There are currently two bridges out of order in South Abingdon …
Walks across the River Ock are not possible at present because of Health and Safety grounds.
Another bridge in Southern town park is still out of order, and has been since January when it was damaged by a car fire.
Both bridges are the responsibility of the Vale of White Horse District Council.
The Ock Valley Walk is still walkable – with Wellington Boots. This picture shows where water from the upper Ock flows across the path to the lower stream. A little further downstream there is a weir where water is supposed to cross.
Unlike the River Thames with its vast flood plain, opposite Abingdon, the River Ock runs through quite a narrow channel. But at the point where the upper and lower streams meet things are probably safer now,
The picturesque bridge by St Helen’s Mill was pulled down because it was thought to impede the flow. St Helen’s Mill has also been tanked, and a simple wooden gate is put across to keep the Ock on track, and not sweeping round people’s homes..
After the Iron Bridge the Ock helps swell the Thames. There are 7 boats moored at St Helen’s Wharf just upstream from the Iron Bridge. The mooring is more secure than the soft ground upstream from Abingdon Bridge.
On Wednesday evening the Vale of White Horse District Council will vote on whether to change the name of Abingdon to Abingdon-On-Thames.
The motion will be decided during the same meeting that the council decides the budget for next year – so it could be a long evening.
The council say “there is no requirement for any public consultation” but they did issue a press release inviting the public to submit any views.
As a result they have 6 people responding in favour, including Nicola Blackwood MP who favours the “opportunity for Abingdon, to brand itself“.
There were 7 against.
There has been talk of mud on twitter this weekend and I became very aware of mud on the dog walk today …
The area that looks like the pigs’ play puddle is the pedestrian route to Tesco from Chaunterell Way.
The route was created when Tesco first opened in the early 1980s (corrected from 70s after comment). There is a picture in the library local studies section of a bridge at the Tesco end of the path being lowered into position in 1983. Not only is the path muddy a lot of the year, but the fence is falling down.