Monthly Archives: July 2016

Swan Upping reports a downward trend in cygnet numbers

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Swan Upping
The swan upping boats arrived in Abingdon at around 5pm this afternoon after 5 days on the River Thames.
Swan Upping
This annual census of the swans has seen a decline in numbers in recent years. In 2016 I heard that 74 cygnets were counted, that compares with 83 cygnets in 2015 and 120 in 2014.

I have not seen the pair of swans with cygnets that were on the mill stream and near the lock earlier in the year. I do not know what happened to them.
Swan Upping
Thanks to Elizabeth for these pictures. I got there too late, because of work, and the excitement was over and the Royal toast had been made.

Elizabeth is putting on an exhibition on 1950s Abingdon over the week of Heritage Open Day in Abingdon (60 years since the Queen visited to re-open the museum). So if anybody has any pictures from that era please get in touch. Email backstreet60@gmail.com and I will pass on your details.

Announcing Open Day for Abingdon Guildhall Improvement Project

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Guildhall Plans
Abingdon on Thames Town Council are holding an Open Day about their latest plans for the Guildhall on Saturday 23th July 2016 . This is on the Abingdon Portal and on noticeboards round the town. So I thought I would also announce …

Let me tell you of the Guildhall
Its rooms for public use –
Some ancient and some modern
all fused without excuse.

One end has lots of concrete,
A nineteen sixties build
That doesn’t fit the heritage –
Of a hall for an ancient Guild.

New plans will be on display
that change the modern end
with a new glazed public piazza
to meet the latest trend.

The plans will also include the removal of the front external escape stair and front and rear concrete ramps. The main hall will have raked seating and cinematographic equipment, and a stage moved to the other end.

The Truth about Trident

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Great Britain and Trident
Bruce Kent was there at St Nicolas Church last night at the invitation of the Abingdon Peace Group.
Great Britain and Trident
Bruce introduced Tim Wallis, who has written a book on the arguments for and against keeping Trident, called ‘The Truth about Trident’. Tim said that none of the arguments for keeping Trident, even that of deterrence, stand up to scrutiny. His presentation was made on the day after parliament voted overwhelmingly to renew Trident.

I suspect that this could be another topic where MPs do not accurately reflect public opinion. Trident allows Britain to punch above its weight on the world stage, even though the United States provides nuclear missiles for our submarines, and has to replace them regularly.

CEG Consultation on 900 homes in North Abingdon

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North Abingdon Suburb Plans
On the hottest day of the year people queued for 20-30 minutes at Tilsley Park to take part in a consultation being carried out by developers CEG about housing on land north of Abingdon. Large maps emphasized some of the community benefits that the development could bring, including a new primary school, footpaths and cycle ways, sports pitches and wide open spaces. The development could also give a financial contribution to a full diamond interchange at Lodge Hill.

Information about the consultation is available at North Abingdon Housing Proposals. The developers envisage work starting on the 900 homes in 2018 and ending by 2028.