Looking down on the Old Gaol it appears that about half the flat roofs on the new build will have vegetation. The Old Gaol website says, in the sustainability section “Sustainability features include: Green roof technology on some buildings to reduce annual water run-off by at least 50% …”.

The statue of Queen Victoria erected in Abingdon in 1887 to mark the Golden Jubilee was moved to the Abbey Gardens in the 1940s. The statue started life in the centre of a lot of buildings, and now has a more leafy outlook.

But in 2012 there are new buildings in front of her on the other side of the fence.

This must be the last plot of land in the town centre to be built upon. It is to be a large home that will care for the elderly.

This evening the workmen have been cutting down the steel framework that held up the old canopies -as rain fell. Today has been another rainy day.

There is one aspect of the Abbey Shopping Centre redevelopment that has met local opposition. After the drenching that fell during the bun throwing notices appeared down along the Abbey Shopping Centre saying …

Wot No Canopy?

A lot more signs have appeared over the last week to make it clear that businesses are still open along the Abbey Shopping Centre.

From Wednesday to Friday last week five units (between Boots and what was The Lemon Plaice) were reduced to rubble by demolition excavators. This is what it now looks like from the County Hall roof.

And this is the view from the fitness centre in Queen Street where people can watch the demolition machines in operation as they train on treadmills.