The Free Library building has been hidden behind scaffolding for quite some time. Now the covers are off, revealing the mix of Victorian and Mock Tudor architecture. Features include large bay windows, steep gables, and a grand stone doorway. Above it, the plaque reads ‘FREE LIBRARY’  It opened in 1895.

At street level, the right-hand side is Crumbs Sandwich Bar – in bright orange. On the left, a sweet and vape shop briefly occupied the space last summer — still under scaffolding at the time. Now, a new barbershop has taken its place.

On the other side of Crumbs is Efes, Abingdon’s first Turkish barbershop. (Crumbs is now in the middle of a barbershop sandwich.)

Efes has also had a quick update in the last week and now features foldaway doors and a newly laid floor. ‘Efes’ refers to the ancient city of Ephesus known from the bible. It is also a popular Turkish beer named after the ancient city.

A newly constructed footbridge for cyclists and pedestrians is now in place but remains fenced off. The bridge will connect the route from the Kings Gate estate and Aldi to a cycle path to the Abbey Fields estate via Tilsley Park.

Landscaping work still to be done now the machines have left.

Part of the retaining wall, and the bridge, at the Upper Reaches site in Abingdon are in need of repair to prevent further damage.

The freehold of the site is owned by Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC), inherited from Abingdon Borough Corporation after local government reorganization in 1974. In 1969, Abingdon Borough Council granted a 125-year lease, which still has 69 years to run. The current leaseholder, Contemporary Hotels Ltd., closed the hotel in June 2015, ten years ago, and is responsible for repairs and maintenance.

The Upper Reaches is part of the Central Abingdon Regeneration Framework (CARF), which aims to see the site redeveloped. In the past the leaseholder, through the Oxford Mail, has suggested redeveloping the site as hotel and residential. 69 years on a lease may not be seen as very long for any redevelopment, although it is a very long time for the site to remain derelict.

The lease can only be terminated early by mutual agreement between VWHDC and the leaseholder, and any plans for redevelopment need to be agreed between the lease holder and VWHDC.

The annual parish meeting is tomorrow (26/03/2025 at 19:00 – 21:00) at the Roysse Room in the Guildhall. This meeting ends with a time to ask questions about the town. Although the Town Council no longer has responsibility for the Upper Reaches they may still be asked to raise concerns with VWHDC on behalf of residents about this and other matters such as lack of progress with the unstable building on West St Helen Street.

The redevelopment of No. 22 Stert Street and No. 20 Queen Street, behind, is progressing. The shop at No. 22 Stert Street has been completed since August 2023 and occupied by a barber, while the remainder of the development has been ongoing.

No. 20 Queen Street previously housed a butcher’s on the ground floor and a gym on the first floor.

During the last couple of days, the medieval-style passageway through Queen Street has been temporarily closed to allow for the installation of underground services.

Most of the existing buildings have been converted into flats, with additional flats and solar panels added above the old roof.