Abingdon Picture Framing have moved from their unit in the Homebase Store at the Fairacres Shopping Centre to Stert Street in Abingdon. This could mark the turn of the tide from out of town shopping centres back to Abingdon town centre.

What was a shoe shop for children, next to Throwing Buns, is to become a Jeweller. And I hear from Peter that the guitar shop in Stert Street will become an Estate Agents.

There is a town council meeting on 5th October which I cannot attend. I expect they will be making progress on the Guildhall and the Local Area Plan.

I’ll be at Preston Road Community Centre where we have the monthly committee meeting. So if anybody can make it to the town council to write a report that would be good. It is 7 pm in the Roysse Room.

The Bellinger Abingdon branch – at 111 Ock Street – is closing on 7th October 2016.

I got a letter this morning. It said … “Your vehicle and contact vehicles will be transferred to the Milton Gate site next door to Milton Park… If you can’t make it to Didcot we also have a large site in Grove.”

111 Ock Street is a long established Abingdon motor car sales centre. At one time it also sold petrol.

So what next for this site? Will it continue as Abingdon’s oldest continuous site for motor car dealers?

Gowrings acquired 111 Ock Street sometime between 1926 and 1930 as a depot for Ford motor cars. etc. The site then expanded to Mayott’s Road, acquiring all the properties between. In 1997 Bellingers took over the site and started selling Vauxhalls instead of Fords.

Pascal and Debbie retired a few weeks ago. The shop closed for a couple of weeks during the transition. The new team in charge are working hard to continue the success that Pascal and Debbie created on East St Helen Street. I see the lights on each evening as they prepare for the following day.

They had a stall under the County Hall during Heritage Day. Best Wishes for the retirement and the continued success of the business.