It looks like building work is about to start in the fields to the north of Abingdon. The earth movers are making a road to take lorries from the Wootton Road.
There is no sign of the south facing slips roads on the A34. They are funded by this building work to try to prevent Abingdon’s local traffic getting worse.
Here is a picture of the Drayton Road in South Abingdon at the weekend, where housing was put in without road improvements.
I walked the dog at 11 last night and I can confirm that walking towards the double roundabouts from Drayton there was zero traffic issue. Half hour later, in the other direction there was also zero traffic.
This concurs with other dates. Winter, summer and now autumn. Also different times, 9.30pm, 11pm, and 5am.
I think we can see, with this evidence based approach, that there is no traffic issue in this part of town.
(Any traffic that there MIGHT be is entirely because of Brexit, and so outside the remit of my research).
I am happy to offer my con-sultanscy on this to The Veil (or whichever council) for a guaranteed 50% less than any other con-sultan might.
You can contact me at “Con-sultans. Putting the CON back in to consultancy”.
No sign if the promised work on the diamond interchange in North Abingdon. People believe it is another empty promised just to get planning for umteen more houses.
…saying what you need to say to get something through planning is totally different from doing what you said to get something through planning.
We know this Janet…
Layla Moran was voted in on one single issue – the A34 junction.
…saying what you need to say to get … into power is totally different from doing what you said to get … into power…
I agree that a diamond interchange would be helpful and should be linked to the proposed building in North Abingdon, however I think saying Layla Moran was voted in on that sole issue is rubbish.
I for one voted for her and whilst I think she is a good local MP, my primary motivation had nothing to do with local issues. I suspect I am not alone in that.
‘Good local MP’.
I’d be interested to know what she has actually done for the town. I’ve asked the question previously, but funnily enough, I’ve not been overwhelmed with replies?
I hear you Iain. However I voted for her too, and my primary motivation had everything to do with local issues. I suspect I am not alone in that.
I do not agree that the diamond interchange should be linked to any development in Abingdon. I think that there is justification for the diamond interchange to help alleviate the issues we have already and suit the level of demand crying out for it – as is.
Our infrastructure is inadequate to support the level of development we already have. The diamond interchange will barely allow us to keep pace with the current level of demand. At best, building more infrastructure might give us a chance to “catch-up”. However, building yet MORE development and the promise of the interchange will just keep us one step behind – again.
I have just asked a County Councillor for an update on timescales for Lodge Hill – will post here when I get it. Last thing we were told (pre-Covid) was that there would be a Planning application this summer, construction would start in July 2021 and completion due in May 2022. The first of those hasn’t happened yet so it will be good to know what the new schedule is.
The 200 houses at the Wootton Road end have been approved and from those photos it looks as if work there has started. For the larger development at the Eastern end, the only approval that has been applied for – and granted – is for work on the access road, so it will be a long time before there are any houses there.
Hester,
I asked Oxfordshire County Council for an update on Lodge Hill last month and was told that construction would start next spring with a finish date of summer 2022. When I asked if COVID had affected anything and that nothing had been said to the public I didn’t get a reply.
Like you say, it would be helpful if someone can give an official update as there seem to be varying stories of what and what hasn’t been approved and when (If ever!) it will be built.
If you are fed up of being stuck in traffic.
Get on your bike.
You’d still be part of the traffic…
But you wouldn’t be stuck
Anyone who voted for Layla Moran only have themselves to blame. She is nothing but a “yes” person to whoever is listening and only has her own career growth in mind. She backs any current ‘trend’ that will get her votes and the chance to appear on TV backing whatever the latest hot topic is whether helping homeless immigration, backing climate change protesters (yes the same ones I witnessed drinking from plastic bottles), removing statues etc etc.
One person cannot get our road system sorted, it doesn’t work like that. However she does not remain steadfast on her statements, instead moving straight on to the next trend.
She is our local politician and has a total disregard for the general working population of Abingdon. I am dumbfounded by the amount of supposedly sensible people who keep voting for her!
Dino Marks. If you are looking to allocate blame, always look to those who ultimately hold power. Layla Moran has influence, but it’s the ruling party who ultimately decide on these matters.
Not me Dino…I put a tick in everyone’s box. I ain’t stupid. 🙂
Dino, you’re sounding like a Dinosaur with those thoughts, change it a slow progress and we’re already in the greatest mass extinction ever.
We have to prepare our world for future generations, I’ve seen first hand the devastation of the tundra where I’ve seen the ice flow with water, our world is already saturated so that water has no where to go but to where it harms biodiversity.
Those plastic environmental fans are similar to Abingdonians who support Chelsea rather than one of our teams. I do admit that a few become true fans despite the geographical heresy and likewise I expect some of these youngsters to learn too and start drinking in more sustainable containers.
I try collect rainwater myself (large hats, buckets etc) but I’ve recently moved onto this https://youtu.be/kazEAzGWuIc. Mind the link if it’s not appropriate but I’m very passionate about rainwater collection.
-Howard out 🙏
I always remember that when the “blue team” got control of all 3 tiers of local council and parliament (2010-11) a prominent local councillor told me “now we are in power from Parish to Parliament we will really be able to get things done”. We had that situation till 2017 and I struggle to think of any memorable achievements for the area in that time.
That is the background against which we should assess LM – and not only is she not in the ruling party, she does not even have a sizeable party around her – a lone voice can only do so much!
https://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/18809979.new-home-nightmare-ruins-didcot-familys-dreams-house-falls-apart/
Yes, I saw that Daniel – it is terrible that the big developers can get away with such shoddy work and there is no excuse for it. The Vale (and presumably SODC) have some very good standards which developers are supposed to adhere to in terms of design and quality but they don’t seem to enforce them.
It is easy to whip up public sentiment as to whether or not these developments should be built, but it is equally important that when they are approved the developers and the planners are held to account on the detail: do the plans – and subsequently the actual build – adhere to local and national requirements? and if not there should be consequences.
But it takes time and knowledge to keep on top of all of that…..
Developers can have clauses built into contracts that they must do such and such, but as we have seen in the past, the Councils are powerless and toothless to do anything about it when the developers renege on those “promises”! Far better to insist that the “promise” is carried out first before a brick is laid! If not carried out within a timescale they forfeit the contract. Or is that too simple?