I am suprised to see quite so many new signs fixed round Abbey House pointing to the Council Chamber entrance.
There are two very grand entrances to Abbey House, the home of the Vale of White Horse District Council, but the door to the Council Chamber is not one of them. The new Council Chamber is really just a committee room entered through a small external door, and can be easily missed.
Tonight’s District Council Full Council meeting (Wed 14th Dec at 7pm) is at the Guildhall, now owned by the Town Council. So on this occasion Don’t follow signs to the Council Chamber Entrance!
Just looking at the agenda for anything of interest tonight …
A cross party motion …
Motion to be proposed by Councillor Angela Lawrence and seconded by Councillor Peter Jones: This council resolves to use every channel available to it to persuade the Government to alter planning law to recognise that a local public house becoming a shop is a change of use…
Agreement to changes to Abbey shopping centre plans that came through public consultation…. This £4M revamp by Scottish Widows has already been approved last week by the district planning committee, and there is a virtual fly through tour you can take on Youtube. Work to start in February and targeted for completion by Autumn 2012. …
Consultation on development to the Charter area should happen in Spring 2012 with plans by Autumn.
Great to see that there’ll be no over-weight problem in the Abingdon population by the time the shopping centre is completed.
I suppose this is not a good time to say I cannot see a huge difference, other than the removal of the rain protective canopy. Am I missing something?
i don’t see much change either – it’s like the before video has been put up by mistake!
The three main changes are:
– creation of 2 large stores replacing 5 smaller stores – I believe plan is to attract two larger fashion retailers
– change to roofline to look less boxy
– removal of canopies
When most other shopping strips/centre are being enclosed Abingdon decides to buck the trend and take away the canopies which protect patrons from rain, wind and SNOW – yes the last 2 Dec/Jan have had a lot of snow that needs to be considered.
Didcot isn’t covered, Most of Witney isn’t covered, in fact i think you will find most town centres aren’t, hopefully it will stop all the scum hanging around by Poundland or outside Greggs/The Lemon Place.
I hear they speak highly of you too George.
I can’t see a huge difference, although it does have a bit more character. I hope that they don’t spend this cash and then leave it for 40 years without spending a little more in future. It would be nice to change the side of New Look with some sort of facade so that it looks nicer from the town square.
Am I being thick?, but isn’t that a covered area at the start and end, looks like the removal of the ‘white concrete canopies so some areas will have shelter/areas to congregate??. Mirror the style of the Museum structure, with brick pillars?.
I suspect most of the changes will come about later in 2012 when the Charter is demolished (refurbished)….all the rubble and dust to cover those new surfaces 😉
Does the cross party motion mean that, at last, some people are trying to get an amendment to the planning law (or lack of) which has hithertoo allowed the gobbling up of pubs by Tesco?
Before anyone corrects me – didn’t mean to put ‘double o’ at the end of hitherto!!
Yes Cassandra – and very much with cross party support.
There’s a petition on the government epetition web site if you would like to express support
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/4922
Thanks Iain. Good news indeed. I wonder if Mary Portas actually paid heed to that issue in her report on the High Street?
I know she mentioned change of use legislation but I think it was with the thought of converting ships into entertainment facilities, I don’t know if she talked about other aspects.
It was reassuring that she did talk about town partnerships, adding entertainment facilities, town centre investment and loyalty schemes all of which Abingdon are doing.
Taking away the canopies is a big step backwards. When the old similar centre in Coeley was revamped it was given a roof and is a much more pleasant experience. Abingdon has missed an opportunity here.
Lets hope the lift to the surgery never breaks down….
Going back to the firs part of the post – I wonder if any other organisation would have been allowed planning permission for quite so much (ugly) signage?
I agree that removing much of the shelter from the weather is a bad move, also by getting rid of the canopies you get rid of the supporting pillars that may people use to tether dogs to. I often take my small hound into the town centre with me knowing I can tie her to a pillar right outside a shop, with the new plans I wont be able to do that……so I wont go into town so much. I have been in twice today-with the dog, knowing she was safe. If she is not able to be left safely where I can see her then I just will not use town so much.
Although many of these changes are fairly cosmetic i think it will make quite a positive difference. If you had done a similar video to show how Stert Street would look after the work there it wouldn’t have looked much difference, but it is actually now a much better street to walk down, as the lack of empty shops demonstartes.
Having seen that they are keeping the conopies at the Market Place end and that there will be some cover at the other end I’m less unhappy about the lack of the canopies than previously. I do wonder whether a completly enclosed approach would hev been better though.
In terms of the retail offer it is the conversion of some of the smaller units into larger ones that will make the most difference, although it is likely to mean more chains and fewer indies.
Is thorntons coming back then 🙂 Also thought it a bit off that on the first trip down the precinct I was headbutted by the fella in sunglasses.
