I read in the Abingdon Herald a couple of weeks ago …
‘The Kingfisher Canoe Club – and its youth division Pathfinders – packed up and left its home of 25 years in Abingdon on Saturday, more than 18 months after being served an eviction notice.
The club had identified a ‘perfect’ new site in the northern corner of Rye Farm Meadow but its attempt to move there has collapsed…’
Currently their equipment is stored miles from the river. I took a course with the Kingfisher Canoe Club a few years ago and think it would be a tragedy if others cannot learn to canoe safely on our local rivers in the same way. The club has been there for over 40 years.
The canoe club have looked at a lot of options before deciding on Rye Farm Meadow which is Vale of the White Horse District Council land. Up to the last minute the Vale were working with them and then there was a legal problem at the last minute.
Hopefully district councillors can help resolve this matter before we loose one of our most valuable local clubs. Councillor Details are at this link (Abingdon wards are at the top)
Kingfisher Canoe Club does fantastic work for the local community, including our youngsters. Abingdon will lose a valuable community asset if they close. Adventurous outdoor activities are proved to help boost physical and mental well being. Save Abingdon’s Kingfisher!
How many more times are we to read of the Vale of the White Horse riding rough shod over Abingdon on Thames, is there no one in the Town council with the guts to stand up for us.
The Guild hall, Old Abbey house, now local clubs which are providing activities for our young people come under their nasty tricks, why is it always Abingdon,. Heaven knows we have little enough left after the planners have finished with us.
Perhaps someone from the Vale ( or appropriate councillor) can answer two questions?
1, why were the canoe club evicted from their long time, council owned Home?
2, why did the Vale offer the canoe club a new site only to rip the rug from under their feet?
Answer please
My understanding of this is that it’s the Army that have evicted them?
Didn’t we discuss this a couple of weeks ago? I have checked – on the entry of 30 October, there was quite an long thread.
I wonder if there is further information than we had then.
Perhaps the club’s gear could be stored in the Guildhall as that’s got a lot of space doing nothing for the foreseeable.
perhaps it would be erudite to keep some of the gear handy, for when Abingdon is “sold down the river”…or when we, imminently, find ourselves up a certain creek without a paddle?
Or when the floods return…
What is frustrating is that the land for the old site is rented to the Army (that won’t be housed anywhere near Abingdon soon). The local community lose a valuable club that is well used by both Adults and Children.
Even more upsetting is the plot is empty at the moment and completely unused by anyone!