The town council planning committee is meeting tonight to review several proposals, including one for redeveloping a small square in Bury Street, the one with the trees and kiosks. This area was left untouched during the previous redevelopment of Bury Street.
The proposed plans would demolish one kiosk (currently Phone Box) and build two new kiosks. It would combine and extend units 19a (currently Khush’s Brow Boutique) and 20 (currently Timpson) to create a café with outdoor seating.
The larger tree (a Maple) would be kept, while the smaller tree (a Cherry) would be removed and replaced with planters.
The plans also include new benches, planters – one with a sculpture, new paving, and a mural on the high wall above the store being used for prom dresses.
On Broad Street, a featureless brick wall would become a community wall featuring art by local people.
For more information see: P25/V0236/FUL
Fine atmosphere
There’s a reference to a new cinema in the empty Peacock’s unit. Is this a new location for the Abbey Cinema?
The ref to new cinema is left over from the original plan it appears on there too! Strange.
You can put lipstick on a pig…
In case people are wondering, the businesses affected by this are moving to alternative spaces in the shopping centre – and the Unit 24 Community Space is moving next door to Unit 25 ( the former Gift Centre).
Not another cafe. Abingdon is all cafes and barbers.
I wonder if you say the same Janet if you go to say France or Spain where the cafe culture is a long-established feature of society? Personally I love seeing Abingdon’s outdoor cafe tables busy – people socialising and enjoying themselves, rather than just going about their business. Yes of course it would be great if we had more shops as well, but the fact that cafes seem to be able to make money and the shops don’t does rather suggest that people are making their choices.
Can’t get coffee or a hair cut on the internet. Cafe culture is part of the future for small towns, with town centres becoming social scenes rather than shopping centres. It was great on Saturday to see all the people sitting outside and the town was buzzing.