Work on the new Premier Inn near the Marcham Interchange is nearing completion.
This raises the question of the future of the existing Premier Inn, a quarter mile away along the Marcham Road.
That, together with the Ock Mill Beefeater Restaurant, alongside, is owned by Whitbread.
John commented that a property agent has a brochure for the sale of the site at https://www.geraldeve.com/properties/?propertyid=26682, but at the moment it has a status of ‘withdrawn’. The site is not in the current Vale of White Horse local plan (2031), and would need planning permission for change to an alternative use.
Oxfordshire County Council is currently undertaking resurfacing work in Abingdon. They completely resurfaced Stert Street, which was last resurfaced in 2007 as part of the Abits project. Contractors are also resurfacing parts of Marcham Road and Colwell Drive.
The annual election of the Mayor of Ock Street took place earlier today in Abingdon-on-Thames. The election of the Mayor of Ock Street is taken very seriously by Morris dancers. The Mayor is responsible for leading the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers (ATMD) and for representing the town at various events. The election is held on the closest Saturday to the midsummer solstice and celebrates the town’s ancient Morris dancing heritage.
The day began with the polling boxes being put outside the Brewery Tap and inside Mayott House. All residents of Ock Street, its side streets, and all Morris dancers have a vote.
There followed a morning of Morris dancing in town.
The dancers and followers process between the venues behind the iconic Ox.
Voting continued throughout the day.
The two candidates were Harry Knight, who has been Mayor of Ock Street for eight of the last nine years, and Roger Cox, who was Mayor of Ock Street for the seven years before that.
Mr Stuart Jackson, the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers’ president, announced the result. (He was Mayor of Ock Street for eleven year in a row.)
The winner was Roger Cox.
The Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Councillor Gwyneth Lewis, congratulated Roger and presented him with the insignia, the sword and the cup of office.
The Morris Dancers then chaired Roger Cox along Ock Street.
That was followed by more Morris dancing at more venues in town.
The excellent visiting sides this year, who helped in the dancing, were Old Speckled Hen North West Clog Morris,
and Traditional Bampton Morris Dancers.
Lastly, here is a video of the tree commemorating former ATMD bagman, Tony Russell, near the Almshouses. The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers dance round that tree every year on The Mayor of Ock Street’s Day.
Oxfordshire County Council offer grant funding to enhance health and well-being in the Caldecott area of Abingdon. Grants range from £150 to £3,000, with a total fund of £25,000.
Community groups, charities, and companies can apply, but individuals should be part of an organization or have a partner.
Potential project ideas include mental and physical health support groups, initiatives promoting healthy eating, healthy mind and body activities, projects targeting isolation through befriending, and nature-focused endeavours like community gardens and environmental education.
