Thanks to Elizabeth for noticing this one…

There were trees in Roysse Court last week.

They are gone this weekend – part of the town council tidying up the area to give it a new look.

Next to go is likely to be the fountain installed by the Cowley Concrete Company. The company manufactured concrete-framed buildings, bridge sections, bricks and even fountains, and traded in Abingdon from the 1920s to the 1960s.

For almost a week much of Abingdon has experienced fluctuations in water pressure due to a burst water main in Culham. At its worst, last Wednesday, Abingdon School had to bring in portaloos.

Elsewhere bottled water was laid on as some houses were getting some odd smelling water caused by a compound used in lining the pipes.

During the week Thames Water diverting water from other sources while the water main was being repaired – causing fluctuating pressure. I gather water pressure has returned to normal in the last day or so.

I got an email 3 days ago from M … “On going on my regular Abingdon to Oxford Thames path walk last Sunday I was shocked and upset to see that all the old riverside trees from opposite Nuneham Park boathouse for some miles upriver have been cut down to stumps. Parts of the lovely river walk resembled a war zone or nightmare landscape. Cut branches and trunks had been left lying beside the path, some with buds that will now not develop and underfoot the mud has been churned up by the heavy vehicles that must have been used to do this. I have searched local papers and looked online to find out why this has happened but have been unable to find anything. I do not know if you know anything about this but feel that I cannot be the only person who has noticed or think it deserves a comment.”

I spoke with a dog walker, today. He said walking through these trees used to be so magical, but now they have been destroyed it looks quite bland. He says the trees overhanging the river need chopping back from time to time but not like this. People were shocked.

A lot of the trees are now stacked ready for collection.

Abingdon Lock is having maintenance work done this winter.

Two years ago the lock was emptied of water and the lock chamber was relined.

This winter the lock gates are being taken away and strengthened. The upper gates have already been done.

The lower gates have been taken away and will return before the end of the month.

As there are no boats and no floods this winter the Lock Keeper has been clearing the wild area behind the lock. He has been pollarding trees and making fences from the wood, and intends to create wild flower banks on that side.

It will be very interesting to see how it looks in the months to come.