Repair spaces in Abingdon

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Abingdon is a place where broken things are put right. For some time the town has hosted Repair Cafés and cycle workshops, run by the Carbon Cutters, helping people mend rather than discard.

Last Saturday the Community Space in Unit 25 Bury Street was busy throughout the day. Sewing machines hummed as clothes were patched and altered. Small appliances were opened up on tables, tools were sharpened, and there were people there to adjust new bicycles bought at Christmas. People came and went with items that might otherwise have ended up in the bin, and the volunteers were busy.

From this Saturday there is a new repair space opening up. Along Ferry Walk (off Wilsham Road), beside the Make Space sea container, a shed has appeared on a small fenced patch of ground.

The Shed Space launches this Saturday. Help is being sought to assemble and paint the workshop. You can then find out what is planned next.

Snow Queen in Abingdon

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Last night was the coldest of the year, with temperatures falling to between –5 and –10°C. Snow was falling when many of us woke in Abingdon this morning. It settled on roads and pavements.

Some shop windows still carry their seasonal snowy displays and for once have been matched by the conditions outside.

Town council staff were out gritting paths across the Market Place and in the town council parks.

They were also busy updating the notice boards with the latest posters.

One of the events being advertised is The Snow Queen. For a few hours at least, Abingdon seemed to be under her spell.

A cold day in town

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From early this morning the recycling lorry has made its rounds through central and Abingdon, catching up and collecting far more than usual: the cardboard boxes, bottles, and wrapping paper of Christmas. Before Christmas there had been a press release warning that household waste would only be collected if bin lids were fully closed, as ‘there is a real risk that an overfilled bin won’t attach properly to the lifting equipment’ and could cause damage. Even so, the crews seemed to manage this large post-Christmas clear-up without rejecting many bins.

Only a small amount of snow fell three days ago, but with clear skies and temperatures staying at or below freezing, it lingers, melting only where the winter sun reaches it.

The cold was felt in the Market Place. Quite a few stallholders were there, among them Martin, selling off some of his photographic cards at £1 each.

There were also plenty of spring bulbs for sale, a reminder that warmer days are not far away.

As the Market was cleared away in the afternoon, the Christmas lights could still be seen.

As darkness fell and temperatures dropped further, the gritting lorries came out.

Bridge Repairs Along the River Ock

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During the Boundary Walk on New Year’s Day we followed the River Ock and saw outdoor staff from the town council mending the bridge halfway between the town end and Drayton Road.

The vertical wooden slats of the old bridge, pictured here in March 2025, were in a poor state of repair. Since then, orange barriers had been clamped along the sides of the bridge as a temporary measure.

The replacement sides now use horizontal beams made from recycled plastic, designed to resemble wood. A similar material and construction was used when the sides of the town end bridge were replaced three or four years ago.