around for 42 years.
“Farewell CITV, this time for real.
In TV news, the CITV block on ITV2 is officially ending on 10th April. This really means the end of the iconic CITV brand that’s been around for 42 years.
Farewell CITV, this time for real. CBBC will have some of CITV’s programming while the rest will be under ITVX Kids pic.twitter.com/IFlNQx81D7
— Media Central UK (@MCUK_Official) April 3, 2026
“CBBC will have some of CITV’s programming, while the rest will be under ITVX Kids.”
Those who grew up with CITV have begun reminiscing on the TV channel and the shows it brought to audiences.
As one X user said, “Grizzly Tales for gruesome kids was awesome on CITV when I was a kid.”
Another former CITV watcher wrote: “End of an era …. I remember watching the Pokémon movies on this channel.”
Recommeded Reading
A third person said, “I feel bad for CITV’s closure as shows such as Horrid Henry, Rosie and Jim, Art Attack and Sooty (of course) put a smile on my face in my childhood and I had said goodbye to its TV channel too.”
ITV has been contacted for a comment.
What was your favourite show on CITV? Let us know in the comments below.
The Oxford Playhouse in Beaumont Street, Oxford, was set to host two shows of The Little Red Riding Hood, a reimagined version of the ballet for children by production company Northern Ballet.
Coming to the Oxford stage for just two days this week, performers and audiences were disappointed today, Tuesday, April 7, when two of the shows were cancelled.
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Performances at both 2pm and 4pm were called off by the theatre due to a power cut, with the schedule change announced at about 11.30am on Tuesday morning.
A spokesperson for the theatre said: “Unfortunately, due to a power cut, the performances of Little Red Riding Hood for today, Tuesday, April 7 at 2pm and 4pm, have been cancelled.
“Our Box Office team is reaching out to ticket holders of these performances, and we appreciate your patience at this time.
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“We know this news will be disappointing, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.
“At present, all other performances on Wednesday, April 8 are scheduled to go ahead as planned.”
The Little Red Riding Hood ballet, choreographed and directed by Mariana Rodrigues, s billed as a family-friendly performance featuring ‘colourful costumes, lively characters and playful storytelling’.
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