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.

Anybody travelling along the Marcham Road will see the large crane in the grounds of the soon to be expanded Oxford Abingdon Hotel.

The first thing that struck me is that the long jib sticks out as far as Homebase. It is a wonder it does not topple over.

I will be back in a couple of months time to see how the building has started to grow.

Work progresses on redeveloping the Open Air Pool at the Abbey Meadows. But with so many lorries coming and going along the path, to the service entrance round the side, the mud keeps getting churned up.

Other than work people, there are people going to the Abbey Brass Band hut who use the path – either to one of the training bands, or the senior band.

There was the problem of the dark as well, but a light has recently been added and improved matters a little. Gravel is sometimes put down, but it soon gets churned by the next few lorries.

One parent, who takes their son to band practice every week, suggested boards would have helped. Another band member told me there used to be a drier way round the edge but even that has become muddy. Wellington Boots are a necessity.