Two New Parking Consultations in Abingdon

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Oxfordshire County Council has launched two new consultations on parking changes in Abingdon, both open until Friday 12 December 2025.

1. Centre East Abingdon – Proposed Parking Restrictions

The first consultation covers new ‘No Waiting at Any Time’ (double yellow line) restrictions in parts of Centre East Abingdon. These would extend or add restrictions on:
* Audlett Drive
* Jackman Close
* Magnette Close
* Penlon Place
* Quakers Court
* Radley Road

The aim is to stop obstructive parking, following an informal consultation with residents in 2024.

The consultation can be viewed at: https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/abingdon_centreeast_parking2025 .

2. Abingdon Town Centre – Proposed Parking Restriction Amendments

The second consultation covers the town centre. The main change is a small extension of the residents’ permit scheme, to include:
* St Edmunds Lane (permit-holder)
* St Helens Wharf (permit-holder or pay-and-display)

New limited-waiting bays
* West St Helen Street: maximum stay 30 minutes. These are intended to support access to local shops and services. The parking outside the Salvation Army would be removed to allow 30 minutes parking opposite. This may help the Co-op where people often park in the loading bay.
* Manor Court: maximum stay 2 hours

Other proposals include:
* Additional double yellow lines, replacing some single yellow lines, particularly at junctions where parking is already discouraged by the highway code.
* New no-loading restrictions on Abingdon Bridge.

The town centre will also get new signs showing that it is the AB residents parking area. So the sign stuck outside our house will be replaced.

The consultation can be viewed at: https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/abingdon_towncentre_parking2025.

These measures don’t look as controversial as the previous consultations (earlier this year) which had many people worried.

Abingdon’s Bookshops Let it Snow

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Most of us in Abingdon woke this morning to frosted grass and icy puddles. But two of our bookshops have had snow.

At The Bookstore in Bury Street, winter has taken full hold of the window display. Snowdrifts, sparkling reindeer and hibernating creatures make it look as though a blizzard has blown through the shop.

At Mostly Books, on Stert Street, snow is falling. Their window features a painted scene celebrating ‘Tell Your Dog I Love Them’, created by the book’s own author-illustrator, Harriet Lowther who will be there on December 6th. Mostly Books often invite artists to create street art in their window. I wonder whether they ever replace the glass and sell the originals like Banksy’s.

Their blackboard also reminds us that the season of stories in warm corners is upon us.

Lodge Hill – Changed Priority at A34 Slip Road

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Traffic heading towards Lodge Hill through Bagley Woods on the A4183 (Oxford Road) should be aware that the junction layout has now changed. A new Give Way has been introduced at the south-facing slip road onto the A34, meaning vehicles travelling from Abingdon and joining the A34 now have priority. Drivers are given advance warning with Give Way signs at 200, 100, and 50 yards, as well as at the junction itself, along with two Changed Priorities Ahead signs.

Even so, it’s an unusual layout and has taken many people by surprise. Thanks to Nick for highlighting the change. It was mentioned on a local WhatsApp group yesterday by someone who was nearly caught out by it; signage appears to have improved since then.

Elsewhere on the A34 slip-road works, earthmoving continues and has expanded. From ground level, it’s still hard to get a sense of the final layout at this stage.

Abbey Buildings Project Celebrates Major Milestone

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This evening, to celebrate how far the project has come and to build momentum for the year ahead, the chair of the Abingdon Abbey Buildings Project, Gregory Bensberg MBE, gave an update in the presence of the Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Mrs Marjorie Glasgow BEM, and the Mayor of Abingdon, Cllr Rawda Jehanli. He thanked his predecessor, Bryan Brown, chairman from 2015–23, along with the trustees and supporters whose work has brought the project to this point.

Mrs Glasgow praised the Friends of Abingdon Abbey Buildings Trust for the progress made, saying it was important to acknowledge how far the project has come. She highlighted the years of care, fundraising, and dedication invested in the Abbey Buildings, noting that the original founders of 1944 would be proud of what is being achieved 80 years on.

She described how, once restored, the Abbey Buildings will for the first time be fully accessible, open all year, and serve as a community hub and performance space at the heart of Abingdon. Speaking on behalf of His Majesty the King, she expressed thanks for the dedication in preserving such an important part of our heritage.

Reflecting on a recent Remembrance service, she said: “We are all called to serve – some in the military, and some to fight for our country. But even if we’re not called to fight for our country, we are called to fight for a country worth fighting for, and giving your time and talent to make something like this happen achieves that ambition for us and for Abingdon.”

Architects are already preparing the RIBA Stage 4 procurement documents, with tenders for the main repairs and upgrades due to go out in the New Year.

Gregory Bensberg outlined the works planned:

* New leaded windows in the Long Gallery (two had already been installed and authorised)

Improving access
* A platform lift between the Lower Hall and Upper Gallery
* A new staircase linking the same floors
* Level routes throughout the building
* Raised floor in the undercroft for level access
* New entrances connecting the undercroft to the theatre

A welcoming entrance
* A new glass-fronted foyer (into the undercroft and to the theatre)
* Accessible toilets
* An accessible changing area for the theatre

Improving the Unicorn Theatre
* Level floor (with a smaller front pit retained)
* Gradual raked seating with new theatre seats
* Improved fittings

Heating / environmental improvements
* Replacement of old heaters with hot – and cold – air ventilation in the theatre
* New heating across the buildings

Alongside the building works, the Trust is developing a community activity plan to ensure the restored buildings are at the heart of the Abingdon community.

Mr Bensberg said that the total project cost is £5.4 million. With the National Lottery Heritage Fund providing £4 million, the Trust needs to raise £1.4 million in match funding. Of this, £1.1 million has already been secured, leaving approximately £300,000 still to raise by the end of the year to allow the project to begin next summer and be ready by the summer of 2027.

To help reach the final target, the Trust was launching a Patrons Scheme:
* Platinum — £5,000 contribution
* Gold — £2,500 contribution
* Silver — £1,000 contribution
* Bronze — a smaller contribution (need to check if interested)

Platinum to Silver patrons will appear on a Patrons Board and be invited to special events.

People can support the project with donations of any size. For details or to donate, visit: abingdonabbeybuildings.co.uk.