It was a hot day with temperatures up to 32°C. Not a cloud in the sky.
The hole in Bridge Street was filled in yesterday and tarmacked today, with the temporary traffic lights now removed – to the relief of drivers.
At Abbey Meadow, the open-air pool was brightened by sun umbrellas and people with beach towels.
Over by the splash pad, children ran screaming through the fountains of water
The town began to have a holiday feel.
Staff were preparing the Abbey Meadow Outdoor Pool in Abingdon for an early opening for the current heatwave. This weather-dependent trial opening is the first – others may follow, depending on conditions and staff availability.
Better UK, who manage the pool, are offering this early opening at no extra cost to Vale of White Horse District Council. Booking times are available on the Better UK website. The first sessions run from Thursday, 19 June to Tuesday, 24 June 2025.
The Abbey Meadow splash pad and kiosk — also operated by Better UK on behalf of the council — opened at the end of May. Full seasonal opening of the outdoor pool begins on 19 July to coincide with the school holidays.
Councillor Andy Crawford, Cabinet Member for Leisure Facilities, said: ”This is such welcome news – and I’m sure it will be positively received by everyone who looks forward to enjoying the pool in the warm weather.”
Thermal covers are in place overnight to allow the water to be warmed and retain the heat.
A hole – described by one passer-by as ‘the size of a plate’ — led to the partial closure of the top of Bridge Street on Saturday.
Temporary traffic lights were installed on both Stert Street and Bridge Street to manage the resulting single-lane traffic, causing delays. A yellow board was placed over the hole, with barriers blocking access to both the pavement and the affected section of road.
Another passer-by was baffled that such a small hole could cause so much disruption. ‘Sinkhole? That’s a joke!’ said someone else.
Workmen from Oxfordshire County Council were on site today, Tuesday. They have excavated a larger section to investigate the cause of the subsidence and covered the hole again — at least for now.
Last night, the church twinning groups gathered at St Edmund’s for a closing service. Among those present were visitors from Sint-Niklaas (Belgium), Argentan (France), and Schongau (Germany), along with host families, organisers, and local church leaders.
After the service, there was time to chat and enjoy refreshments together and the chance to try out handbells.
The visitors (from all three towns but coordinated by Sint Niklaas) presented a painting they had purchased: a view of St Helen’s Church and wharf by George Vicat Cole. Executed in oil and pencil on board, the work dates to around 1880, a period when Cole devoted himself to a series of Thames views from source to sea. It is a very generous gift.