Monthly Archives: August 2011

Was forward looking … now seems dated

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Charter Area
Reading the Abbey Shopping Centre and Charter Area development brief by the Vale of White Horse I was struck by the amount of criticism of Abingdon’s 1970s architecture. “At the time of its construction it was innovative and forward looking. Today, however, its environmental quality has declined and it seems dated.”
Charter Area
Spaces in the Charter Area are fragmented, underused and often lined by blank walls. The overhead walkways prevent sun penetration and make the area appear gloomy … the overhead walkways further add to the confused pedestrian routes in this area.
Charter Area
Of Broad Street … Currently the environment is of poor quality with many blank frontages giving the route an unsafe feel.

So the plan is to open it all up, let in the sun and have shop fronts down Broad Street. Find out more at Unit 33 of the Abbey Shopping Precinct on Thursday and Friday from 12.00 – 7.00pm.

Being outside is fun

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Being outside is fun maps
This ‘Being outside is fun’  map has appeared outside the South Abingdon Children’s Centre. It has lots of ideas what to do … watch the clouds … play Pooh sticks … play in the rain … take a picture book and read with you child ….
Being outside is fun maps

The map shows where to find playgrounds,  where to find ducks, and suggests blackberry picking.

There is no better time.

Office Space vacated by government agencies

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Office Space
One result of bringing youth services together at the NET in Abingdon is that office space has been freed up elsewhere. Connexions, the agency charged with helping to find young people work, are to move into the NET, and so have moved out of  Publishing House in Stert Street.
Office Space
Publishing House could well be redeveloped as part of the plans for the Charter Area. It is the first sight people get of the centre of Abingdon, and so needs to be made to look more welcoming.
Office Space
The probation service have also moved from 1-3 Ock Street and so there is Grade II Office space vacated there too. I have no idea where they went.

Putting faces to names

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After the Abingdon Chamber of Commerce event on the Market Place, I could put faces to some well known local names.
Chamber of Commerce
Slade Legal, previously known as Hodsons, have their Abingdon Office opposite Coxeters. They also operate from Didcot and Wallingford. The recent name change helps to differentiate them from Hodsons, the Estate Agent.
Chamber of Commerce
There was Redmayne Bentley, the Stockbrokers from Stert Street. They had a couple of competitions running: guess the weight of their dog, and guess which share from the FTSE 100 will do best over the rest of the year. I sometimes pause to watch the TV screen in their window – especially when shares are in turmoil, although I was on holiday last week and missed the excitement.  Hopefully shares will bounce back to give us a decent pension.
Chamber of Commerce
There was also Greg from Blue Door Lettings – and more recently Blue Door House Sales. Greg started blogging in 2005 a month or so before me. We have met at some recent Fair Trade meetings, but until today I had not put face to name.

Next Saturday is Fair Trade day on the Market Place – also organised by the revitalised Chamber of Commerce.