Draft plans for improvements to the Abbey Buildings are on display in the checker. There are a series of options set out for early discussions.

The Friends of Abingdon, custodians of the buildings, are preparing for an application for Heritage Lottery Funding and will be looking to improve access, and the usefulness of the buildings for the next 50 years.

The Friends themselves are to split into two charities, one dedicated to looking after the Abbey Buildings,

and the other a Civic Society, with a more general interest in looking after the town of Abingdon.

The annual Heritage Open Day (8th September) will be a more low key affair this year. I am passing control to somebody else who will take the lead and is already planning for 2019. So for 2018 any buildings that wish to open will do. There will also be some walks. So it will be a more relaxed affair, not the usual themed event with leaflets.

Also in 2018 the Abingdon Area Archaeological and Historical Society are celebrating their 50th anniversary with an exhibition and some big events.

The Vale of White Horse District Council’s Local Plan: 2031 (Part 1) was adopted this evening at a Full Council Meeting at the Beacon in Wantage. The government planning inspector recently wrote a letter saying he found the plan sound, and the council adopted the plan formally this evening with 31 votes in favour and 5 abstentions.

Now the plan is adopted the district’s five year land supply is secure and major development should only happen in areas identified in the Local Plan.

This means that some land in Abingdon, Kennington and Radley is removed from the Green Belt and can be built on. The plan includes 800 dwellings north of Abingdon, and 200 north west of Abingdon.

At the same meeting Faringdon and Blewbury had their neighbourhood plans adopted. Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council are working on our neighbourhood plan.

Planning permission was given in June for (P15/V1049/FUL) the conversion of the grass area in the middle of the running track at Tilsley Park to form  a synthetic pitch for rugby and football use. It has, up to now, been used as a competitive area for throwing javelin, discus and hammer. The conversion of the grass area has been delayed after protests from throwers who use the facility for winter training.

A second planning application (P15/V2198/FUL) is now being considered by the Vale of White Horse District Planning Department. It involves improvements to the practice throwing area at the side of Tilsley Park, including the addition of floodlighting for winter use.

The prospect of floodlights has brought protests from neighbouring properties, in the line of the new flood lighting – and an objection from the the town council.

A non political group has come together in North Abingdon – called the ‘North Abingdon Local Planning Group’ (NALPG).

At Long Furlong Community Centre on Saturday morning, at the same time as the 24 hour carols, there was the second of 2 drop in sessions to give local residents a chance to talk to members of NALPG.

They are opposing the Vale of White Horse (VWHDC) Local Plan 2031 because:

• 1000 homes would be built in North Abingdon
• Green Belt land is in danger
• traffic congestion and air quality could be made worse

The 2031 plan has been approved by VWHDC, and now goes to the independent planning inspectorate. The plan can still at this late stage be changed – if demonstrated to be not ‘sound’ or not meeting legal requirements, which is why NALPG want people to comment.

Information is also available on their website to help people to comment. The deadline for comments is 19th Dec 2014 at 4:30pm.

NALPG members told me that these plans do not just effect North Abingdon. The plans could have a considerable effect on traffic and air quality in central and south Abingdon.

If VWHDC are NOT successful in securing the A34 full diamond interchange at Lodge Hill – a big unknown at this stage, then the peripheral road will become more like an estate road with roundabouts and crossings – possibly 30 MPH. It is anticipated that a lot of the new jobs will be to the south of Abingdon in places like Harwell, and Milton Park. That will result in more traffic heading from the new houses round the peripheral road, stopping traffic getting to the A34 from central and south Abingdon – making congestion and air quality worse all round.

The big question is where would the houses go if not on the Green Belt – close to North Abingdon.