Clean Pavement

The pavement of the Abbey Shopping Centre (formerly known as the Bury Street Precinct) is looking very clean these days. I noticed it last Saturday, and again today.

Another New Road

Another fairly new Road in Abingdon is Thornley Close on the Willow Brook estate. It goes through what was the last undeveloped part of the MG Factory Site. John Thornley OBE was an important figure at the MG Car Plant. His son has written a short biography and there are pictures of him on the MG Works Club Site. I assume the road is named after him (please correct me if I'm wrong).

A path now runs between the older (by a few years) Anna Pavlova Estate, and the newer Willow Brook Estate. But both sides have a similar look.

There is also a stream to be seen running through the Anna Pavlova side. It goes underground beneath Willow Brook and the police station, and ends up in the River Ock.

New Letting Agent

A new Letting Agency opened last week.

Martin & Co have a network of over 170 franchises in the U.K, and now can boast one in West St Helen Street, Abingdon.

New Cells

Work is underway to build new cells at Abingdon Police Station, increasing the number from 13 to 30 - as reported in the Herald some weeks ago. This is not because there has been a sudden rise in criminal activity in Abingdon. It is a strategic move: the Cells will serve all of South Oxfordshire.

New Roads off Northcourt Road

A couple of new roads have been built off Northcourt Road. The larger road is called Northcourt Mews and is next to Dunmore School.

Then not far away, and next to Fitzharrys School, is John Jones Close. I think they were built in the place of some larger houses with extensive grounds.

I was talking to Jean Jones (John's widow) yesterday. It would be nice if somebody invited her to the opening ceremony of John Jones Close, if that has not already happened.

Jean had some strong opinions about the proposed changes to the Charter area, which she read about in the Herald. She did not agree with the proposal of putting the library and the health centre on the first floor - since both facilities are much used by the elderly, and parents with buggies.

Spot The Difference

This was the scene on the corner by McDonalds on Saturday 23rd January at 3 PM.

This was the same scene on Sunday 24th January at Noon.

Work has started to widen the road between Marcham Road and Colwell Drive. Cutting off the corner will let traffic turning left get round more quickly and not block the road behind. The work was held up a little because the district council tree officer put a tree preservation order on one of the trees in the picture. So now the diverted pavement will go behind one of the horse chestnut trees instead of through it.

ENERGY

The Abingdon Arts Festival is on its way, and as in previous years there is a photography competition run by the Abingdon Camera Club. The theme this year is "ENERGY", and the closing date for entries is 2nd March. All you need to know is on the Abingdon Camera Club Site.

The River Thames continues to flow at the high level of the last week or so, as does the River Ock. I think they are both on Flood Watch again.

It was suggested by Peter Wiblin ( of West End News) that the ENERGY of all the water could be harnessed to generate electricity.

Abingdon Town Football Club were playing their first match for a while against Bicester Town and won 1-0. The Chimney of Didcot Power Station is just about visible behind the ground.