Bank Closes


This Abingdon bank has closed.

Back in February came the news that the company would stop lending. “Losses from loans made to lower-income consumers made its business model unsustainable.” Then came the news that they were trying to raise money by selling more shares to keep the business going. Since then bits of the business have been sold to raise capital, and now the really big news – The Abingdon branch has closed.

Random Jottings


Crimes of Passion by Joe Orton will be on at the Unicorn Theatre next week from Wed 16th – Sat 19th July (8pm start). The Old Gaol Theatre Company site has the details.

Ms Indiana Jones was out with her trowel promoting an Open Day at the Romana-British dig near Marcham on Sunday 20th July from 10 am – 4pm. They have a web site with a map but I’m told its off the A338 behind Noah’s Ark.

In shop windows: posters say that Abingdon Town Boxing Club are holding a fete on the Market Place next Saturday to raise money for the new gym in South Abingdon. Tomorrow the boxing club are taking part at Play 2 Give at Oxford City F C.

Tithe Farm and Ladygrove Newsletter


The Tithe Farm and Ladygrove newsletter plopped onto the mat this morning bringing with it concerns about kids riding motorbikes round the fields behind Ladygrove, and asking for information about who had scratched ‘XXX loves YY’ on a car. It had a report on ‘My year as Mayor’ by last years mayor, and a page long report on options to protect Abingdon from future floods.

As the rain fell all yesterday, work to waterproof St Helen’s Mill is evident.

Other less costly options that are more like to happen include:

  • Remove the unused St Helen’s Mill bridge – a bottleneck.
  • Install flap valves on all pipes running into the Ock

More expensive options that are less likely to happen include:

  • Build embankments and walls along the River Ock floodplain from the A34 to the Drayton Road Bridge
  • Flood storage area upstream of the A34

Another option which could get the go ahead in ten years or so should the Abingdon Reservoir get built:

  • Use the reservoir emergency relief channel to the River Thames to divert excess River Ock water, bypassing Abingdon.