The Town Council is creating a Neighbourhood Plan and needs local people to help make it the best it can be.
The plan will take a long-term view of what in our town needs protecting and what could be changed. It will be written by the local community of Abingdon, the people who know and love the area, and its creation is being led by a steering group accountable to the Town Council. Upon completion it will be subject to an independent examination and then a local referendum. Should this referendum be successful, the plan has legal force. The local planning authority (Vale of White Horse District Council) must then take the Abingdon Neighbourhood Plan’s policies into account when considering planning issues across the town.
Over the next two weeks, starting today, there will be ten themed virtual focus groups to gather views and ideas. Places are limited to 15 people per group. You can sign up for more than one but they would like to hear from as many people as possible. There will be further opportunities for people to get involved as the process continues.
Groups include:
Abingdon Families – Tue 23 Feb 2021
Access & Movement – Wed 24 Feb 2021
Leisure & Sports – Thu 25 Feb 2021
Culture – Thu 25 Feb 2021
Healthy Town & Outdoor Recreation – Fr 26 Feb 2021
The Environment – Mon 1 Mar 2021
Heritage & The built environment – Tue 2 Mar 2021
Business, Economy & The Town Centre – Wed 3 Mar 2021
Youth 7-11 Years Old – Mon 8 Mar 2021
Youth 12-16 Years Old – Tue 9 Mar 2021
See https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/abingdon-news/abingdon-thames-town-council/neighbourhood-plan-focus-groups to read about each focus group and sign up on line.
What a good idea providing notice is taken of the views of each group and this is not a paper exercise. Odd that there is no group focusing on the specific needs of older people however.
This was considered at some length, but it was thought that it was quite difficult to identify issues which were exclusively relevant to older people – and how do you define older people anyway in these days when 70 is the new 50 etc etc? Hopefully “older people” will contribute to some of these themes but as the message says, this will not be the only engagement exercise so if people feel there is a need for something specific to them I am sure it will be arranged.
And ‘older’ people may not have/be able to use the technology. Hopefully as the process continues, and life returns to ‘normal’, then face to face groups could be formed.
Not my experince Kelly. Abingdon U3A has thrived during the pandemic, using Zoom for fortnightly meetings and groups as well as many other social media platforms to keep in contact and busy.
Remember we were the generation who first used internet technology and helped it evolve. I’m sure there are plenty of us who would be able to contribute via whatever platform was decided upon.
I agree with Chris.
I would also like to see more disabled parking spaces and a street parking attendant. Both of these could be under the Access and Movement Group.
Thank you Hester: reassuring that the issue was considered and not missed !