Author Archives: Backstreeter

1200 houses at Dalton Barracks to be added to the Vale Local Plan 2031

The release of the airfield and Dalton Barracks by the Ministry of Defence has provided a ‘Brown Field’ site to help meet the needs for new homes in the Vale of White Horse District, and Oxford City nearby. Oxford has not met the new housing quota set by central government.

1,200 houses could be built at Dalton barracks. That would increase the size of Shippon 3 or 4 times. Shippon is the closest village to Abingdon. It is separated from Abingdon by the width of the A34, and has army housing and the barracks, with the older village nearby,

including the Prince of Wales pub and St Mary Magdalene church.

The part 2 of the Vale plan also includes 600 houses near Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor, and smaller housing developments in Marcham and East Hanney. The plan will be ratified in 2018.

Vineyard Resurfaced

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Vineyard Resurfaced
The potted, and cracked surface of the Vineyard has been replaced by a brand new road surface. The ‘sensual’ oil based smell of fresh tarmacadam lingered on the morning after.

Crisp white lines have replaced the faded junctions that were there a week ago.

The road painters had added some flourishes that were not there before.

Last night, soon after the work began, on the final night of the 5 night closure, a lot of vehicles still sped down the Oxford Road and did a U turn at the final Road Closed sign. The diversion was by Bath Street and up Stratton Way to join Stert Street.

This is my entry to the 1st of October City Daily Photo Theme Day on the word ‘Sensual’. More appropriate entries than the smell of fresh tar can be viewed here.

Abingdon Blog Slideshow September 2017

Local Excellence Market

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The Local Excellence Market was on in Abingdon this morning. The Town Crier was there to announce what else was happening in town – possibly the flower festival at St Michael’s Church, and the Dunmore Pre-School 50th anniversary. I was too high up to hear.

The trees are turning a deeper shade of amber as September draws to a close.
Local Excellence Market
I saw the first adverts for the Christmas Extravaganza. After S Club 3 last year, The Honeyz will be performing this year. For the first time, brochures will go to every house in Abingdon.

Enjoying the views from the County Hall roof was a lady from Australia. After three days at the Crown and Thistle recovering from the flight over, she will be going to Wales and then Scotland. She stopped here because Abingdon is England’s oldest continually inhabited town and she like it here, and the people.
Local Excellence Market
She had bought a T towel of a fox from Claire Cross’s stall and was raving about Claire’s pictures.

When I passed by a few minute later Claire said that she still had a couple of fox T towels but no more donkeys – apart from the display copy.