Today they were chopping down the big hedge that has grown up in front of Abingdon and Witney College to reveal the refurbished building behind.
Thanks to Helen and Craig for separately letting me know.
Craig said “You might want to get down to Abingdon College this morning – those hideous conifers are coming down!“.
By lunchtime, when I got there, it was nearly all gone.
Back to what it looked like when I did my Tech. Drawing O level there in 1964. (You could find space in the car park in those days)
It would be interesting to know if they plan to landscape and provide some screening in order to distract such a large building opposite the housing along there.
It would also be good if some action could be taken to stop people driving across the grassed areas to park in their gardens. The whole area is being spoiled and looks a mess in the bad weather. In particular some bollards should be installed at the top of the footpath on Borough Walk to stop people driving their cars along as a short cut to St Mary’s Green!
I am the Treasurer of the Abingdon Good Neighbour Scheme and we are always looking for ways to bring our message to a wider audience. We would like to get our website listed on your blog please.
http://www.neagns.co.uk
Thank you.
Site added to links at site. Thanks for the info.
Elaine, I agree about the grass verges. An awful mess in wet weather. Since this area is within the ward I represent as a District and Town councillor I took photos last year and sent them to Vale and County councils’ officers with a plea to do something about sorting out parking and protecting verges.
After a site visit various solutions were agreed would work – including providing more, and better placed – parking places – but nothing has come of them as yet.
I m pretty sure planning permission for the college work came with a requirement to provide landscaping.
Firstly, I think the work to the college looks amazing and really lifts the area with the removal of the giant hedge.
But, I totally agree that a solution needs to be put in place to stop the damage by residents driving over the grass verges opposite the college. A number of the homes off the Northcourt Road do have actually have parking access to the rear of the properties which could be used. However not all the homes have.
There have been at least two planning applications from these homes in question for driveways across the grass verge and proper parking provision on their front gardens, in both cases the applications were refused by VWHDC! So although I find the mess unpleasant VWHDC has stood in the way of a possible solution.
Unfortunately many homes have more than one vehicle (not ours I hasten to add) and residents need to park them somewhere. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one annoyed by the mess and it’s great to see it discussed here.I hope a suitable solution is found ASAP.
PS, I also notice cars are starting to park on the green spaces adjacent to Darrell Way and St Mary’s Green!