In Abingdon’s Cattle Market car park, fences once again surround the site, and machinery lifts the old asphalt.

The works were delayed after uncovering something far older than the car park and the cattle market that was on the site. Archaeologists identified layers of Medieval and Roman deposits, including pottery fragments. Human burials were found beneath the site, and the remains of a stone wall, possibly a former Bell Tower once recorded nearby.

The work has resumed to improve the car park, a project funded by Thames Water and managed by Vale of White Horse District Council. The planned improvements include resurfacing, a new layout, new lighting, and a rain garden to manage rainwater runoff and improve the carpark’s biodiversity.

The improvements are expected to be completed by March 2025.

The Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC) will close the Cattle Market car park to vehicles and pedestrians from November 11th, 2024.

The closure, lasting up to twenty weeks, will allow for an archaeological survey, followed by improvements to the car park, including:
* Layout
* Resurfacing
* Lighting

* Creation of a garden to soak away rainwater and improve biodiversity.

There are alternative VWHDC car parks, including:
* Civic car park
* Audlett Drive car park
* Abbey Close car park
* Rye Farm car park
* Charter multi-story car park (limited access)
* West St Helen Street (long queue to get out if traffic is bad in West St Helen Street).

See https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/cattle-market

Car Parking charges in Abingdon go up from 4th April. The big change is that only one hour will now be free in public car parks. It uses to be two hours free parking. You can check the Vale website for the full charges, but two hours will now cost £1.50.

There were also tariff changes for street parking, which are now slightly cheaper for two hours.

There was a free for all before November 1st. Since then residents, and visitors, are getting caught out by the stricter Civil Parking enforcement. The new company running the scheme, on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council, is giving no leeway. I spotted these 3 penalty charge notices (PCNs), yesterday, walking up East St Helen Street.

1. Waiting a permit.

2. Wheels behind the line and the bumper in front.

3. Not showing the blue badge arrival clock in the disabled space? The ID alone may not work.

Fines have increased from £40, last time I got one, to £70 (or half that if you pay within the shorter time shown on the PCN.)