Category Archives: Uncategorized

A lot of meetings this week …

River Thames in Abingdon
The AGM of Abingdon-on-Thames Chamber of Commerce took place tonight and I believe Paul Townsend from E & R Goff will be chairman for a third year. Congratulations to Paul who has made lots of things happen.

Also tonight there was a meeting of South Abingdon Residents Plan to go through the final draft questionnaire that should soon be dropping through doors in that part of town. Volunteers to help drop off and collect questionnaires are still needed. Contact sarp@sarp.org.uk or neil@neilboston.co.uk .
River Thames in Abingdon
There will be questions on the questionnaire about future housing in the area, but possibly before all the results are collated the future of the 160 homes in a field will need to be decided by an outside planning inspector. There is another public meeting this Saturday at the Guildhall at 10am to keep people informed. I believe comments can be left for the Inspector at this link.

And tomorrow the Abingdon Hydro are doing a presentation about their project. They have withdrawn their planning application in order to do more studies to minimise disturbance during the construction of the turbines near the weir. Somebody did ask whether they had put black bags round trees to stop birds nesting near the site and if so whether they can be withdrawn.

Have Abingdon Public Conveniences had their day?

In November, the Vale of White Horse District Council asked people to respond to a survey of what services are important to them.

137 people responded.
20 people (15%) thought public toilets an important public service.
There were lots of other services but for comparison …
36 people (26%) thought council car parks an important public service.

As a result it appears from last weeks Abingdon Herald that council officers have suggested that the council could save money, by closing the public conveniences.
Abingdon Public Conveniences
The superloo in the car park near West St Helen’s Street has already been decommissioned and is waiting to be taken away. It was probably the least used.
Abingdon Public Conveniences
The superloos near the cricket club could follow.
Abingdon Public Conveniences
As could the normal loo near the Abbey Meadows
Abingdon Public Conveniences
And that at the Charter.

Another question in the survey asked which services are in most need of future investment.
37 (27%) said public toilets.
24 (18%) said Car Parks.

Approximately £40,000 a year can be saved by closing the remaining three public conveniences in Abingdon,

Have Abingdon Public Conveniences had their day?

2012: Diamond Jubilee, Olympics and flooding. 2013: Here We Come!

2012 quick look back
On Jan 1st the Town Crier kindly posed with the boots and sack as we walked round the 1556 Abingdon boundary.
February did celebrate Valentine’s Day but most people were already looking forward to the olympics.
March brought Mark Steele to town as part of the Abingdon Arts Festival.
In April people competed to see who could throw a bun the furthest and help the councillors during the diamond jubilee bun throw.
2012 quick look back
In May was the amazing Abingdon Air and Country Show.
In June was the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, and James May came with various contraptions to help councillors throw buns. It poured with rain but we showed Dunkirk Spirit.
In July Abingdon Museum was re-opened, and the Olympic Torch was carried through Abingdon.
2012 quick look back
In September the postponed Dragon Boat Racing took place – postponed because the river was flooded earlier in the year. The year started with a drought and hose pipe ban.
October brought the Ock Street Fair.
November brought floods, and December brought yet more floods.
2012 quick look back
Throughout the year contractors have been working on the Abbey Shopping Centre. Their super human efforts will hopefully mean a Happy New Year for Abingdon with shops like M&S and Debenhams queuing up to be part of this wonderful town.

Abingdon Scouts and Guides Christmas Card Delivery Service

Collection Boxes
For those who cannot afford to send ALL their Christmas Cards via Royal Mail – after this year’s large price hike – there is an alternative for local deliveries within the Abingdon, Marcham, and Shippon area. Just find an Abingdon Scouts and Guides Official Collection Box and put in 20p for each card you want delivered. All money goes to help the local Scouts and Guides.
Collection Boxes
There is one such collection box in the Guildhall (Bear Room) where there are Charity Christmas Cards on sale.
Collection Boxes
“Keep Calm It’s Only Christmas”.
Collection Boxes
Last posting day for Scouts and Guides delivery is 17 Dec 2012. Collection boxes can be found at

The Shoe Shop of Abingdon, Bath Street
The Clarks Shop, Bury Street
National Westminster Bank, Market Place
Charity Cards, Guildhall
Waitrose, Abbey Close
Sovereign Vale Housing office, Vineyard
Goff’s Newsagents, Bridge Street
Martins Newsagents, Peachcroft
Reynolds Way supermarket, Gainsborough Green
The Fone Box, 62 Wootton Road (Shops)
All Saints Church, Appleford Drive
Baptist Church, 35 Ock Street
St Edmunds Church, Radley Road
Christ Church, Northcourt Road
St Helens Church Centre
St Michael’s Church, Park Road
Trinity Church, Conduit Road
Radley Village Store