A lot of people were being shown round Old Abbey House last month. Now the autumn leaves are settling and the visits have slowed.

At present this building is a community asset that is not being used, and has been empty for several years. As a result the windows had to be protected.

Potential buyers will be working through the figures, deciding how much they can afford to pay, and what they will do with Old Abbey House.

The Friends of Abingdon Civic Society have put together a proposal that the building become an Arts and Community Centre for the Eastern Vale.  A summary of their ideas can be seen on the Abingdon Civic Society web site.

The Vale of White Horse District Council Cabinet will consider a report on the commercial bids and the community proposals at a meeting on 4th December.

If the Vale Cabinet get a decent commercial bid: one that  gives them the asking price (somebody mentioned £1m), and a use that is acceptable, then that will be considered.

If they get a community proposal that looks workable, then they could allow it to be progressed to see if it will work out.

If they get both, then it will be like comparing apples and pears.

Vale of White Horse district councillors have put together a plan for the future of the district and they want you to let them know what you think of it.

The survey – launched in July – is a chance to have your say on the priorities for the council in the next few years. The survey will run until Thursday 13 August so a few days to go.

Councillors have identified six areas they need to focus on:

Theme 1: Providing the homes people need
Theme 2: Tackling the climate emergency
Theme 3: Building healthy communities
Theme 4: Building stable council finances
Theme 5: Working in partnership with other organisations
Theme 6: Working in an open and inclusive way

The Survey is at https://survey.southandvale.gov.uk/s/Valecorporateplanfeedback/

There was a demonstration in the Abbey Grounds this afternoon in support of the Black Lives Matter movement worldwide. People attending were given a leaflet with Protest Etiquette. They were also posters at the entry asking people to wear masks, and keep to the 2 metre rule.

The event was peaceful and well organised and involved a lot of speeches, poems, songs and some chants. At one point everybody took to one knee for a few minutes in memory of George Floyd, whose death under the knee of a police officer in the USA started this worldwide protest.

The experience of speaker after speaker involved having been treated unfairly because of skin colour. One speaker said All Lives Matter, and Black Lives Matter too. It is sad that we need reminding in 2020.