30 years ago, in 1986, the £8m Abingdon marina was beginning to take shape. According to the Herald, water was gushing into the marina basin off Wilsham Road, in preparation for the first phase of up-market homes on the seven-acre site.
If I remember rightly the marina did not all get built in one go. A second phase was delayed after the boom of house prices in the 1980s was followed by a slump in the 1990s as interest rates went up dramatically to curb inflation. Base rate went from 7.5% in May 1988 to 15% in Oct 1989.
Rates have been at 0.5% since 2009, something we could never have imagined back in those days of inflation.
Something that came to light in the presentation by the Environment Agency about the proposed flood alleviation channel around Oxford was that the European Union has banned the dredging of rivers. A boat owner at Abingdon was complaining that the draft of the Thames has become shallower. I wonder if this was behind the cessation of the dredging of the Somerset levels causing massive flooding. I can remember the dredgers at Abingdon. However, non of the other E U countries take any notice of this ruling and France and Italy still dredge all their rivers. Can anyone explain to me why the UK follows every E U ruling to the letter and non of the other E U countries take any notice.
I suspect money, not being spent….
@ Janet.
It is because we have the unfortunate situation of having a Prime Minister with a lack of backbone who is afraid of saying ‘NO’ to stupid EU nonsense, also he is not a real Tory.
He fails to carry out his promises to do what is necessary for the good of this country, his previous excuse was that the Lib Dems were preventing him from doing things, that doesn’t hold water now. [Unlike the Marina!]
They used to be able to punt on the thames – dredging clearly a more phenomenon
Apparently in Medieval times it was not possible to boat from Oxford to Abingdon as the Thames was too shallow. Measure were put into place to increase the volume of water.
Keeping with the river theme but slightly off tack did anyone else read a few weeks ago how the city council are using a new piece of legislation to move on all the undesirable who populate the city’s canals and rivers on craft that for the most are unlicensed and have no facilities? Well the exodus has begun and they’re moving from Oxford to ABINGDON! Already we have a plethora of narrow boat ###### most of whom have no toilets ( they pee & poo in buckets) and throw all their waste overboard ! We just don’t make enough of our precious river !
I wonder how long until we see a ‘Marina 2’ development surrounding the next disused gravel pit (is it a nature reserve at present?) although the pylon in the middle of it has probably thwarted any ideas thus far. Wasn’t there a still born inner development to the west linked by water to the existing marina proposed at one time, obviously impossible now that land has been built on, I think at one time the marina was envisaged as the junction of the restored Wilts and Berks Canal with the Thames.
CK2 we obviously need to catch people who are throwing human waste overboard, if I see them doing it whilst out walking I will photograph and report them, I encourage anyone else who witnesses this to do so. I guess the Environment Agency are the people to contact.
Hi Badger, there are two boats moored outside my house right now of which neither have any running water or toilets, the EA are aware of them but as yet nothing has happened ! The occupier of one stands on the back of his boat and pee’s into the river in full view of everyone!
I noticed there are quite a number of boats moored on the far side of the lock but there are toilets, running water and I think even electricity up there.
Sorry to hear of this CK2 not very pleasant on your doorstep, I guess it’s not very high up the EA’s list of priorities, the use of the river as as open sewer might explain why you don’t see the Eastern European guys fishing for food in the Thames now or maybe they’ve just been caught. I wonder if the Herald might be able break your waterborne neighbours story to the wider audience pics and all!
Hi again Badger and thanks for your thoughts, thanks to a huge effort from the Town Council the “in-authorised” fishermen have all but disappeared, the t c put up no fishing, or rather no taking fish away signs all along the river banks and in about 6 or 7 languages too, well done tc, as for the chap peeing in the river, I spoke to TVP about him and they advised caution as it was not just a matter of him emptying his bladder in public, but one of indecent exposure which would result in
Me giving evidence in court and him going on the sex offenders list !
Have seen the signs which seemed to have little effect to start with but seem to have sunk in now (or they’re being much more stealthy), there seem more ducks this year I wonder if they were being spirited away as well.
I suppose in this day and age TVP can’t just have a quiet word as a Bobby on the beat would have, the full monty inc court and SO list does seem rather ott.
On a similar note, I have noticed someone staying by the river bank near where the old Mastervision Aerial used to be. There is a path that leads to the river from Crabtree Place off Audlett Drive. Before you get to the wooden footbridge there is a tent erected. It’s not easy to spot in the daytime but if you walk by after dark is lit up with loads of candles. Whoever it is has been there since before Christmas.
Last winter for a while there was a guy camping close to Culham Station, if you turn off the main road to go to the Railway Inn directly on your right there is a hidden grassy hollow between the original and current road. I wouldn’t have known but for hearing people mentioning it in the bar.