The town centre end of the Ock valley walk looked very different at the weekend. Willow trees had been cut severely and the sheltered housing on the other side is no longer screened by trees.
The contractors not only slashed the trees but also churned up the ground into a horrible mess.
In the field adjoining the one with the deer shown yesterday, plans for the development of 160 dwellings were received by our district council (VWHDC) two weeks ago. Residents in Virginia Way and Lucca Drive should soon be notified as they are affected directly.
During the public consultation the developers heard complaints about the effect of extra traffic on the already congested Drayton Road, and Ock Street; the effect on flooding, and wildlife.
Responses to the planning application should be made by 28th November via http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/java/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ApplicationDetails&REF=P12/V2266/FUL where you can also read the traffic survey, bat survey, tree survey etc. etc.
The developers do argue that since VWHDC has no properly agreed local housing plan to meet government targets then the national objective to boost provision for housing (called National Planning Policy Framework) should take precedence.
During the summer I could not walk to the field beyond Overmead in South Abingdon because of tangled vegetation.
Today I could and a deer stood there gazing at us before bounding away into the cover.
People living on Overmead probably see deer all the time but it made my day.
We drove out of Abingdon towards Culham on the A415, then drove on old military tracks and rutted farmtracks to Culham Park – just over the River Thames from Abingdon and well known for Moto X.
There were fair ground amusements, food stalls with long queues, slack-line balancing, and in one marquee a drum circle. I gather the Hot Air Balloon ‘night glow’ had not been possible because of conditions but there was a laser show.
Just before the firworks, archers shot flaming arrows to try to get the bonfire started, but it took somebody with a flaming torch – Olympic style – to ignite the pile with Guy Fawkes on top.
Money raised goes to Help The Heroes. If I remember right this is the same event that happened for one year in the Abbey Meadows, since when it has been at Culham Park.
Before that there was a large firework event at Dalton Barracks – although that could have been a different organisation.
(The 2nd Abingdon Scouts fireworks – next Saturday – has been the same as long as I remember.)