Walking round town this evening I spotted something going on at Mostly Books. They had an evening with the author Ali Shaw.
In St Nicolas Church artists and friends were there for the start of the Abingdon Artists Spring exhibition.
At Abingdon Music Centre a band could be heard rehearsing.
And at the Unicorn Theatre voices were raised in anger. It is the first night of ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ performed by Abingdon Drama Club.
and at John Mason School they were performing a stunning and highly produced version of the Wizard of Oz. Not bad for a Wednesday night and just goes to show that the whingers who like to frequent this board need to get out more!
Well said!
Ah Nick, if only the surreal world of treading the planks could be transposed into walking the pavements of Abingdon? What would Virginia Woolf have to say after walking around Abingdon? Oh, why is the guitar shop closing down? who will fill the empty Scuffs & No-Tag units? Why are three of Abingdons best independents up for sale? Why is the council spending £800k on a car park that’s closed more than its open? Whereas they could spend that money on demolishing the ridiculous un-used over head walk way that blights the area? Why has Sandy Lovatt said ( after Scottish widow pulled output heir £50mill obligation to the precinct) he wants to turn Abingdon into a leisure focused town, but sits on a council that gave, yes gave) away Abingdons only Athletic facility? Why have taxis been allowed to take over all parking around the square? Clearly they are not allowed to park in the lay-by until after 6.00pm, yet for most of the day the occupy all the lay-bys and have completely ruined the paving outside ASK by parking ( illegally) on the pavement ? Why is it that our traffic system doesn’t work? Talking to one of our independent traders today he was staggered at his new business rate demand, a rise of a staggering 18% ! And if that’s not bad enough a hand full of “do gooders” have imposed a further tax on business in the form of a BID! Do you know Nick grass root business were against a BID, but they were over-ruled by a lopsided voting system that allowed council owned ( yours & mine) property out vote that of the real business community
So Nick it’s not about being negative or a moaning troll it’s more about people that are frustrated and dissaponted in seeing a town that has so much to offer and so much potential being run into the ground by an endless stream of “those who know best” being totally devoid of vision and inspiration! ! As a leader of a council Sandy Lovat can’t just switch objective to suite himself! Life just ain’t like that
Superbly put as usual Captiankaos 2, absolutely spot on, thank goodness we have some contributors to this blog who genuinely speak for the majority in Abingdon. Unlike the blinkered few wearing rose-tinted specs.
From another “Whinger”…well said CK…shame that some people think that doing or saying nothing makes everything all hunkey dorey. Poor delusional people…
Wondering which are the independents closing down?
And you might have seen Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers at their last but one practice before the new season!
But does that give the taxi owners the right to park on the pavements damaging them and moving the flower displays so that they can park on the pavements – and to drop there fag ends where they park – they are out of order and the District Council needs to do something about the taxi drivers who are a law unto themselves.
I don’t want to sound too frivolous but is Mr Lovatt advocating a few casinos and strip clubs to add to Abingdon’s obviously thriving night scene?
Just because I perhaps don’t agree with everything or moan on here doesn’t make me a poor delusional person! Personally I really enjoy living in Abingdon, I love I can walk to the river, enjoy the open spaces such as The Abbey, enjoy the numerous free community events that are put on by dedicated hardworking people from the town such as The Passion Play. I love that we have different independent shops I can browse in. I understand & can see it has many negatives too & that lots go on behind the scenes. I understand the frustration & feel Abingdon could with some changes be a thriving town. Oh well I must be one of those blinkered people in my rose tinted glasses!
Abingdon Drama Club do some really good productions. However, one has to choose one’s play carefully. I remember after a particularly fraught day at work I went with a friend to see their production of John Osborne’s play, Look Back in Anger’. It was two people arguing over an ironing board all night. I quipped to my friend it was like being at home!!. Something a little lighter would have been good.
