Category Archives: Guildhall

Upcoming Summer Jobs and Support Fair

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The Abingdon Summer Jobs and Support Fair is to be held in the Abingdon Guildhall on Weds 30th July 2014. It will be open to the public from 10:00 – 14:00, and will be a chance to discuss jobs, training, apprenticeships, and careers guidance, etc.

So far there is support from:
Summer Jobs and Support Fair

  • Abingdon and Witney College (skills training, apprenticeships and traineeships)
  • Ace Training (construction skills training)
  • The Army and Reserves
  • Dimensions Care (residential care)
  • National Careers Service (careers advice and guidance)
  • SOFEA (warehouse training and work experience, primarily for young people)
  • Oxfordshire County Council Children’s Service.

There are also to be confirmed local hotel / hospitality chains, recruitment agencies, and retail businesses.

There is still room for some more local employers to have a stand to meet potential applicants and discuss their jobs. There’s no cost to attend on the day, and interested employers should contact Employer Adviser at Department for Work and Pensions : James Gilpin

e-mail:JAMES.GILPIN1 @ DWP.GSI.GOV.UK .

Guildhall Plans – First Viewing

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Guildhall Plans
At the Guildhall this evening there was the first of two public meetings to view, hear about, and give opinions on the re-development of the modern part of the Guildhall. There is another meeting on Saturday 20th April at 10.30am. The plans can also be viewed for the next week or so.
Guildhall Plans
The architects took us through the proposals, which are still open to change. The total plan has a price ticket of £3.5M.

For that Abingdon will get a proper purpose built 100 seat cinema over the existing carpark at the back of the Guildhall for £1M.

The large Abbey Hall would be modified so that it could act as a Theatre / Cinema with raked (sloped) seating going up to the balcony. That seating could be withdrawn for the room to become a wedding / function / sport venue. That will cost £650K with improvements to the look, and lighting etc…
Guildhall Plans
Then there will be works to make things connect better and be accessible and sustainable. A new foyer will be added at the front which will connect through at ground level with the entrance from Bridge Street. Lifts and replacement stairways will allow access to all parts of the old and new building in a more easy to follow way.
Guildhall Plans
Some of the people involved showed off the 3d model of the project to a photographer. This is a project on which all sides agree.

After the presentation there were questions and answers.

Regarding the price ticket … The Town Council already has £1M left over from the money they were given by the District Council to take over a building that was loosing £120,000 a year. So they still have £2.5M to raise. It is anticipated with hard work £1M could be raised in grants. Leaving £1.5M to raise. If the Guildhall was better used then it would not be loosing money and £120,000 would not be lost year on year.

So the council could take out a public works loan for ten years or so, or raise the council tax to pay for the remainder up front. Another alternative would be to do some work now and some later. But that would end up costing more, and the initiative might get lost and the project never finished. For more information see the dedicated Guildhall Project website.