Abingdon Lock chamber is being renovated.

John sent me a picture of some heavy bags of gravel being lowered into the chamber at the far end.

Barriers are there to stop more water getting in. Floods may have hampered progress but work is underway again.

The lock chamber floor is now covered with bags of gravel. (More pictures soon of the renovation.)

I hear that the first people moved into the Old Gaol a week or so ago. You can see that there are now rising bollards to control access to the underground carpark

The Old Gaol website says “Providing superb contemporary accommodation alongside a café and restaurant quarter – the first of its kind in Abingdon – the Old Gaol will remain very much in the hearts and lives of Abingdon’s residents as well as those lucky enough to live in the new development itself.”

We hope they enjoy living in Abingdon and don’t only get to visit the shopping centres listed on the Old Gaol website, namely
Bicester Village and Swindon Designer Outlet.

In the field adjoining the one with the deer shown yesterday, plans for the development of 160 dwellings were received by our district council (VWHDC) two weeks ago. Residents in Virginia Way and Lucca Drive should soon be notified as they are affected directly.

During the public consultation the developers heard complaints about the effect of extra traffic on the already congested Drayton Road, and Ock Street; the effect on flooding, and wildlife.

Responses to the planning application should be made by 28th November via http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/java/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ApplicationDetails&REF=P12/V2266/FUL where you can also read the traffic survey, bat survey, tree survey etc. etc.

The developers do argue that since VWHDC has no properly agreed local housing plan to meet government targets then the national objective to boost provision for housing (called National Planning Policy Framework) should take precedence.