Abingdon Vale Cricket Club Appeal against council decision

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Cricket Club Appeal
On 28th October 2019 the Vale of White Horse District Council rejected a plan to build flats on a former cricket ground, now used for youth football and training.

The plan was rejected  because the proposed development of a three-storey building comprising 9 residential apartments would result in:
* an unacceptable loss of playing field
* the unacceptable erosion of an important open space within the Northcourt Conservation Area (it would block the view shown above from Northcourt Lane).
Cricket Club Appeal
Thankyou to Daniel Glover for this picture of the sports field. The land is owned by Abingdon Vale Cricket Club – formed in 1993 when Abingdon Cricket Club and North Abingdon Cricket Club merged. Hale’s Meadow became their preferred ground and the North Abingdon ground, alongside Abingdon United Football Club, was used by Abingdon United for football training and youth games.

Abingdon Vale Cricket Club have appealed against the council’s decision and because of the pandemic it has taken time for the appeal to be heard.

The sale of some of this land for flats would help them with their club development plan, and help improve facilities at Hale’s Meadow.
Cricket Club Appeal
The appeal will be heard by a government planning inspector as a virtual event starting on 8th March 2021.

Helen Flynn has launched a petition before that hearing to ‘Save Abingdon Juniors’ Football Pitch & Historic Conservation Area’ at https://www.change.org/p/abingdon-vale-cricket-club-stop-new-build-in-protected-historical-area. She is looking for public support.

The ice has melted and most of the flood water has gone

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Ice Bushes
Two days ago Rosemary sent a picture of the Long Tow Ice.
Ice Bushes
There were also ice bushes on Steventon Hill. A stream of water off the fields running down the road got splashed and froze. It looked so dangerous at night that I got off and pushed my bike down.
Ice Bushes
It was much milder today and the ice has melted and most of the flood water has gone from the Abingdon Vale Cricket Ground.

New Fold Out Children’s Book by Author and Illustrator from Abingdon

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Abbey Fishponds
Rob Jones is an author and illustrator from Abingdon. His new book is called Where’s Brian’s Bottom? It is a board book about a sausage dog who is so long he can’t find his bottom! The reader then goes through the house asking different pets if they’ve seen it. The fun thing about this book is that it actually folds out to over 2 metres long, so you can see through the whole house once you’ve finished it.

It’s published by Pavilion Children’s Books and is available from all booksellers, including Mostly Books who have been very supportive of Rob’s previous books. See https://www.pavilionbooks.com/book/wheres-brians-bottom/

Abbey Fishponds – February

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Abbey Fishponds
I returned to the Abbey Fishponds this morning for the monthly visit and it was below zero. Our garden thermometer showed -4 °C when I set out
Abbey Fishponds
The are plenty of birds and bird song despite the cold. They not only have the wild life area but there are also lots of surrounding gardens. I think this is a Dunnock (Hedge Sparrow) but am happy to be corrected.
Abbey Fishponds
An area of sedge appeared to have been cleared and piled up since my last visit. Small streams crossed the area.
Abbey Fishponds
Crows were looking for food in the ground where it was not too hard.
Abbey Fishponds
Most of the ponds were frozen, and today the ice was solid enough to stand on.
Abbey Fishponds
The ice had embedded leaves and twigs.
Abbey Fishponds
There were quite a few blackbirds together on the ice near the bottom entrance and some of the males were squabbling. Why don’t they conserve their energy?

There were lots of chopped up trees and branches that could provide some cavities and shelter from the cold, possibly insects and food stores too.
Abbey Fishponds
Robins fluff up their feathers to keep themselves warm.

I was glad to get home with the modern convenience of central heating and warm up.