The Abingdon Monk is back, and better than ever!

Nice to see a few more of these going up in my patch, on request!

A break from the usual - away for work somewhere a bit warmer this past week 🌞 Back in town now - and no place like home I’m quickly readjusting to streets without tram tracks running down the middle, or brass instruments being played loudly every few yards (though I wouldn't say no to either....)

It's really not confusing at all. Get a grip.

What sane person would ever try to get into local politics

These people have a funny way of saying "Environmentalists have been proved right yet again."

They're literally verbally abusing local residents, obstructing council workers, using racist, misogynistic and homophobic language towards anyone who disagrees with them. What more do you need!? They're pests, and as our PCC your lack of interest in dealing with this matter is unacceptable.

On Tuesday, activists from ‘Raise the Colours’ erected flags along Abingdon Road in broad daylight. We ask who is behind it – and why the campaign is so controversial. oxfordclarion.uk/raise-the-co...

Looks like we're definitely going to end up with the 'Greater Oxford' Model. If that's how it ends can they *please* tidy up some of these loose ends?

It’s hard not to love @oxfordclarion.bsky.social ❤️

“Everything else sits downstream of that reality: Councils are becoming social care services with a few diminishing extras.”

Everyone is receiving their Council Tax bill through the post at the moment. The most hated tax. But judging from the awful standard of ‘discourse’ in FB groups around the county - I can only urge as many people as possible to read/share this Thanks! cllrdrnathanley.substack.com/p/the-adult-...

If you live in Oxford city and have a vote this May you know what to do...

Back in the (club riding) game.... ☀️🚴‍♀️🚴🚴‍♂️

Hmmm....is there any reason this isn't worth following *anyway* ?

Investment in CERN facilitated the discovery of the Higgs boson by British theorist Prof Peter Higgs, it explains fundamental ways in which nature works. However, Britain is reducing funding for future projects. The SIT committee asked Lord Vallance to provide clarity. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

📽️ There have been many scary, unnerving days in this latest Gulf war. But the past 24 hours was particularly bad. Why? Because both sides are now causing lasting damage to the world economy's life support system. Our latest primer on the econ consequences of this war👇 youtu.be/_NZ_9Ov4PXE?...

All those "legitimate concerns" to stop solar energy projects in England. They look pretty damn selfish right now

As someone trying to practise 'learned optimism' this is hard to deal with The next few years are going to be VERY bad for 99% of us People are going to suffer. We're all going to get poorer; and politics will become more populist as a result ☹️

🚧🏗️ Abingdon A34 Lodge Hill Latest: 3000 words and 13 pictures Please click the link below to view 👇 cllrdrnathanley.substack.com/p/building-a...

I love you, t-rex arms Pickford 😍 #Arsenal

This seems to be true. It's disappointing to see it happening. But then again that's their choice (and no party is absolutely perfect at the moment, it has to be said)

☕🥐 Good morning to you from the marvellous Proof Social Bakehouse ! If you are one of the hundred or so emails I have struggled to reply to this past fortnight - apologies! It's been a busy time with work but I will do my best this weekend. Thanks so much for your patience 🙂

Abingdon Abbey Northcourt (Vale of White Horse) Council By-Election Result: 🔶 LDM: 647 (43.7%) 🌍 GRN: 480 (32.5%) ➡️ RFM: 204 (13.8%) 🌳 CON: 101 (6.8%) 🌹 LAB: 47 (3.2%) Lib Dem GAIN From Green

Abingdon Abbey Northcourt (Vale of White Horse) Council By-Election Result: 🔶 LDM: 647 (43.7%) 🌍 GRN: 480 (32.5%) ➡️ RFM: 204 (13.8%) 🌳 CON: 101 (6.8%) 🌹 LAB: 47 (3.2%) Lib Dem GAIN From Green

Tough decisions, politically But you make it with the best of intentions, you follow through, and stick to it So you have to drown out the bad faith actors like local tabloids who only want to see failure 👍

An £8.6m cycling bridge over the A34 is to be signed off next week. The Milton Heights bridge will connect offices and labs at Milton Park, near Didcot, with a new housing development west of the road. Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet will consider it at their Tuesday meeting.

