The Saturday that burns a hole in the Calendar

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Looking for something to do in Abingdon this Saturday? It’s Heritage Weekend! Check out the leaflets at the information stall on the Market Place for a full schedule of events. And if you have done Heritage Weekend lots of times then there are some new things:

* Relive the iron age in the Abbey Buildings.
* Join the Abingdon Artists competition to paint or draw Abingdon and visit St Nic’s Church on Saturday afternoon to see the results.
* Kimber House – MG Car Club Museum – will be open,
* The Old Ticket Office, Culham, will be open,
* The Roysse Room has an exhibition called Connected Abingdon.

* At Unit 24, Bury Street, some enthusiasts were setting up a model of the Abingdon Branch Line and that will be open over the weekend.

The theme in 2024 is “Routes, Networks, Connections. “

See https://www.abingdonheritage.org.uk/ for a fuller programme.

Over the last three or four years, Heritage Weekend has not clashed with Ride and Stride but this Saturday it does. For all those ride and striders, or people sitting in or outside churches to welcome ride and striders, there should still be time for Heritage visits.

The Abibinit! riverside litter pick is also happening.

This second Saturday of September could get very busy. Probably best not to try and do everything or you’ll burn a hole in the calendar.

Treat yourself to a Car Free Day

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Somebody leaned out of his car window at Wilsham Road and asked ‘Do you know the cause of the hold up?”

One.Network indicates that there are temporary traffic lights by the McDonalds roundabout . The hold up could be a knock on effect of that.
The Living Streets website says that the ‘22nd September is World Car Free Day, when all around the world, towns and cities allow people to experience streets free of motor traffic as well as making travel easier for those who rely on private vehicles for health and mobility reasons.‘

An Evening with Kate Atkinson in Abingdon

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Mostly Books put out the blackboard a few weeks ago to say they were welcoming one of the UKs most celebrated and loved authors, Kate Atkinson. The audience was at Trinity Church, Abingdon.

Tickets sold out quickly.

Kate Atkinson was there to read from her new Jackson Brodie novel, Death at the Sign of the Rook, and answer questions from Aileen from the Mostly Books team, and wide ranging questions from members of the audience.

Kate’s hand injury meant she could only sign books using a stamp, but she compensated with friendly chats that made each fan’s visit memorable.

Government approves plan for Abingdon Reservoir despite local opposition

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Last week we got the news that Thames Water has received government approval for its Water Resource Management Plan (WRMP), which outlines its strategy to ensure a sustainable water supply for the Southeast of England over the next 50 years.

The plan includes two major infrastructure projects: the South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO, also known as the Abingdon Reservoir) and the Teddington Direct River Abstraction project. In addition to these infrastructure projects, Thames Water will implement measures to reduce water leakage and reduce customer demand, such as installing smart meters and promoting water conservation.

The next major step for Thames Water is to apply for a Development Consent Order (DCO) – required for the construction of the SESRO.

Local opposition to the project remains strong. The Group Against Reservoir Development (GARD) has vowed to continue fighting the plans until the DCO goes for approval, and may seek a judicial review.

The Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC) has expressed disappointment that the Secretary of State for the environment has not taken up their offer of a meeting to address their concerns. Councillor Bethia Thomas, the VWHDC leader, said ‘We remain opposed to these proposals, and this news makes taking a stand against this much more challenging, but we will continue to do what is within our limited power.’