THOUSANDS of fun seekers have been strolling the length of Abingdon’s Michaelmas Fair.
Running for about a mile down the length of the High Street from the market place and along Ock Street the Michaelmas Fair, which finishes tonight, is widely recognised as the longest in Europe.
It was founded as a medieval hiring fair for farmworkers to find work in the local area but now features fairground rides and food stalls.
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Despite a wet weekend welcome for the fairground staff, the temperatures were mild for the time of year and there were enough breaks from the rain for families to enjoys the rides and food stalls.
For residents living off Ock Street and in the area around Albert Park the fair does bring some disruption.
Parking in Spring Road and Edward Street is restricted and Stratton Way is closed at the junction with Bath Street.
Some drivers who decided to ignore the parking ban in Edward Street - enforced to ensure emergency vehicles can get through - got a shock when police towed their cars away.
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In a post on the TVP South and Vale Facebook page, officers said: “Did you leave your car parked on Edward Street, Abingdon, despite the temporary traffic order?
“Have you noticed that your car isn’t there any more?
“We had to put traffic management in place on Spring Road for half an hour whilst all three of these vehicles were removed.
“Please remember to consider whether a fire engine could fit through the space you’ve left.”
Some commenters on oxfordmail.co.uk highlighted how the road is not usually accessible to emergency service vehicles due to its width, and others highlighted how emergency vehicles were having to reroute due to road closures elsewhere in the town.
Some people who responded on Facebook said the behaviour of the drivers was ‘disgusting’ and ‘inconsiderate,’ but others defended their actions.
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Commenting on the post, one man who lives in the road, said: “The cones were there for the fair, no one is concerned about traffic there for the other 362 days a year!
“I’ve only just moved onto the road and never knew nothing of it until I got home Sunday night - I hope these people get there cars back for free.”
Another said: “There are multiple reasons why those cars could have been parked there legally and those drivers need have no knowledge that the parking restrictions would be put into force some time after.
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“People often have to park streets away from their houses in that part of Abingdon.”
Leader of the town council Samantha Bowring said the fair could be slightly disruptive but pointed out that it only lasted for two days a year.
She added: “The fair brings in visitors from quite a wide area.
“As far as I know everything has gone quite smoothly with just a few little hiccups here and there.”
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