Thanks to Richard for this report …

Nick Clegg started the local Lib-Dem election campaign from Albert Park in Abingdon today. He turned up in a very yellow bus.

He gave a short speech and promoted the local Lib Dem candidate Layla Moran.

They then proceeded down to Conduit Road where he attempted to erect a placard in the front garden of a house – where he had a few problems getting it to stand up in the hard ground.

They then returned to the park where he gave interviews to the waiting cameramen and journalists. He was in Abingdon for a good hour and a half.

(Hope this makes sense. The meeting ran late and I need to go to bed so here goes…)

At the Town Council meeting there were presentations by The Abingdon Music Centre, detailing what work they were doing for the community, from their base under the Guildhall, and how they wanted to work with the Town Council in developments at the Guildhall. Then the Friends of the Pool said they were getting their message across and people realised that the Pool’s future is at risk, and so were happy for the consultation to continue.

There was a discussion about the council’s previous position on Residents parking. Town Centre Councillors, Julie Mayhew Archer, and Leslie Legge put their own proposal that the Town Council negotiate with the County Council for improvements to the scheme and the possibility of employing new staff in future when the remaining full time warden retires. The Council then agreed this new position. The council then joined in saying what an excellent service wardens had given over the years. I took the picture in 2007 when there was a Save our Traffic Wardens Petition.

There was some lengthy debate about changes to the council’s committee structures. The main change is that there will be a new committee for Community Services which takes over grants, and community events.

We learned that tenders had been received by the Guildhall Committee, from Cinema Operators, which are under consideration, but all of that is confidential, and an announcement may not be possible during an election period.

Councillors then discussed some motions proposed by individual councillors…

One, about the Guildhall, had the intention to make sure the council did not spend more than it could afford on the redevelopment project. But it also tried to state its own Plan B, which was not the same as the Guildhall Committees Plan B and so was sent back to the Guildhall Committee to decide.

Another concerned the way the Abbey Meadows Consultation had been undertaken. As a result the Council voted by 10-7 to ask the Town Clerk to write to the District Council asking for the current consultation to be halted, and a more open, transparent consultation be started in Summer 2015.

Lastly I believe that Councillor Helen Pighills will be the new Mayor so long as she can get re-elected.

It is almost exactly ten years since the last Save The Pool campaign.

The 2015 Save The Pool Campaigners have set up a pop-up pool outside the Community Shop in Bury Street to demonstrate the alternative if the Open Air Pool were to be filled in. They say the only way of keeping the pool, which first opened in 1952, is if people choose Option A after going to the Community Shop or http://tinyurl.com/AbbeyMeadow.

Inside the Community Shop the Abbey Meadow development options are outlined: Option A (Pool +), Option B (Cafe +) and Option C (Variety), and there are experts on hand from VWHDC (Vale of White Horse District Council) to answer questions.

Refurbishing the pool and making it structurally sound for the future could cost around £250K – so about half the budget. Refurbishing the changing area will take another £150K. But people could choose to get the pool done and not the changing area – perhaps improve the kiosk and add some seating instead.

Similarly the Cafe will take up a lot of the budget as it will be in an area prone to flooding.  Having taken advice VWHDC did not think an operator would be interested in financing the building stage, but once built, operators would be willing to run the cafe.

None of the options include improving the Sustrans cycleway to make for better dual cycle and pedestrian use, but Option C could take some pedestrians onto additional nature walks. None of the options appear to keep the pitch and putt either.

I gathered that VWHDC hope to get a clear mandate from this consultation.

Everybody in Abingdon should already have got a letter about voting in the forthcoming elections for parliament, district council, and town council.

1. Postal Vote
The quickest and easiest way is to vote by post. To do so you need to register by 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2015 – for an application form see www.southandvale.gov.uk.

2. Polling station.
About three weeks before election day you will be sent your official poll card and details of your polling station. To cast your vote at your polling station you need to do so between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 7 May 2015.
Polling stations are:
The Guildhall
Hadland Road Community Centre
Preston Road Community Centre
Long Furlong Community Centre
Scout Hut Farm Road
Northcourt Centre
Abingdon United Football Club
All Saints Methodist Church
St Johns Ambulance Headquarters
Jephson Common Room (may now be called Stonewater Common Room)
North East Abingdon Community Centre

3. Proxy
You can also ask a friend or family member to make the trip to the polling station or return a postal vote on your behalf. To find out more visit: www.southandvale.gov.uk or call 01235 540310. Applications must be received by Tuesday 28 April 2015.

If you miss this chance to vote the next one will be May 2019 for town and district, and May 2020 for national elections, by which time there will be a lot more water under the bridge.