Author Archives: Back Streeter

NSPCC table top sale / South Abingdon Play & Activity day

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Angela wanted people to know that there will be a NSPCC table top sale on Saturday 3rd July.

She says ‘We are lucky to have the support of Waitrose, who will be bringing a table with a box of goodies and running a competition. This is a way for them to support local charities while they are unable to run their green tokens scheme.

NSPCC Childline has had a significant increase in calls for help from children due to the increase in domestic violence and poverty since COVID.’

Some of us have been more fortunate than others in our childhood. NSPCC is there to fight for every childhood.

Due to the delay in Lockdown easing the South Abingdon Play & Activity day has moved to Saturday 4th September. It too was originally planned for 3rd July. Organisations wanting to have a stall or run an activity could contact martin.gillett@oxonplay.org.uk .

A field of poppies

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A field of poppies brightens up the route for people travelling the corner between Radley Road and Twelve Acre Drive.

The field escaped being built upon when outline planning permission for 55 dwellings was refused in 2013. Those were the days when a green belt could protect fields from being built upon. Reasons for refusal included:

  • Inappropriate development in the Oxford Green Belt.
  • Visually harmful development without a distinctive sense of place.
  • Harmful impact on existing services and social infrastructure without enough compensating financial contributions.

Fairacres Retail Park – phase 2 in June 2021

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Lidl and Costa at the Fairacres retail park have been open since early in May. The Gym will be open to view on 10th July and fully open from 26th July. They have an offer for people joining early.

Homebase will be opening from October 2021. They were at the other end of the previous row of retail units before demolition.

Work continues on converting the area at the side of the new Homebase to an outdoor and garden area. Over the road is the Hilton Garden Inn, rebuilt much higher a couple of years ago.

The Monk of Abingdon, on his traffic island, has seen a lot of changes in the last few years. Around him the wild plants grow, buildings are demolished and built back again, and the vehicles flow.

Tickets Please!

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There was a notice to say that the Open Day at the Abbey Buildings had been postponed as Covid restrictions have not been lifted yet.

In Abbey Close there was an old London bus, parked there for a wedding. Some wedding rules have recently changed. Covid regulations have only allowed up to 30 people for some time. Now the headcount depends on how many people the venue can safely accommodate.

The bus brings back memories of holding on to a handrail on the open platform, waiting to get off. There would be the ding ding of the bell as the conductor let the driver know they could set off. Then the conductor would make the rounds to find the people who had just got on calling ‘Tickets Please’. The conductor would sell you a ticket off a rack and punch it; and if they did not get round to you, on a short ride on a busy day, it meant a free ride whether you wanted it or not.