I took a stroll among the people of Abingdon this Friday evening as they unwound after a week of work. The Christmas Tree has been put up ready for next weekend’s Extravaganza.
Christmas lights are up. They will be turned on by three members of S Club 7 next Saturday – accompanied by whichever fan gets the highest mark on the Abingdon Quiz set by the Chamber of Commerce.
St Helen’s Church was lit up from inside for the end of a rehearsal or event.
The Co-op signs came down this evening and the new signs for Peacocks / Edinburgh Woollen Mill went up.
As one who complained about the drab appearance of this corner of the precinct, may I extend a welcome to Peacocks/ EWM to Abingdon.Would this also be the time for who ever is in charge, to get a move on and support local retailers, by sorting out the Multi-story car park, as promised some time ago.
The tree and lights are always a welcome addition to the Town centre during the festive season. Happy Ch………,no its to early yet.
EWM is coming ! That’s a real surprise and they are very welcome. I do hope they leave out the tartan shorbread and kilts and go for the clothes that appeal to so many of who are refugees from M&S.
The corner where peacocks is to be is now so bright and cheerful …welcolme and i hope you are a success
I got a wonderful blanket from EWM but the cat has claimed it so will look for another one for myself when the shop opens.
I notice whilst out walking this afternoon that some kind soul has pushed the capping stones from the top of both parapets of the bridge that leads into the car park of the Upper Reaches, they now sit in the mill stream below along with the damp proofing that was under them and at least one lantern lamp.
On another note I’ve just seen an advertising wagon going about featuring Morland Gardens new homes, I know they were offering to pay stamp duty and some deals were on a shared ownership basis, clearly they’re not selling as quickly as anticipated which begs several questions ? Are they too dear? Wrong location? Or have the number crunchers got their sums wrong and they’re just not needed ? The later of course opens all sorts of cans of worms !
Does anyone else think that the Christmas lights have the same outline as a row of underpants hanging from a washing line?
The Christmas carol definitely refers to the shepherds washing their socks by night…
Interesting, I wonder how sales are going in the other developments in Drayton, Steventon, Hendred and Didcot. Could it be that people are hesitant to buy due to impending mortgage rate rises?
If we had an M & S giving away free petrol in the middle of town it would make no difference to our footfall ! It’s about 8.20 am and the south of the town is gridlocked! West st Helens along the wharf and along Wilsham past Saxton is just stationary while looking across to the Culham rd they’re queued way past the football club back to the Culham rd, was speaking a town trader last week who said one if customers from Wallingford gave up trying get to town after queuing for over an hour along the Culham rd, surely this cannot go on ?
I agree the traffic situation should change and something ought to be done but will it ever, when I first lived in Abingdon in the mid-70’s changes were talked about, 1 bridge, 2 bridges, ring roads partially implemented and arguably badly connected, time passes and with no effective changes the situation in south Abingdon gets worse and worse. Wallingford as another ancient riverside town had a lot of similar problems to Abingdon traffic wise perhaps worse but got its river crossing and bypass/ring road, now I understand traders struggle to stay alive as the route around it leads to Didcot seemingly the local ‘golden’ town… so if any roads are built I’d put money on them leading there. Sadly I believe what we have now is as good as it will ever be.
Has the idiot, who tinkered with the traffic lights in Marcham Road and Ock Street and claimed there would never be more than 5 cars queuing on Drayton Road, ever been back to see it? Even Saturday lunchtime the queue was back to Preston Road.
Washerwoman – apparently Christmas decorations that look like pants are the new ‘big thing’…