Reading the Abbey Shopping Centre and Charter Area development brief by the Vale of White Horse I was struck by the amount of criticism of Abingdon’s 1970s architecture. “At the time of its construction it was innovative and forward looking. Today, however, its environmental quality has declined and it seems dated.”
Spaces in the Charter Area are fragmented, underused and often lined by blank walls. The overhead walkways prevent sun penetration and make the area appear gloomy … the overhead walkways further add to the confused pedestrian routes in this area.
Of Broad Street … Currently the environment is of poor quality with many blank frontages giving the route an unsafe feel.
So the plan is to open it all up, let in the sun and have shop fronts down Broad Street. Find out more at Unit 33 of the Abbey Shopping Precinct on Thursday and Friday from 12.00 – 7.00pm.
At the time of its construction, it was ugly, now it is both ugly and dated. I say it is time to get the Vale “planners” OUT of Abingdon. The Vale seems to be incapable of doing anything right, and should be kept out of the Abbey Meadows pool and area, no matter how much effort it takes to do so !!!!
blank walls make people feel unsafe !?
I agree with Carl, this would never have looked good, back then or now. Especially when you see pictures of the lovely buildings which were destroyed to make this uncharacteristic mess. I hope that with the new design they will give us shop fronts which tie in with Abingdon’s image as the oldest town in England. As for another large supermarket, that is a joke and not what Abingdon needs, we already have plenty.
Yes, the whole Bury Street/Charter is a tribute to numpty architects, but don’t be too sure that any new design will be better. The nitwits-in-control will listen to someone they’ve been told is an ‘expert’ as the nitwits-in-control are totally clueless themselves.
Whatever the design its height should not exceed that of the ‘Town Hall’ by a long way.
And why is no one suggesting that the Telephone Exchange be napalmed?
For those who don’t understand … you need a major food store in the development to create ‘traffic’. Those who’d like to persuade you that they know what they’re talking about refer to ‘traffic’ as ‘footfall’ as they’ve no understanding of the competitive environment town centres are operating in.
For ‘foodstore’ think Aldi, or Lidl as a Sainsbury is too close to current options.
All this would have been unnecessary had the then nitwits-in-charge not given Tesco permission to build where they did.
Carl, although I agree with the point youre making im not sure why you say what you have about the Abbey pool and area. The Vale have done a wonderful job around there and have just yet again been awarded a green flag award for what has been done in the Abbey gardens? Maybe we would be better off if more power was given locally rather than have district councillors decide whats best for us but i think its unfair to complain about everything just because you dont like some of what they have done.
Many people will say what lovely buildings the whole precinct and Charter replaced.
I am sure at the time the modern thinking was to demolish and modernise. Today the thinking is more about restoration. {Even if it is just the frontages of buildings}.
I work opposite the old Radcliffe Infirmery and am watching as all the buildings are encased in plastic and all the work behind the frontages. (retaining the church/chapel).
Native, 1) My concern regarding the outdoor pool area comes from the recent design contest for an “enhancement” to the pool area, which produced a number of outstandingly UGLY designs.
2) I think you’l find the Town Council is responsible for the gardens, which are lovely, no matter who did them
3) Leave out the word “Maybe” in your statement which follows, and I will agree wholeheartedly with you: “Maybe we would be better off if more power was given locally rather than have district councillors decide whats best for us…..”
4) IMHO, it’s time for the Town of Abingdon-on-Thames to take back control of its destiny !!
Really High walls of the ex Woolworths/Poundshop
(create narrow & dark Corridors if you like) Overpower the Library keeping it in shade.
I don’t think they will go, (plans to put the Library and Doctors Surgery on the floor above??)
A lot of money has been spent on the GP surgery to put all the rooms on ground floor level (DDA). The Day Centre (I know a few people who use the Charter and The Abingdon Square premises), they have been ‘evicted once when the Day Centres swapped places…Elderly services from the Charter moved to Abbey Place on Audlett Drive, and the Adult Services moved into the Charter.
My question why??, clearly not a good idea, appears to have been steam-rollered through. The latest round of allowing public to make their veiws known about the plans. Why, to be ignored completely??. pointless waste of time. Inevitable that another Hyper Market (Lidl or Aldi would be a plus!!} has to be built to fund the precinct refurb!!!!
Carl,
To put your mind at rest, the Lido designs were a theoretical student project put on by a Abingdon Urban Design firm to celebrate their 125 years in Abingdon.
The Abbey Grounds and Meadows are maintained by the District and its restoration was a Heritage Lottery funded project undertaken by a department in the District council which no longer exists due to budgets cuts.
For God’s Sake! A whole load of trainspotters disappearing up their own anii … is that the plural? Should I have said ‘up their communal anus’?
This is not a poseur competition, it’s a little more important.
I reckon we should all go along to this ‘planning-empty-shop’ thingy and see whether there are any good ideas worth looting …
… no chance.
And Backstreeter thought his Bananna-Man Costume was a disguise.
Nothing wrong with healthy debate concerning the complete mess, which is Abingdon town centre.
Colin …
“(Lidl or Aldi would be a plus!!}”
Were Abingdon a blank canvas I would agree with your obvious sentiment, but the fate of the town was settled as soon as Tesco was given permission to built their retail-magnet off the Marcham Road.
Tesco is a great company in that it has focus and a determination to knock-out any local competition. Sited on the periphery of a town it’s lethal, but in the centre of a town ((Northallerton, for example) it can be beneficial to established local retailers. However, given a ‘standing dish’ like Abingdon a predator can’t resist its instincts.
Colin, you might like Harrods to open a rural branch in Bury Street as that would be ‘classy’, but, sorry, that’s not going to happen.
Consumer spending flows downhill and a Sainsburys wouldn’t work as its retail identity is too close to Waitrose … that’s an idea, let’s put a bit of pressure on Waitrose!
You might not have been in an Aldi, or a Lidl. I’ll tell you that they don’t waste the money they take from you on their ‘retail environment’, but they work as a ‘traffic driver’.
The clock is not going to turn back. Abingdon town centre is never going to osmose into a pastiche of the 1950’s and no one is going to build a cobbled street along which the Hovis Boy can ride his bike.
Thinking about the town centre is wrong-headed … forget the answers, start asking some relevant questions.
Have spoken to the Vale – and others had done so already – they accept that opening their display on one or more Saturdays would be a good idea – watch out for an announcement re the date.
…so, went along this afternoon to the ‘display’. I thought, whilst fairly vibrant and well attended…it was rather dissapointing. Considering the impact this all has on the town, I thought effort put in by the council (not the staff there – they were friendly and informative) but i mean the ‘look’ of it all was a little drab. However I did have a very good chat with a chap there from the Vale, and I certainly learnt a thing or two. Although I would only ever take everything said with a pinch of salt – For now at least, my mind is at rest (sort of)….
He also said, as Hester says, that there may well be a ‘weekend’ display too. I did also over hear another conversation regarding what the ‘retail anchor’ could be. If people don’t want something…they really need to make this known to the council.
Like Action4Abingdon grew out of an area to discuss/debate the (failed)AbITS…is there another area to discuss/debate/relay findings regarding this – Abingdon’s biggest development? I think it would be good if there were. Maybe, if the ChAPs people ever read this…they could have a forum on their website? It amazes me that they don’t anyway…but if nothing else they could have one to discuss this? Just a thought.