If the decision by the Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Environment at 10:30 on 9th October is to allow the replacement of one badly sited Pelican Crossing with two badly sited Pelican Crossings, on Marcham Road and Ock Street, then 159 houses will be allowed to be built on the field off Drayton Road, and that could be the end of the 2 year battle between the developers and local people.

If he decides against the pelican crossings there is likely to be another legal challenge by the developers and the battle will go on.

At the first hearing to decide these Pelican Crossings, there were 11 speakers against –
4 residents,
2 Abingdon Town Councillors,
3 Vale District Councillors,
2 Oxfordshire County Councillors.

They argued that the issue was one of safety of school children and air quality for all. The decision went their way but Oxfordshire County Council failed to present enough evidence for their decision and so it has gone for a re-hearing.

This time there will be 12 speakers against:
5 residents (one also being a Town Councillor),
2 Abingdon Town Councillors,
2 Vale District Councillors,
3 Oxfordshire County Councillors.
and 1 speaker for – an expert witness for the developer wanting to build the 159 houses.

At the last minute, and too late to go in the Officers Report, the developers have presented a raft of new evidence, including legal opinions, and safety audits etc. Presumably this is ammunition so that if the decision does goes against them they will have grounds to appeal again.

P.S The Cabinet Member for Environment was minded to allow the pedestrian lights. The developers were delighted. Local people felt let down again by another decision that ignored what local people wanted.

The 3 southern cooling towers of Didcot ‘A’ Power Station got blown down at 5am this morning. The other 3 will get taken down more slowly. Here are views during and after the demolition. The same views were shown on yesterday’s blog before the event.



1. From a field just outside Drayton

2. From the Entrance to the old Didcot ‘A’ Power Station.

3. From Milton Road, Didcot

4. From the new nature area on the reclaimed landfill near Peep-o-day Lane.

5. From Margaret Brown Gardens.

The 3 southern cooling towers of Didcot ‘A’ Power Station will get blown down between 3-5am tomorrow morning. I’ll try to show these views again tomorrow mornings, or as close as, to show the difference.

1. From a field just outside Drayton

2. From the Entrance to the old Didcot ‘A’ Power Station.

3. From Milton Road, Didcot

4. From the new nature area on the reclaimed landfill near Peep-o-day Lane.

5. From Margaret Brown Gardens.