Abingdon Weir Walkway Warnings

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Water Water
The Environment Agency said in early October that the weir walkway will remain open until river flows increase, but the supporting structure still needs refurbishment to reach full strength. Because of this, the walkway remains at risk of temporary closure during high flows or when construction work begins.
Water Water
Today there are multiple signs warning that the weir walkway is closed, with river levels now at their highest since that announcement was made.
Water Water
And when you get close the weir walkway is closed.

For anyone who will miss seeing the rush of water over the weir, here is a short video taken a couple of days ago.

River Water on Rye Meadow and Hales Meadow in Abingdon

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Water Water
The level of the River Thames in Abingdon has been slowly rising over the last four or five days.
Water Water
It has not flooded Rye Meadow completely, but has spread some way across and created pools.
Water Water
On the cricket ground at Hales Meadow, pools are large enough to give reflections of the cricket pavilion. Instead of its former white exterior, the pavilion now has cladding. I’m not sure when that happened.
Water Water
Nearby is the ground of Abingdon Town FC, said to be the 24th oldest football club in the world, according to footballhistory.org. The familiar sign by the ground looks overgrown, which makes me wonder what is the current state of play?

Long standing safety issue on footbridge

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safety issue
There are four separate reports on FixMyStreet relating to the deteriorating surface of the footbridge over the River Ock, which links the Ock Valley Walk to the rear entrance of Tower Close. Taken together, they point to a structure that has been unsafe for at least six months.
safety issue
Reports dating back to August 2025 describe exposed boards, widening gaps and broken sections of decking on what is not only a footbridge but also part of a cycle route. By December, one walker reported their foot going through the bridge deck, noting that holes ‘regularly appear’ and describing the bridge as being in a ‘dire condition’. A further report later that month warned of a 20 cm square hole in the centre of the bridge, with the surrounding surface bouncing freely, suggesting that there was little or no support beneath. The repeated use of heavy-duty plastic coverings appears to have been a temporary measure, masking rather than resolving the underlying deterioration.
safety issue
When I went over the bridge today, there was again an exposed hole in the deck, clearly visible, A foot could easily slip through the surface.

Yesterday, a concerned parent told me that this bridge is used by numerous schoolchildren every school day and asked me to put it on the blog. He said concerns have apparently been raised directly with district councillors but there has been no effective response.

I believed when I wrote this that the bridge was the responsibility of Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC) as it was the VWHDC end of the Ock Valley Walk. But I am told by the Tithe Farm and Ladygrove Newsletter that it is Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) and the local councillor, Neil Fawcett had been chasing the council on this on their behalf.

After the Snow Queen, What’s Happening Around Abingdon this week

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Whats on
The Abingdon Drama Club’s Snow Queen finished its run this evening. A fantastic production: by turns haunting and genuinely funny. If you missed it, you missed something special.
(Image credit: garethclark photography, with his Snow Queen picture superimposed and blurred over the theatre steps by me.)

But there’s plenty more happening in Abingdon.
Whats on
The Giant Jumble Sale at Fitzharrys School takes place on Sunday 25 January. It’s a two-hour sale, with items priced to sell.
Whats on
The next Agnostics Anonymous meeting, on Tuesday 27 January, will explore the interplay between drama, poetry, fiction and spiritual experience.
Whats on
There’s been much recent talk of otter sightings around Abingdon. On Wednesday 28 January there will be a talk, The Otter in England, looking at our long history with otters, how we nearly lost them, how they returned, and what the future may hold.
Whats on
Simon Mason in conversation with Eve Smith, this Thursday 29 January at Abingdon Library, is fully booked.
Whats on
There are, however, a few places left for Nicki Thornton (formerly of Mostly Books), who after a successful run of younger reader novels now has a book for adults. She’ll be at Abingdon Library on Saturday 31 January.
Whats on
Also at Abingdon Library, the sky in the Abingdon jigsaw – featured last week – is still outwitting some of the town’s best jigsaw solvers.