Traffic Mitigation will be successful if Traffic is no worse than before

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Two pedestrian crossings are replacing one crossing here in Abingdon. A developer came up with the scheme, and a planning inspector gave it the thumbs up, and so now it is nearly built.
2nd crossing
The 2nd replacement pedestrian crossing, at the top of Ock Street, has caused a lot of traffic problems while being built. And has made it more difficult for pedestrians to cross the roads.
2nd crossing
It also caused a lot of controversy before being built. It is being put in place to allow 158 dwellings to be built on Drayton Road, and should ensure traffic problems are no worse, after the additional housing, than they were before.
2nd crossing
Local people wanted no more developments in South Abingdon without better infrastructure. Local people argued that the development was in the wrong place but that did not sway the planning inspector.

Battle of Britain remembered

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Battle of Britain remembered
The Sisters of Swing sang at Abingdon Royal British Legion on Sunday to entertain people taking part in the Battle of Britain Classic Car Parade.
Battle of Britain remembered
The cars drove round Abingdon visiting “RAF Abingdon” and saluting the Lodge Hill Spitfire before returning to the Royal British Legion.
Battle of Britain remembered
Today (September 15th 2015) marked the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Heritage Open Days – Sunday

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Heritage Open Days - Sunday
At 11am on Sunday morning, the bells of St Nicolas were ringing, and the Town Crier was ringing his bell, and the dogs, who have very sensitive ears, were not enjoying the walk – yet.
Heritage Open Days - Sunday
Patrick, who led the Boundary Walk, made himself heard over the Bells of St Nics.
Heritage Open Days - Sunday
Pat Bryden organises the walks on the Sunday of Heritage Weekend, and some got overbooked. An extra walk was laid on for those who would otherwise have been disappointed – Hester volunteered to lead a second Abingdon Abbey Walk.
Heritage Open Days - Sunday
Residents of East St Helen Street, and round the Albert Park, and 3 Stert Street, and Oxfam in Stert Street, had put out interesting displays.

Last year the Museum put on the WWI commemoration event on the Market Place, and this year we remembered Victorian times, inspired by the Albert Park Residents Association who produced their book – 150 years after the Prince Albert Monument was unveiled.

So what next in 2016? It will be 50 years since England won the World Cup for one thing.

Balalaika Quartet in Abingdon

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Balalaika Quartet
On Saturday evening there was a unique opportunity to see the Russian Balalaika Quartet, Karavai, in Abingdon. Thy came thanks to George Haslam, who has so many musical contacts. They performed at the Royal British Legion, just after the 10pm Meat draw, having sped over from a concert in Dorchester.

Their leader asked through their interpreter “What is this instrument?”

The audience hazarded a guess … “Balalaika?”

The Balalaika has just three strings, two of them the same.
Balalaika Quartet
The music produced by such a simple instruments was amazing. The quartet began with Russian folk songs, then played Russian arrangements of songs from round the world, including an Irish Ballad, and Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles.

We sat at the front table and, when they ended their half hour performance, were moved to stand up, like X Factor judges, acknowledging a simply incredible, and very moving, performance.
Balalaika Quartet
Pictured above are the interpreter, the Balalaika Quartet, and George Haslam (who played baritone sax before they arrived) and Steve Kershaw (who played double bass with George).

Karavai are here from the Russian City Perm, in the Urals – twinned with Oxford. They would  love to play at the Liverpool Festival.