Monthly Archives: September 2015

Abingdon BID voting to take place in October 2015

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Abingdon BID
This evening, at the Crown and Thistle in Abingdon, the team behind the Abingdon BID (Business Improvement District) outlined their proposals to representatives from businesses in the town centre.

Ballet papers go out in the first week of October, and the result will be declared on October 29th. There needs to be both a majority of businesses, and also a majority of businesses by rateable value, for the BID to go ahead for five years.

There were also presentations from the Wellingborough BID, Lancaster BID, and Newbury BID telling people what their BIDs had achieved in their areas.

An overview of projects to be funded by the £800K from the BID levy – paid for by businesses in the Abingdon town centre area, over the next five years, would include:

  • Marketing, promotion and PR
  • High-quality events to boost trade
  • Improvements to the town centre environment with parking and cycling initiatives
  • Business support and lobbying on behalf of businesses

Full details are to be found at abingdon.bid

Traffic Mitigation will be successful if Traffic is no worse than before

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Two pedestrian crossings are replacing one crossing here in Abingdon. A developer came up with the scheme, and a planning inspector gave it the thumbs up, and so now it is nearly built.
2nd crossing
The 2nd replacement pedestrian crossing, at the top of Ock Street, has caused a lot of traffic problems while being built. And has made it more difficult for pedestrians to cross the roads.
2nd crossing
It also caused a lot of controversy before being built. It is being put in place to allow 158 dwellings to be built on Drayton Road, and should ensure traffic problems are no worse, after the additional housing, than they were before.
2nd crossing
Local people wanted no more developments in South Abingdon without better infrastructure. Local people argued that the development was in the wrong place but that did not sway the planning inspector.

Battle of Britain remembered

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Battle of Britain remembered
The Sisters of Swing sang at Abingdon Royal British Legion on Sunday to entertain people taking part in the Battle of Britain Classic Car Parade.
Battle of Britain remembered
The cars drove round Abingdon visiting “RAF Abingdon” and saluting the Lodge Hill Spitfire before returning to the Royal British Legion.
Battle of Britain remembered
Today (September 15th 2015) marked the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Heritage Open Days – Sunday

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Heritage Open Days - Sunday
At 11am on Sunday morning, the bells of St Nicolas were ringing, and the Town Crier was ringing his bell, and the dogs, who have very sensitive ears, were not enjoying the walk – yet.
Heritage Open Days - Sunday
Patrick, who led the Boundary Walk, made himself heard over the Bells of St Nics.
Heritage Open Days - Sunday
Pat Bryden organises the walks on the Sunday of Heritage Weekend, and some got overbooked. An extra walk was laid on for those who would otherwise have been disappointed – Hester volunteered to lead a second Abingdon Abbey Walk.
Heritage Open Days - Sunday
Residents of East St Helen Street, and round the Albert Park, and 3 Stert Street, and Oxfam in Stert Street, had put out interesting displays.

Last year the Museum put on the WWI commemoration event on the Market Place, and this year we remembered Victorian times, inspired by the Albert Park Residents Association who produced their book – 150 years after the Prince Albert Monument was unveiled.

So what next in 2016? It will be 50 years since England won the World Cup for one thing.