After a summer closure for strengthening, tiling, and grouting, the indoor pool has re-opened today at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre.

New foundations are being laid to expand the gym building that should be completed in December – part of a £1.7m investment.

In the Community Freespace (opposite Samuels) there was a football display. Oxford City FC were letting people know they give opportunities for people of all ages and abilities who want to play football. For example the Oxford City casuals are a member of the Berks Bucks and Oxfordshire inclusive (BOBi) league that allows disability teams to play each other.

There was a sunny day in town. I noticed a number of rainbow flags in shop windows. The Abingdon rainbow movement has taken off while we were away.

There are rumours that Abingdon Town FC have folded, as they had not re-registered in the North Berks League this season, and the grass is not cut at a time when most teams are playing friendlies before the start of a new season.

The club were founded in 1870, making it the oldest club in Oxfordshire. Until recently they were playing in the semi-professional Isthmian League and the Hellenic League Premier division.

Their Culham Road ground often floods, repeatedly causing damage to floodlights and pitch and buildings. Two years ago they relegated themselves to the North Berks League, to make ends meet. So it could be that has not helped contain costs, and they have called it a day. But we will see.

For more on what could have been Abingdon Town FC’s last match read Laurence Reade’s blog post Fade Out.

Better took over running the leisure centres in the Vale of White Horse district last year. They already run a lot of the leisure facilities in London and are taking over more facilities round the country from Somerset to Newcastle and Belfast.

Now both the VWHDC and Better are investing in work on a major refurbishment to the White Horse and Tennis Centre.

Gym equipment is being replaced, and work is underway on the gym changing rooms. The gyms are still operational throughout with some areas cordoned off from time to time.

Repairs and refurbishment are also happening to the swimming pool and changing area. During that period the swimming pool is empty and swimming lessons are at the Abbey Meadow Outdoor Pool.

There is also breaking news that as the Outdoor pool is coming to the end of its working life that it will be rebuilt. So plans for that should develop in the next year or so. That is in addition to the £500K+ already being invested to improve the Abbey Meadow play areas, and changing facilities announced earlier.