Dorothy Perkins, in Abingdon, is to close a month from now and currently have a closing down sale.
The shop in Abingdon is quite small and is packed with rails of women’s fashion, and some accessories. Staff are very friendly and say there will still be a Dorothy Perkins in Witney and Oxford.
Have you ever wondered who was Dorothy Perkins. The chain began life in 1909 as H.P. Newman, and adopted its current name in 1939. It was not named after a real person but after a veteran rambling rose. (Thanks to Georges Seguin (Okki) for the picture of the Dorothy Perkins rose found on wikipedia.)
It is a shame that this shop is to close it makes the choice of shops less in Abingdon.
Indeed Janet, indeed, of course the question is why? the company looks to be healthy, is it high rents and they’ve come to a point in their lease when they can walk away? Be interesting to know?
Anyone confirm the rumour Roses Tea room is for sale?
And why the children’s air ambulance charity shop has been closed for over a month?
Good news is that the old Stan James Shop in High st has been let and the empty Shop in East saint Helens is to be another hairdresser!
On another note it would be good to know how Abingdon compares with other towns in terms of unemployment?
There are quite a few shops advertising for staff and most of the restaurants are finding it difficult to find good waiting staff
Abingdon has very low unemployment rates. Mainly transactional (people moving between jobs) and hardcore (due to choice or severe personal restrictions).
Most of the issues the town is facing are very typical of market towns. Whilst there are certainly towns who have been able to buck the trend, sadly we are in no way atypical.
The frustration is we have many advantages that might allow us to be one of the exceptions. Fantastic history, natural beauty, string local economy, etc. The challenge is we suffer from the twin blights of a lack leadsership and vision from our poltical parties (more interested in beating each other than fixing the twon’s peoblems), and too many, potentially more capable, people sniping from the sidelines who choose not to get involved themselves.
A lot of those who are out of work have health problems – mental or physical – which put them at a disadvantage when looking for jobs. Also, while the unemployment figures may look low, a big problem is under-employment: many employers are reluctant to offer contracts for more than 16 hours p.w, but it is not easy for people to find additional part-time hours to fit round the first job.
It’s a shame and will leave only Fat Face for the 20-40s, and New Look, for the teen market, as the only really good clothes shops left. Dorothy Perkins you could rely on for decent accessories and the occasional decent bit of ladies workwear.
I’m taking bets on whether a Turkish barber, or Opticians will take over the lease.
https://propertylink.estatesgazette.com/commercial-property-for-rent/abingdon
Listed here:
Horsemouth, Rosies is listed here (14th). So is many other empty properties.
Only two town centre shops on there though – hopefully that means that there are people in the pipeline for the others that are currently empty.
2 town centre shops on that agency site. There are many other agencies. sadly.
https://www.primelocation.com/for-sale/commercial/property/abingdon/
…I can’t remember; does Abingdon have an MP?
Layla Moran seems to be an intelligent and hard working person. The problem is that Parliamentary time is so dominated by Brexit that there appears to be little Government energy for domestic policy, apart from keeping people from overseas out of the UK.
Social care, health, education, policing and local government are consistently under-funded. I imagine that many MPs (of all parties) are finding that the concerns of their constituents are marginalised.
We have a government which is being held to ransom by a minority group of its own MPs and a fear of putting nation before party.
I am uncertain of the rest of it; but Layla can’t be so busy that she hasn’t had time to write a strongly worded email about one, some, or any of the local issues that effect her constituents so gravely that that’s why she was elected in the first place.
meanwhile…lots of people from overseas come to the UK?
Daniel
I am surprised – I and several of my acquaintances have emailed Layla about various issues and always had prompt responses (and i dont mean the bland, copy and pasted variety used by her predecessor). I personally know of at least one instance where she pursued an issue with the relevant body and got a result.
Are you saying she has not followed up things you have raised with her – or making a more general observation. If the latter, how do you know? A quick glance at “They Work for You” gives the impression she has been pretty active.
I did get a round robin email from her saying all the wonderful things that had been done, or why the yellow party was the one to vote for (or similar); I did reply to that; and the reply that I got was an email to someone else – an officer, or her staff that simply said something like “please can you go back to the person on these issues”. I never heard anything else.
There are large (and not so large) fundamental issues that greatly affect our town; how it is stifled, how it could succeed. We all know what they are…traffic, Lodge Hill, planning, the retail or central offer of “The Town”…it is the same issues that affected the town two years ago (or whenever it was) that she got voted in. It is the same issue that affected the town when her predecessor was “in charge” and it is the same issues that affected us when her predecessor was in charge too…
I just thought we would have some good news on the horizon by now… But there’s still no horizon in sight, let alone good news on it.
What was the issue she got a result on? Please…shout it from the roof tops!*
*roof top open from 12-12:15 on every second Wednesday of every third month in a leap year, weather permitting, £15/adult, concessions available at prior written (only) request after consultation by closed committee. Previous applicants need not apply. Forms available from the main office – located at various locations, changing on an adhoc basis. Please note; forms carry a £5.99 handling fee (full registration for payment is necessary – requiring at least 3 forms of ID – at least one of which MUST be an original birth certificate) and are NOT downloadable, but must be handed in as a hard copy via the appropriate route on the days specified at the third parish meeting held after September. Full details available upon request (further undisclosed handling fee applies). We welcome and encourage your support for our roof top. The views of the flowers are lovely.
Slight change of subject, Daniel, but maybe you could expand your regular comment about the flowers to add in the Abbey Meadow – the play area last year and the outdoor pool this year have become a real asset to the town – bringing a lot of pleasure to a lot of people.
Hester, I have! I have stated, as a true fact, that the revamped play area, the water park, and now the pool makes Abingdon an absolute “go to” place for miles around. That area is an asset and a jewel, and shows what can truly be done.
Could you imagine what else could be achieved!
And what with the flowers too…!!
However…let us see how things progress…the word is, is that we are in for a heatwave….how fastidiously will the splash park have the tap turned off?