Category Archives: weather

Wind blown bins, Recycled Christmas Trees, and Plaster Fall

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Wind blown bins
After this Saturday morning’s recycling collection, next week’s collection should be back to the normal Thursday or Friday schedule. A lot of the empty bins got blown over after a windy night, and quite a lot of rubbish before it was collected. Our green food bin disappeared completely – probably not down to the wind.
Recycling Christmas Trees
People had started leaving trees for recycling on the Market Place fairly early, and the barriers appeared to have been blown about overnight.
Plaster Fall
Andrew sent me a picture of some plaster that had fallen in the Strollin tunnel.
Recycling Christmas Trees
Soon after 9am the big tree was cut up, and its branches were recycled along with smaller trees – from the homes of Abingdon.
Plaster Fall
By 9am Police had cordoned off the Strollin Tunnel.

Jan 2015 Flood Fair report

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Flood Mitigation
A flood and bad weather fair was put on by the Town Council at both Long Furlong  and Preston Road Community Centre.
Flood Mitigation
There was an array of ingenious gadgets designed to protect homes and possessions from floods.

There was the chance to pick up leaflets about what to do in the event of a flood, or other types of bad weather.
Flood Mitigation
The Environment Agency were also there to explain more about the three flood mitigation schemes being looked at for Abingdon.

Central government is now putting more money in to flood prevention, but expects more money from local partners in return.

Feasibility studies have already been done on the two simpler Abingdon schemes: to reduce flooding from the River Stert, and the River Ock at St Helens Mill. They could get the go ahead for design in Spring 2015.

During 2015 data would also be gathered to model the River Thames (Sandford to south of Mapledurham) and the River Ock Storage Area.

A River Ock flood storage area is the long term flood prevention proposed for Abingdon. It would hold back water outside Abingdon and release it more slowly.

Modelling would first show whether a flood storage area on the River Ock is viable. If viable then a feasibility study could begin in 2016.

The River Ock scheme will be looked at separately from the Oxford scheme, and for either scheme to go ahead they must demonstrate they will not make flooding worse downstream.

Tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo blows into Abingdon

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Tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo
Hurricane Gonzalo caused widespread damage when it hit Bermuda last week.

By the time the tail end of the storm hit Abingdon around midday today there was still enough puff to give the Town Flag a good flap.
Tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo
On street corners – like the one pictured on Bath Street – leaves were spun round in little whirlwinds.
Tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo
And out on the riverside walks near Abingdon it would have been sensible to wear a hard hat. I saw branches and twigs coming down.

It was still breezy this evening, and temperatures had dropped.

Bank Holiday Weather!

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Bank Holiday Weather
On what was a wet August Bank Holiday, a new notice has appeared in the ex ER Goffs Shop to say Barber Open Soon.
Bank Holiday Weather
The water feature seems to send up fountains spontaneously whenever it is raining.

There were only a few families enjoying the outdoor facilities of the Abbey Meadow at about 11am this morning. One family were playing pitch and put; two young families were in the play area; but nobody was in the Open Air Pool.
Bank Holiday Weather
The rain got heavier as the morning progressed, and eased off again in the afternoon. Shops open this Bank Holiday were more the national chains than the local independents.