The first stage of a four-phase public consultation on the redevelopment of Dalton Barracks has been ongoing and two sessions were held today in Abingdon, one in the Northcourt Centre and one in the Roysse Room. The initial focus is to gather feedback on the vision for transforming the former military site into a Garden Village that integrates with the surrounding area and reflects the sites past. Out of this will come a Master plan

Dalton Barracks, located on the site of the former RAF Abingdon airfield, will cease military operations in 2031 as part of a government initiative. The airfield was operational from 1932 to 1992, and the site has used by the army logistic corps since, so the land will have served military purposes for 99 years.

In the initial phase of development, approximately 2,750 homes are planned and incorporated into the local development plan through 2041. A second phase aims to increase this to over 5,000 homes, constructed over a longer period.

The consultation process will include a master plan and more detailed plans in 2025, with a planning application expected in 2026. If approved, construction on the first homes could begin in 2029.

The project’s official website, www.daltonbarracks.com, has more information and provides a way to give feedback and sign up for updates. Abingdon Library has feedback forms for people who prefer paper and could not get to any of the events.

Outside the Aldi supermarket on the Wootton Road there have been roadworks since the start of September to replace the old gas mains. They have caused tailbacks particularly back along Copenhagen Drive.

Most of the houses at the Kings Gate development have been finished. There are still a few to be built close to the A34

There is no road sign yet for these houses but I did see a food bin with the name Hasnip Mead, presumably named after Audrey Hasnip, or possibly Keith Hasnip, both of whom were Mayors of Abingdon.

Walking through the Abbey Fields development there are three cross roads that end at the fence with the A34: Gower Road, Knights Mead, and Cox Way. There was Brian Gower Shoes. F Knight & Sons ran the hardware store that is now Sydenhams. And Cox? There have been two mayors of Abingdon with the name Cox, a Mayor of Ock Street called Cox, a local historian called Mieneke Cox, and various businesses called Cox. But I am probably missing the most obvious Cox.

There is still a lot of building activity in Abbey Fields.

Further along is The Meadows, where building work is fairly new. There is a new marketing suite, the third marketing suite on the walk.

Arriving at the Oxford Road Roundabout, work on upgrading the roundabout, planned to be completed in Autumn 2024, has been stalled for some months. Autumn ends on November 30th and so two weeks remain to meet that target. Beyond can be seen Radley Reach.

At Radley Reach are completed buildings and a lot of buildings work in progress and another marketing suite. It does not look as if anybody has moved in yet.

One of two new residential buildings has been lifted into position on the site of the demolished Ferry Boat House. The first building will comprise a one bedroom flat on the ground floor and a two-bedroom flat on the upper storeys.

A three-bedroom house with direct views of the River Thames has yet to arrive. The development will have small gardens, and between the two buildings car parking spaces.

The prefabricated building was transported to the site and lifted into place.

The town council has arranged for scaffolding to be installed in the Abbey Hall (Guildhall) to allow experts to safely access and remove ceiling tiles containing asbestos. This process is complex, costly, and requires approval from the HSE, which will take several weeks.

The council has granted the Abbey Cinema rent-free use of the Old Magistrates’ Court from 4th November 2024 to 31st January 2025 and free use of the Roysse Room on 14th and 15th December for pantomime performances. The Abbey Cinema will be screening Paddington in Peru in The Old Magistrates Court from 8th November, and have invested in new projection, audio, and screen technology. Tickets price of all films will be reduced to £7.50.