Large houses turning into small houses

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These neighbouring houses on the Marcham Road are currently used for education. The buildings are too big for your average family home and so have found other uses – first business and now education. But as the need for housing grows they could become housing again on a smaller scale.
House 1
The one that was the Radcliffe Publishing Company until two years ago now houses a nursery. That nursery moved in 2012 from another large house not far away on the Faringdon Road in Abingdon. Before the plans for the nursery the landlords had previously got planning permission to change the house to flats with smaller units of housing behind. I don’t know if that will happen now the nursery has moved in, but it could be still an option.
House 2
Next door is a school described as ‘Outstanding’ by Oftsed for young students with dyslexia.

The Landlord has recently obtained planning permission to convert that particular house back to housing, with extra housing behind.

But that will not happen quite yet. The school had the painters in over summer. And the school has an agreement with the landlord that they can stay until they find somewhere better. But the growing demand for housing means that large houses like these two have the option to become houses again – split up into flats hiding new small houses behind.

Summer’s lease hath all too short a date

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Summer is almost over and schools are going back. The holidays began well and the Abingdon Outdoor Pool became very popular until the second week of August when the weather became more typically mixed.
Blooms
The blooms in Abingdon this summer have added colour as they always do, thanks to the town and district councils who still see them as important.
Blooms
Nothing very different from previous summers with a mixtures of hanging baskets
Blooms
and flowers beds. It has been pointed out by some that there are no blooms in the Abbey Shopping Centre this year. That would be for Scottish Widows to decide as they run the precinct.
Blooms
One bed that was different this year was near the Outdoor Pool – planted by the Carbon Cutters with flowers to feed bees. I took a picture of it being planted on the day the Open Air Pool opened. Today was the last chance for a swim in the outdoor pool and the sunflowers have fed lots of bees.

Abingdon Local Excellence Market – In The Pink

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In The Pink
Today on the Market Place there was a local excellent market. Good to see Beyond Bubbles there. Their shop closed but they live on!
In The Pink
The Old Farmhouse Bakery from Steventon, just 3 miles from Abingdon, was also there.
In The Pink
It was a glorious day.
In The Pink
The Market did well. The Abingdon Carbon Cutters were there as usual making apple juice.
In The Pink
There were a wide variety of local apples. Many you would never see in a supermarket.
In The Pink
Not 2 Shabby had a stall at the Local Excellent Market. Their craftwork is often pink.

On the 1st Month I try to join in with the City Daily Blogs Theme – September 1st is Pink!

Car Keying

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Car Keying
East St Helen Street is one of the most idyllic streets. But a couple of nights back a large number of cars got keyed. That is where a sharp key or coin is used to scratch vehicles.

A scratch takes a second to do but causes the car owner hours of grief and money to repair.

I remember back in the 60s, when I was at primary school, our head mistress told the whole school off because a car had been scratched in a nearby road. She did not want our school’s reputation tarnished.

Why do some people scratch other people’s cars?