The Morland Gardens development is about two thirds complete and looks very good. I have just been reading what Taylor Wimpey have to say about the development and our town …

Surrounded by trees and hedgerows, Morland Gardens is a new development located on the southern edge of the lovely market town of Abingdon.

For the weekly shop, you can choose from Waitrose or The Co-operative both within 1.5 miles from Drayton Road and other supermarkets a little further from home.

For all your retail therapy needs, visit The Orchard Centre and the Clarendon Centre, both less than 10 miles from your door.  There is a lovely selection of pubs and restaurants in the town.

The last third of Morland Gardens to be developed is adjacent to what was the southern edge of Abingdon.

This road could have been called The Rookery, but the road names chosen are King Street, Bowler Gardens, and Thomas Way. The link could be from the WW1 Abingdon Roll of Honour …

KING, Percival Arthur
THOMAS, Albert
BOWLER, Edward John

Unless anybody knows better.

Work has begun on the redevelopment of the former Saxton Arms pub. The development will see the former pub turned into 6 apartments. A previous plan to turn the former public house into a convenience store didn’t work out. I think the plan was withdrawn after people said they did not want another convenience store.

The rainbow flag is currently draped round the monk on the roundabout on the Marcham Road entry to Abingdon.

Last year, Town Council Leader, Mike Badcock, was quoted in the Oxford Mail saying ‘he would like to see a return to the practice of decorating the abbot, who has sported everything from football shirts to Santa hats down the years.‘

In view of the monk, the Hilton Garden Inn extension is taking shape, with the first of four storeys.

The 150 room hotel, more than twice the current size, could be open in summer 2018 as part of this £12m build and revamp. The existing rooms will be revamped to bring them up to the new standard.

A planning application P18/V0492/FUL has been submitted for the Old Gaol ground floor.

Originally in 2008 when Cranbourne Homes became the successful bidder, against other schemes, the complex included two restaurants and a shop. The public feedback back than in 2008 was that there were a number of empty shops in Abingdon and so the plans were changed to three restaurants.

One restaurant area became a Costa. The other two are still vacant and, according to the planning application, the letting agent says ‘that larger multiple restaurant chains have not bought into the location of The Old Gaol …’ So the management company have put in a planning application for a change of use. This would involve converting one restaurant space into flats, and running the other themselves as a cafe / wine bar.