Parson Mead was built in 1967, and early on it had a nice row of shops: Greengrocer, Newsagent, Grocery, and Off Licence.

More recenlty the shops became a more 1980s/90s mix of Convenience Store, Video Shop, Newsagent, and Hairdresser.

Since most shoppers use the car nowadays, these shops probably lost trade as a result. The Colwell Drive relief road opened up a direct route to Tesco with its huge carpark to people from North Abingdon. And on the other side are the Peachcroft shops with their large carpark. The Parsons Mead shops are now turned into 2006 housing (exhibit A).

Read the estate agents blurb and you will be told here of “… a well presented property located in the North of Abingdon, offering good access to the A34 and local bus routes. The property has a refitted kitchen etc…”

It looks a much better area now than it did when the shops were looking derelict a few years back.

There is also the van of the Abingdon Breakaway Club. This is a social club that meets at the Guildhall for games quizzes live music and afternoon tea. The van is also used for outings and generally keeping up social contacts between people without cars, in the age of the car.