Monthly Archives: January 2017

Outline Planning Permission sought for 900 homes

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Planning
The formal start of consultation for outline planning permission for up to 900 homes and 50 retirement homes north of Abingdon is underway. The plans can be found at this link or by searching P17/V0050/O on the Vale Planning Site – where comments can be made.

Start Consultation Period   13th January 2017
End Consultation Period    15th February 2017
Target Decision Date            2nd May 2017

According to the application form, the outline plans also include a local centre, a site for a primary school, a care home comprising 80 beds, children’s nursery, public house / restaurant, retail spaces, open space, and sports pitches (near Peachcroft Farm). There will be accoustic fencing for the A34 noise.

Access would be by 2 junctions onto Dunmore Road, and 2 onto Twelve Acre Drive. The approximate size of the site can be seen on the picture above. Detailed plans would be put forward in due course.

(There is another informal consultation process in progress, from another developer, for 200 additional homes on the circus field by the Wootton Road roundabout.)

A Soldier’s Tale

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It doesn’t seem long since we were remembering the centenary of the start of WWI.

There was a moving ceremony with a reading of the names from the Abingdon (Borough) Roll of Service August 1914 – June 1919, and a candle-lit ceremony round the War Memorial.
W Carter
At Abingdon Library there is an board telling of an on-going project telling A Soldier’s Tale through THE FIRST WORLD WAR, TOLD THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AS IF IT WERE TODAY. The aim of the project is to capture the imagination of 13-18 year olds using a medium they know, understand and use.

Walter Carter, the soldier in the tale, is currently in a mental hospital undergoing treatment for shell shock.
W Carter
Above are pictured a group of Carters from Abingdon who died during WWI. They each had their story, which was not fiction, and cost them their lives.

Abingdon Ghost Signs

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Thanks to Captain Chaos for these Abingdon Ghost Signs, and background information.
Ghost Signs
The first sign is the old Hygienic Laundry on the corner of Wilsham Road.
Ghost Signs
Second is on the side of the house to the right of the entrance of Sydenham’s (ex Fred Knights), on Ock Street, and says ‘H Giles the builder’. At one time this house was a small shop run by Dick and Dolly, relatives of the Fitchetts who operated a Rag & Bone yard just across the road. The yard has gone, replaced by houses aptly named Fitchett yard.
Ghost Signs
The third is Brake Bros, seed and corn merchants. They operated in the yard at the back of the chip shop (once Dick Reeves) in an old garage that was once a coach company.
Ghost Signs
The fourth is clear to see. Edward street was famous as the only street in the world where there was day and night at the same time. Day’s the Baker at one end and Knights D.I.Y at the other.
Ghost Signs
Finally, the wording is badly faded but from memory it depicted the businesses of: P.L Barrett the undertaker, Pollards the plumbers, and E H Enoch’s coal merchants? It’s on the corner of Conduit road and Ock St.

Attempt to Save Children’s Centre hits brick wall

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Childrens Centre
Today a community interest group including local charities who have been trying to put together a proposal to continue running the South Abingdon Children’s Centre has run into a brick wall.

The Children’s Centre is due to close at the end of March because of OCC cuts to services, but could be saved by community investment.

However, the council is insisting that half of the commercial rent has to be paid in addition to the normal running costs for the building which means any community group would need to find £1,000 per week just to open the doors. Added to this the full costs of maintaining the building to its current standard have to be found.

For the 30 years I have lived in Abingdon there has been a centre to support children and families in South Abingdon. The need is as great as ever.