There was a lot of rain this afternoon which left standing water on many roads and paths in Abingdon. At the top of East St Helen Street the run off from the Punchbowl and adjoining shops helped to cause a flash flood. The drainage never seems that good at that water juncture.
At Nic’s church water gushed out of the spouts of the gargoyles and so avoids splashing the building. There is the chance it will hit anybody not looking.
‘Oyey Oyez Oyez! … God Bless the Queen and God Bless Abingdon.’ The start and the end of the Town Crier’s cry is always the same. It is just what goes in-between that changes. Today he said ‘Happy New Year and welcome to the walk of the ancient Abingdon bounds.’
The Abingdon Boundary Walk began on the Market Place at 11 am, just as the rain began. Minutes before, there had been sunshine from over the river and a grey sky everywhere else. The Town Crier accompanying the walk rang his bell and cried at a half dozen stops on the walk. At the Ock Valley, however, he said ‘I won’t ring the bell here. I’m just spending a moment listening to the birds as we can hear them over the sound of the traffic.’ He has a west country accent. More Bristol than the pure Berkshire once spoken by Abingdonians.
Information on the walk was provided by Councillor Helen Pighills who described the original boundaries and told us how a town official once swam over the River Thames from near St Helen’s Wharf because the boundary runs along the far bank. In another place we took the scenic route rather than sticking strictly to the route – in order to avoid a narrow pavement and the busy Drayton Road.
There was no group Christian Aid walk today. Instead walkers can make their own way round.
There was a rainbow this morning in Bridge Street – a sign of hope on the last day of 2021.
In 2022, some of the long standing problems in Abingdon Town Centre should get resolved. They include the cause of this queue of traffic.
The arches under Abingdon Bridge need strengthening, and this meant reduced traffic access. The lights have caused tail backs up Bridge Street and Stert Street and possible air quality problems.
The leaseholder of the Upper Reaches leaseholder closed and boarded-up the hotel in 2015. Since then the site has become a blot on the river entry to Abingdon. The owner, Vale of White Horse District Council, will hopefully get the leaseholder to put forward acceptable plans for the sites future in 2022,
or take back the lease.
Most of the Charter Carpark has been closed since early March 2021. The closure did cause problems for people going to the charter vaccination centre in 2021.
There are other carpark available but the new civil parking enforcement, introduced from November 1st, has increased demand for public carparks.
2021 was the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic. Government restrictions continued to change how businesses could operate.
Press on Changes in 2021 for a bigger (pdf) version of the map showing the changes.
Key:
Green is a shop that was vacant at the start of the year which is now occupied.
Yellow means a change of business.
Red is a vacant shop premises that was occupied at the start of the year.
Change in 2007 ( 6 green, 5 yellow, 10 red ) – Net Loss 4
Change in 2008 ( 10 green, 8 yellow, 13 red ) – Net Loss 3
Change in 2009 ( 9 green, 6 yellow, 6 red ) – Net Gain 3
Change in 2010 ( 9 green, 6 yellow, 5 red ) – Net Gain 4
Change in 2011 ( 2 green, 8 yellow, 5 red ) – Net Loss 3
Change in 2012 ( 6 green, 1 yellow, 7 red ) – Net Loss 1
Change in 2013 ( 6 green, 8 yellow, 6 red ) – Net Change 0
Change in 2014 ( 6 green, 8 yellow, 6 red ) – Net Change 0
Change in 2015 ( 6 green, 8 yellow, 6 red ) – Net Change 0
Change in 2016 ( 10 green, 5 yellow, 5 red ) – Net Gain 5
Change in 2017 ( 3 green, 6 yellow, 7 red ) – Net Loss 4
Change in 2018 ( 7 green, 6 yellow, 4 red ) – Net Gain 3
Change in 2019 ( 4 green, 3 yellow, 7 red ) – Net Loss 3
Change in 2020 ( 6 green, 1 yellow, 8 red) – Net Loss 2
Change in 2021 ( 6 green, 1 yellow, 8 red) – Net Loss 2
Welcome to:
Missing Bean
Natty Nails
Starbucks
T△H△
Some businesses moved within the town centre:
Willow Shakeshop
Newbury Building Society,
Goodbye to:
Little Tea Room
Prices
The following closed at the end of 2020 or early 2021 but have been put down as 2021 closures:
Ebony Marni
Gifts and Gallery
Peacocks
Ox Vapours
Change to business in same premises
Av Boats took over from the Abingdon Boat Centre
(let me know any mistakes in this annual roundup)
The Shed will soon be opening at the Willow’s Shakeshop old premises. Masons in Stert Street is the oldest shop operating from the same premises.
Poundland continues to love Abingdon and be popular. The big shop opposite (Peacocks) is now empty.
