Work continues at Abbey House, the former HQ of the Vale of the White Horse District Council (VWHDC). Many VWHDC staff have already been moved to work at the South Oxfordshire District Council’s (SODC) HQ near Wallingford, leaving just front line staff to man the downstairs customer desks at Abbey House. The top two floors are to be taken over by staff from Oxfordshire County Council, and part of the ground floor will be used by the Abingdon Citizens Advice Bureau.

The only planning application so far is for increased ventilation. Natural ventilation will no longer be enough as staff numbers increase from 200 to 394 at peak times with Oxfordshire County Council moving staff in from out of town offices.

As well as the extra ventilation there looks to be a need for a new entrance at the side. That could be where the Citizens Advice will go. Presumably they will get their own air.

A field off the Drayton Road where contested plans for houses are still under consideration is currently full of buttercups. Here is the Timeline so far

Aug 2012: Hallam Land Management consult on proposed plans for 170 houses in field off Drayton Road
Nov 2012: Plans are Submitted by Hallam Land Management for 159 houses in field off Drayton Road
Nov 2012: Large Public Meeting against the plans at Guildhall
Jan 2012: VWHDC turns down planning application
Feb 2013: Hallam Land Management launch appeal
Feb 2013: Second Public Meeting against the plans at Guildhall
May 2013: Planning appeal held at Guildhall
Jul 2013: Appeal Decision allows plans so long as the traffic mitigation measures (pedestrian lights to hold up traffic) are put in place

??? ????: Hallam Sells land to Taylor Wimpey
Mar 2014: Taylor Wimpey sign erected outside field
Mar 2014: Hallam’s Traffic mitigation measures are rejected by Oxfordshire County Council
Apr 2014: Taylor Wimpey put in retrospective planning application for sign ‘Land Acquired’

Hallam Land Management Website says “Our application for 159 units was granted in the Spring of 2013. The land was sold to a national developer in Spring of 2014”.

Taylor Wimpey website says “The site at Drayton Road, Abingdon already has detailed consent, however Taylor Wimpey will be replanning and lodging a new application in Spring 2014.”

The theme for the May 1st City Daily Photo is Squares. Last month was triangles.

A few weeks ago the demolition of the Mayott House – old people’s home – began. Different components were sorted and I got a picture of roof tiles stacked in square sided containers.

Beyond the square end of the hoardings, some rubble still remains from the concrete foundations, but the square plot of land is mostly cleared.

New independent living quarters for elderly people will emerge on the site. The building contractor has just been selected from among the tenderers.