Not sure where Sami’s Kebab Van has gone. I’ve been trying to design a route to help him get through – given Stert Street is closed. I think he would have to follow the red route below…
Trouble is we only have one bridge over the Thames! All the political parties of Abingdon agree we need a new one. The trouble is getting anybody outside with the necessary money to agree.
The left filter light along Ock Street has just been turned on.
Work must be almost complete on the Stert Street – it is closed overnight from the 19th to 22nd November for resurfacing.
Abingdon is to be awarded the prestigious ‘Most dug up town in Oxfordshire’ award for the second year running with thanks to the guys from County Highways who have made all of this possible, and Isis Accord who did the real hard work. If we can win again next year, we get to keep it.
(Just an update at 21:00 on this post with thanks to Martin G. Electricity work, that went wrong, has kept the road closed during the day as well as the night, causing gridlock and even more anger about Abingdon. The workers think it will be open again tomorrow morning.)
There was a lady doing a survey about shopping habits in Abingdon today – for the district council.
Before 1974, Abingdon Borough Council looked after everything including the roads. I have the impression that a few influential people could arrange matters down at the club – not sure how true that was.
But control has got fragmented. Not only are there three levels of local council, but an investment company controls the precinct…
The investment company have agreed with the district council to refurbish the precinct…
Despite that shops in the precinct have been closing this year. People blame the new traffic system, but Frend & Co the jeweller recently moved to West St Helens Street because they were being asked too much for a new lease. Going Places are now part of Thomas Cook and so have joined their shop along the precinct. Clarks have consolidated into one shop. Shoe Zone have just gone.
Halfords could be the next to close. They have larger shops in Cowley and now more recently in Didcot.
I have heard people say things will have to get worse, before anything radical can be done and things get better again. This may be all part of the plan of the investment bank to free up space and create larger shops to bring in some bigger players who will pay big money rents.
It was the end of one exhibition at the museum yesterday – called ‘Still Life in Stitches’ by the Oxford embroiderers. The museum closes for three days, and then opens again with a Christmas Exhibition.
Looking out of the museum window, there was a rainbow over the Abbey.