On Sunday 19 October, a select and stoic group of volunteers joined some of our Councillors at the Fishponds for a working party session that would re-route the footpath, as per agreed plans.
Cllr Sue O is our Fishponds front woman and shared this report from the day:
“A very small but very mighty band of volunteers gathered for the scheduled work party at the Fishponds. Its mission: to divert the public footpath running alongside the dangerously eroding bank of the Chilbrook.
The weather was dry to start with, but the threatened drizzle arrived after about an hour and became heavier as the morning wore on. So much for the sunshine we had ordered!
The task could not have been completed without the help of David, gardener extraordinaire of this parish, who cleared the path very efficiently with his array of tools; and Ross, Parish Council Chair, who used his trailer to fetch several loads of wood chip with which to surface the new route.
We all pitched in with pushing the loaded trailer through to the site from the playing field, then shovelling the chippings into barrows and creating a human chain to deposit and spread the new surface by hand.
Three hours after starting the work, the task was finished, and a wet, tired but happy quartet headed home for hot showers and very well-deserved cups of tea! Thanks so much to Gav, David and Ross for turning up and mucking in so willingly, and for making the Fishponds a safer place to enjoy.”
If any residents are interested in supporting Sue and her team at future working party sessions at the Fishponds, please contact us via epc.comms@eynsham-pc.gov.uk to register your interest. There is likely to be another session early in 2026.
We hope walkers will appreciate and enjoy the hard work of the team in ensuring the footpath remains safe for all to use. Check out some 'before' and 'after' photos below!