Colin, so you’re basically advocating dual standards? You’re saying a taxi is not a taxi when it’s sat in the lay-by outside Barclay before 6.00 because it’s queuing to get onto the rank and as such should be regarded as an ordinary vehicle despite the fact it regularly picks up from that location ? That’s an absurd excuse and certainly abusing the system! taxis can park where spaces are provided for shoppers? Buy woe betide the reverse happening! You then quite rightly raise the issue of the restaurant owner who double parks his Range Rover by the lay-by outside Smarts chippy, but in the next breath expect us to excuse the taxis that do the very same there ?
…this parking wouldn’t be an issue if they put a flower bed there.
No, I am not. I am saying that you are factually incorrect in your original statement that “Clearly they are not allowed to park in the lay-by until after 6.00pm,” because they *are* allowed to park there before 1800.
A licensed Hackney Carriage is both a regular car – required to abide by all applicable traffic laws and regulations – and a taxi – required to abide by additional laws and regulations – concurrently.
The Facilities provided in the town for taxis are woefully inadequate. I have heard numerous laughable ideas from our elected representatives as they seek to persecute Taxi drivers, including the ridiculous notion of moving all taxi’s to Queen street. We want reveller’s to be cleared out of the town quickly after a night out, but are not prepared to give the facilities to allow it to happen. Unfortunately we have too many people in elected positions who are hell bent on resolving personal grudges and vendettas then delivering what is best for the town.
Not wishing to ping pong posts on the rights and wrongs of taxis and the lay-by outside Barclays Bank Colin I’ve just rang the Vale and spoke with the licensing office who tell me taxis are most definitely not supposed to that ! But just as importantly you don’t want the publics vehicles parked on “your rank” well how do you think the shop keepers feel when your taxis are parked in places specifically designed for quick/convenience shopping? You’re not entering into the spirit of business cooperation are you ?
Picking up on the original post, there is a new “Whats On” leaflet out and about now with dates for loads of events between now and early June. Copies are available from the Information Centre, Library and various shops and cafes.
The next edition will be in the Town Crier magazine, due out in April and will carry events up to August.
Events include the Model Railway Exhibition tomorrow, premiere of a Terry Pratchett play and the always-popular Spring Cycling Festival in April, the Air Show and a Jazz Festival in May, Fun in the Park and Music in the Park in June plus numerous concerts, talks, sporting events and children’s activities.
Fuller – and regularly updated – events details can always be found at http://www.abingdon.gov.uk/events
Having now read the Herald article CK²’s post now makes even more sense….
I must say, that the leader of the TC and the BID both being on board with such an idea is a good thing; albeit about 3 years behind the curve…. Welcome to the party!
I’m not sure that online bullying and blustering actually counts as “doing something” for our town.
There’s no need for ping pong: I’m happy to share with you the benefits of my years of research, representations to the relevant authorities and direct experience, to help you rationalise with reality your perception of the taxi business in Abingdon, if you want.
As I said, your original statement is factually incorrect, as a taxi is allowed to park in the layby outside Barclays and if you are going to publish inaccurate and incorrect information in a public forum, then you must expect those who know to correct that.
Your last point would be reasonable, were that there was a spirit of business co-operation in central Abingdon. However, this is non existent: only last week, a member of the general public illegally parking on the main Ock Street rank said to me he had been told by a nearby business proprietor it was “alright to park there”, while in his shop. It is not alright and could end up with the old fellow being summonsed to court.
Other local business proprietors and customers are repeatedly parking where they are not entitled to by law and blocking access to the taxi ranks, for which the licence holders of the Vale have paid, through their fees.
That’s why it is quite wrong for someone who is not entitled by law, to park there, because it is ring fenced, separate from council tax and they are taking something for which somebody else has paid, in addition to obstructing, getting in the way of and making it more difficult for a taxi driver to carry out her lawful business.
The issues you raise with taxis waiting – not, in the main, parking – in The Square are I am afraid, symptomatic of the lack of business like civic leadership in Abingdon, a subject on which you have written many times in this forum. Moreover, they are relatively inexpensive to put right – unlike the plethora of other issues which you and others have repeatedly cited here.