Tomorrow Evening we have a committee meeting of the Preston Road Community Centre Association. We still have some of the old handwritten minutes from the Thames-side Residents Association (TRA). The TRA fund raised to get Preston Road Community Centre built.

The following extracts from meetings of the TRA from 1972-4 provide a little social history. There might even be something to learn from the past.

Socials

Everything under control – 185 tickets have been sold for April 7th Social.

The next social is a barn dance. The caller Ken Moore is very good at teaching newcomers to join in.

The darts match on May 8th at the MG’s club on Caldecott Road was judged by all to be a roaring success.

The social was aided by the excellent food prepared by Mrs Judy Baughan … It is sad we saw the Baughans moving house, and hope their life in Wolverhampton will be a happy one.

The coach trip to Bristol Zoo was a notable success.

Despite the Government’s Emergency Power measures we were able to hold our Children’s Christmas Party.

Traffic and River Crossing

Traffic has become a major problem in many towns nowadays but with the completion of the A34 bypass, much of the through traffic will be removed from the town.

When the Abingdon By-pass is opened gravel extraction lorries will go via Oday Hill not Preston Road and Wilsham Road.

Following the D.A.W Report’s recommendation of a new bridge across the Thames at St Helen’s Wharf, Abingdon Borough Council appointed a firm of traffic consultants to re-analyse the current and possible future traffic situation in Abingdon. It said:

• The bridge scheme at St Helens Wharf, although probably best for traffic flow, does not have sufficient flexibility and is an environmental disaster. 
• Stratton Way should be extended to Wilsham Road so that South Abingdon is not cut off.
• If a new bridge is required then it should be sited at Culham Reach. That would require a new road from the Drayton Road south of Sutton Fields, Overmead and Riverside estates.

The gravel / refuse lorries are starting to creep in again. The only lorries using Preston Road should be corporation dust-carts. If you see any violations please contact Curtis direct.

Community Centre

At long last some activity – the community centre steering group have obtained quotes from builders.

Abingdon Borough Council will set aside £15000 for community facilities including £3000 for the Mill Road Clinic and £12000 for a Community Centre in Preston Road

The Community Centre money we have raised so far will only stretch to the bare shell of a building. We will probably have to do things like electrics, heating, and some plumbing ourselves.

New Phone Boxes

Another victory as another phone box is being erected at Kensington Close

Judging by the heavy use of the telephone box at the corner of Kensington Close it more than justifies our request for more.

The GPO have decided to install another phone box along the river bank by Wilsham Road / Saxton Road.

(Phone Box image thanks to Google Maps 2008. The original should have been red.)