In a normal year I would see the Abingdon Lions at a number of community events. But not this year.
The money they raise from such events goes towards community projects. A lot of the defibrillators in town are funded by them and installed with their expertise.
Abingdon Lions have got more requests for help this year than usual but have had less chance to raise funds. People who would like to support the Abingdon Lions can do so through a justgiving page.
Andy sent me a link to a change to the Fairacres Retail Park (Phase 2) planning application (Reference: P20/V2608/FUL). The developers are asking that the first 2 units be allowed to open in March 2021, before work is completed on the service and car park for the remaining 3 units – they would open in August 2021.
The hoardings are down at the front of the redevelopment, and work is beginning on the service and car park area.
Before redevelopment, this part of the retail park contained: Homebase, Topps Tiles, AHF and Vineys. Topps Tiles have moved nearby to Colwell Drive. Vineys moved in with parent company Lee Longlands.
After redevelopment, Lidl was known to be taking the first unit. According to the change to the planning application, the second unit would be split between a gym and a Costa, and the last 3 units could be taken by the same company – if agreement is reached.
Driving home to Abingdon, after coming off the M4, there was a spectacular double rainbow above the A34. It stayed ahead of us, all the way, until we saw the new houses of Great Western Park, Didcot (no longer dominated by the Didcot Power Station cooling towers).
I have never seen a full rainbow for quite so long, or ever been so close to a rainbow. The arc in the sky appeared, closeby, in the spray thrown by passing cars.
Back home in Abingdon, there was bright sunshine at St Helen’s Wharf, and a quarter rainbow above Abingdon Bridge.
The Abingdon Community Larder is open every Friday at the Abingdon Carousel Family Centre, off Caldecott Chase ( OX14 5GZ ).
It is a Food Membership Scheme. From £3.50 a week members can choose from 10 food items in boxes and tins and jars, and as much fruit and vegetables as they want.
It is not means tested – open to all, and aims to help some people who are finding food too expensive.
The picture shows some of the helpers and produce before the doors opened today.
The food – that would otherwise go to waste because of reasons such as over supply, comes from supermarkets like Tesco and Asda
The larder is part of the charity SOFEA. They not only help stop food waste, but also provide training for young people who did not get the best out of education and need practical skills before getting into employment.
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What is available is different every week. An example of some of the foods on offer this week is shown here.
SOFEA have been helping people most affected during the lockdown, and reopened the doors of their larders to members in September. In Abingdon, after about 6 weeks they have around 25 members, and hope to double that number by Christmas.