This evening there was a meeting of the South Abingdon Residents Plan group – chaired by the Neil Boston, and attended by residents and councillors from South Abingdon.

On Saturday, at Reynolds Way shops, there will be a playbus, mobile skate park, free refreshments, information from local groups, and the start of the Planning for Real model for the area. The map based Planning for Real model has been used in other places to capture the aspirations of villages or part of towns – to find out what people want for their area and from that produce a plan for where they live.

As with all things it will only work if people get involved.

There are some things local councils no longer have the resources to tackle. The County Council is responsible for clearing weeds but unless the weeds block or impede access it is unlikely they will act. So action falls to the local town or parish council or to local people.

The path between St Michael’s Avenue and Park Road had become very overgrown. The path used to be regularly weeded by a local resident, but since he passed away it has got a bit out of hand.

So a small band of local residents embarked on a bit of street gardening today and have cleared the path of weeds, removing the graffiti from the neighbouring fence

– filling up 3 wheelie bins.

Thanks to Iain for sending this. He adds “Hopefully everyone will agree the path now looks much better. Thank you to Megan, Geoff, Lucy, Rosie, Hope and Toby for all their help.”