On the hottest day of the year people queued for 20-30 minutes at Tilsley Park to take part in a consultation being carried out by developers CEG about housing on land north of Abingdon. Large maps emphasized some of the community benefits that the development could bring, including a new primary school, footpaths and cycle ways, sports pitches and wide open spaces. The development could also give a financial contribution to a full diamond interchange at Lodge Hill.
Information about the consultation is available at North Abingdon Housing Proposals. The developers envisage work starting on the 900 homes in 2018 and ending by 2028.
How marvellous.
‘The development could also give a financial contribution to a full diamond interchange at Lodge Hill.’
The Vale’s gutless planners should be insisting on a large contribution to a diamond interchange before a housing brick is laid.
A sign of the times perhaps, tried to look at the proposals:
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Well, that’s a reassuring commitment to “infrastructure” by the developer colinb.
It was suggested we return home to look on line as they had run out of booklets and turnout was far higher than expected
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How are we supposed to comment now?
Sadly, there is more chance of me getting my monorail built, than the lodge hill diamond interchange happening before these houses are built.
Building a Primary school is great, but what happens in 10 years when the kids need to move to a secondary school and there isn’t one?
The developer will have taken the money and run by then, as usual.
Steve – all three of the secondary schools have capacity at present and could relatively easily add more through additional classrooms if required.
We receive long range projections from the county on pupil numbers so that we can plan for increased pupil numbers so we flex capacity if needed.
The educational issue is primary school capacity, particularly in North Abingdon.
Is the development going to have a G P surgery? I have to wait 3 weeks before seeing a doctor at the Malthouse Surgery now. I agree with Lyle. There is no chance of the Lodge Hill Diamond interchange being built before the houses. More traffic through Abingdon. Public consultations are a waste of time. Developers do what they want anyway.
It is a good job that we are going to busy ourselves with all this fluff; and in the meantime CEG can concentrate on what it needs to – profit. The rest is merely distraction. I wonder whether they’ll exceed their “affordable housing” commitment, or simply meet the requirement? Perhaps one or two of the houses will have a nod to solar panels (I remember a year or so ago there was a who-ha about the environment…I assume that’s passed now as it is no longer on the BBC). No doubt the receptionist at CEG will continue to earn £15, £17, £20 K a year and have to be grateful, whilst the CEO earns 50? 75? 100 times that…and we’ll all wonder why people can’t buy houses….but, hopefully we won’t think about that…and we will continue to be kept distracted just long enough to get the houses built. Let the blind-siding begin! Perhaps, if we are really, really good, compliant, quiet citizens…we’ll see that the flowers will be lovely at this new development.
Abingdon will become a dormitory town. The chap from CEG was very pleasant but had no clue about Abingdon and the current traffic issues/lack of decent shops/lack of affordable homes … he lives in London. Agree with other comments that the diamond interchange will never happen. Can’t wait to see the plans for the lorry park and park & ride that will compliment the housing estate.
Elsie – how marvellous.
“Abingdon will become a dormitory town” was being heard way back before the Beatles. It happend years ago ! (witness the tidal traffic flows)
Daniel – not sure how to take your comment, perhaps you could clarify.
Elsie; i sincerely apologise – not in any way directed at you. If it came across as such, it was unintentional.
What I meant, was we must only see this all as truly marvellous. And tge fact the rep from the developer knows nothing about the town just goes to show how “everything’s going to be ok”.
We are very lucky.
Greedy moneymen taking full advantage of a weak and pathetic OCC , VALE and Abingdon councils !!! Abingdon will be destroyed !!!! SHAME on you all !!!!
Nobody goes into business to make a loss; so blaming property developers for making money doesn’t seem to make much sense.
The real shame attaches to the earlier failure to have a proper housing plan in place.
I notice that Mr Corbyn’s challenger is suggesting that the UK should build 300,000 houses a year. That’s a lot of land…
It’s alright Paul – he has a plan.
He’s going to build them on the hopes and dreams of the proletariat 🙂
I don’t think anyone would argue with you that making money is a worth while venture if you are in business.
However doing so “no matter what”. Doing so for ill thought out reasons. Doing so regardless of what it means for others. Doing so as long as you are ok and s#d everyone else; that’s when it becomes an issue.
I thought there IS a proper housing plan in place (“proper” being a fairly loose term); and this will go ahead anyway.
As I said, the real issue we conveniently continue to be blindsided from. Which is a relief for all involved – except for those who continue to be negatively affected.
Everything is a foregone conclusion; a fait accompli.
There seems no point in speaking to these consultants, who may pretend to listen, but do not understand the current problems we have with traffic.
If there are any accidents on the A34 between north and south Abingdon, the Dumore Road then becomes the A34. People know this route and will use it. Last time this happened early in the morning, the whole of Abingdon came to a standstill until the following afternoon.
The speed limit along the Dunmore Road is 40mph, but there have never been any speed cameras, nor has there been any enforcement of this limit.
Many cars speed along this road and this happens day and night, doing 50, 60 + mph.
There should be a 30mph speed limit enforced once building has been completed in south Abingdon to see what effect it has on the traffic flow along the Dunmore Road, BEFORE any plans are approved, as the whole of Abingdon may come to a standstill if traffic backs up.
Children will be making there way to secondary schools across the Dunmore Road and it will need to be 30mph, as it will be a built up area on both sides of the road.
Abingdon is made up of estate, after estate, after estate, after estate, with very few individual homes in comparison with other towns and now we have another estate being proposed. How to ruin a town!!!!!!
Has CEG taken into account the roadwork system of Abingdon? At the best of times traffic queues are horrendous at the end of Long Furlong (Near McDonalds), Vineyard, Wootoon Road etc. How do CEG expect to resolve those problems? Furthermore, more houses means more pressure on Vale Of White Horse & Oxford County Council for bin collections, Adult Services, buses etc THIS DOES MEAN MORE MONEY BEING ONTO ON OUR COUNXIL TAXES!
Furthermore more houses means more work for the 999 services and gp services in Abingdon, more pressure on these services which mean an 8 minute wait for a red 999 call will be extended over 8 minutes and a 2-3 week wait for GP appointment could be in excess of over a month! Therefore meaning 999 services will be used inappropriately. Has CEG decided if these 900 homes will be privately owed or will a % go to the council for people needing council housing?
Has CEG taken into account it is a green belt? My understanding was green belt land could not be built in?!
Has CEG taken into account more houses mean more water, gas, electrical supplies THESE SERVICES AT THE BEST OF TIMES CANNOT MANAGE THE REPAIRS THAT ARE CURRENTLY NEEDED!
Can CEG tell me what is in Abingdon that are going to make people want to live their? The town centre of Abingdon is awful, rates are high and some shops empty, no variety.
Finally bus services will be needed.
This Should Not be allowed Green Belt is for the People NOT GREEDY DEVELOPERS What is our MP Doing about it or is sat with her finger up her backside. Do Lodge Hill interchange yes but 900 houses NO.
Go’s without saying that this will not end there, before we know it Radley will be part of Abingdon and plans to infill between Kennington and Radley and then we are part of Oxford.
The lodge hill A34 intersection should be completed before any further housing is built in or around Abingdon or as previously said that will never get done.