As promised, roadside gully emptying is now once per year, up from the historic once-every-4-year cycle Our area is being done as of now and over the coming days 🚨 Please make sure your vehicle(s) are off the road or away from any gully to make sure it can be cleaned/emptied Thank you

Peak Cherry Blossom 🌸 Whole trees on urban and suburban streets turned into clouds of pink, brightening up paths and streets for a short while Someone's foresight 30 years ago is ours to enjoy today Right now, it’s the cherries’ moment, but not for too many more days 🙂

Nice to see a ward in my County division up for election on Thursday I have a feeling hard work may be rewarded

Oxfordshire has now launched 275 20mph schemes! All locally requested and approved by Cllrs of all political parties. Because people like 20mph where they live. Also @oxfordshirecc.bsky.social is giving away FREE 20mph stickers. @20splenty.bsky.social news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/get-your-fre...

It's also why people should really call out NIMBY objections to solar farms on spurious grounds.

It really is something to see politicians, commentators and media outlets whose whole identity is based on being so-called ‘patriots’ frothing with excitement as they line up to back a deranged megalomaniac who consistently attempts to belittle and bully the country they claim to love

I love the way expensive new roads are celebrated, even if in business case terms, they only shave a few seconds of journeys. But when it is a modest scheme to help to get buses moving, that same argument is deployed against. Sorry Bub, it's not your road outside. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

What a calamitously terrible leader, on all levels www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2590696...

Bad post. Not in my name

A detailed and helpful post explaining the full story of the Oxford Road roundabout, and what's happening next. Thank you @nathanley.com !

🍑 Peachcroft Roundabout/Oxford Road (Abingdon): The Full Story - including what’s happening next…. cllrdrnathanley.substack.com/p/pipes-perm... A very hard situation and story to have to defend or explain to my residents. Luckily they are (mainly) forgiving

Winning the group stage matters, it seems... 👀

The busy A415 is the main road to Abingdon from the east and has seen several serious and fatal accidents across its full length. A petition set up by parents attracted almost 500 signatures. Consultation is open until 27 March. letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/culham_a415_...

First outdoor ride for 3 months (post icy wrist smash accident) Nothing like it!

Great to see funding confirmed to fully resurface the Barrow Hills BMX track Abingdon 🚴 The Vale’s 2026/27 budget now includes funding to completely resurface the track (£100K), allowing the site to reopen Barrow Hills is a free, open-access facility and getting it back into use will be great news

Make your weekend a Clarion Weekend with our Friday newsletter! Featuring: 🏗 Oxford’s southern extension with 3,000 homes 🎓 More SEND funding for schools 🕳 Andrew Gant vs Keir Starmer 🍟 Fish & chips & Sancerre 📖 The best Oxfordshire reading Read online or subscribe: oxfordclarion.uk/clarion-week...

When people hysterically kick off about perfectly proportionate plans to build on suitable brownfield sites - like one of the several car parks in the town centre - you'll get what you deserve

As a brief update to this: 👉 The consultation ended last year and the results should be published soon 👉 Feedback was extremely positive on all elements of the proposal (with large majorities - but it's not a counting exercise....) 👉 will share more info when I can re final design/construction

Why do people think that things aren’t working? Drive anywhere and it’s obvious. This is excellent on how austerity and the squeeze on local government finances has damaged the fabric of the nation and how the current government has done little to address it open.substack.com/pub/cllrdrna...

I'd had enough pictures of Tories pointing at potholes It's time for 3000 words of catharsis (fully sourced! And with new numbers!) (Apologies in advance for the AI image for those who are affected) open.substack.com/pub/cllrdrna...

Excellent article about how potholes got so bad and how the work being down to reverse the trend will take a little time.

I'd had enough pictures of Tories pointing at potholes It's time for 3000 words of catharsis (fully sourced! And with new numbers!) (Apologies in advance for the AI image for those who are affected) open.substack.com/pub/cllrdrna...

Literally 5 minutes walking to school in north Abingdon Amazing how many noises are returning when you listen out for it! 🐥🐦 And nice to see the Skylarks make a return to the list Anyone got any good ones recently? #springiscoming #merlin