I too think that it doesn’t look sufficiently different. I assume that it would be too expensive, but I do wish that the solution would either be; very modern, unusual and interesting or a mock version of the old architecture of the surrounding areas i.e. Bath and Stert Street. This would make it uniquely ‘Abingdon’ rather than this bland ‘could be anywhere in Britain’ style. Being new it will at least look cleaner and fresher than it does now but surely it’s a waste of an opportunity to rid the very centre of Abingdon of an out of place row of shops only to replace it with something half-hearted? Parking and the present row of shops constitute Abingdon’s main problems and since we are going to get the Precinct revived why not do a much better job of it now while we are at it? Abingdon has so much going for it but the Precinct detracts one’s attention and turns off visitors. Can we really not do better than this?
Iema you have put my thoughts into words. Those were my immediate impressions when I viewed the simulation – an opportunity missed.
Why is everyone so concerned with the canopies coming down. I totally agree with George they are not needed. I think the change is good and will get better when the Charter end is also changed. People just like to moan and groan about Abingdon, which quite frankly I’m getting sick of hearing.
Re the last few posts – people I talk to look at Abingdon in two totally different ways: there are some who only think of it in terms of the shops and other similar facilities for local residents; there are others who think more about the heritage, visual impression and what we offer to visitors, tourists etc. One lot are deperate to get more mainstream shops, the other dplores the idea of a “clone town”. The powers that be are caught between them. In my view what is proposed is probably as good as anything: let Scottish Widows upgrade the shopping offering for those for whom that is most important, while the local authorities, Choose Abingdon etc focus on the wider amenities in the town, promoting the riverside etc.
Two other quick thoughts:
– I am sure I am not the only one who has developed various routes for taking visiting friends and relatives around town without going anywhere near Bury Street.
– Re the extent of change proposed, remember that Scottish Widows, not the taxpayer, are paying for all of this: it seems highly unlikely that they would want to invest in a scheme which effectively wiped out the town centre during the rebuild phase – and I am not sure the town’s people would really want that either.
So I agree with Frank – lets welcome the fact that something positive is happening even if we may not all like every detail.
Going back to the original photos of the signs, as far as I recall, there were two members of the public there, a parish councillor from Sutton Courtenay and the town clerk! Oh yes, and a minister who did the prayers at the beginning.
you have to feel for the traders, though. First the blow that the county hall will be covered in scaffolding for months, then hope awakened by the fact that the taxpayer will be subsidising short term parking in the town, then as soon as that starts major building work begins on the abbey shopping centre.
david – I would be interested to see some figures to show whether or not the work at County Hall has actually had much impact on takings. In know the businesses next to it have been concerned but when I’ve been in Throwing Buns or The Punchbowl it hasn’t seemed that different to previously.
There is always some disruption when projects are being done, but the impact is often less than people expect and the longer term gain is usually worth it. Stert Street, again, is a good example of this.
hester – I agree. Different people want very different things and to an extent any development will leave some unhappy. You are right that ultimately it is up to SW to develop the precinct and Charter area and that the councils should concentrate on devloping the other facilities. The biggest area of potential, in my opinion, is the Abbey Meadow/Pool/Riverside area. I’m sure that with a proper plan for that area and a bit of investment the facilities could be much improved and the ongoing costs reduced.
The removal of the canopies is a good thing as would displacement of Sami’s kebab van. I’m fully behind phase 1 of this refurb even at the expense of some chain stores.
I won’t hear a word said against Samis – has sustained me well after many a late night meeting when other places in the cetre are all shut.
Keep up the good work Sami – a good example to other traders who might want to consider us evening shoppers.
No-one has mentioned the relation of this scheme to the proposed Sainsbury’s supermarket. Does anyone want this to happen?
..thisclock is still on BST. I’m writing this at 10.281
Two separate schemes John – supermarket isn’t part of this one – well except for the coop we already have.
The sainsburys bit is just a rumour driven by the fact the drawings in the consultation showed an orange side – swip haven’t made any announcements on which of the supermarkets they are talking to.
Just adjusted Abingdon Blog time to GMT. We should be OK now.
I’ve no problem with Sami’s per se, but why on earth make all this effort to bring the town up to a more attractive standard to attract tourists and shoppers and then stick a Kebab van in the middle of the town square under the shadow of one of England’s finest town/county halls. I was simply making the case to relocate it somewhere more sensible. Licencsing it to sell there is completely inconsistent with what is happening in the town centre.
As far as I recall, there is a covenant obliging the town council to provide, or at least allow, such a facility. Something along the lines of us being obliged to have the fair.
cant really see much difference…….should be knocked down and totally rebuilt in my opinion. its the same shopping centre with fancy frontage….
Re: the new supermarket and which ones are being ‘talked to’. I seem to remember seeing an article in the Oxford Mail in which someone from VWHDC was quoted as saying that ‘they had not ruled out a bid from Tesco’.!!! (Perhaps it was just a nightmare?)
On this subject, I wonder if the planners have considered approaching Marks and Spencer or Debenhams to make a bid for this enormous proposed supermarket space? Either of these would surely present a better shopping option than yet another huge food supermarket?
Vowhdc’s have no real input on which supermarket. They can grant or refuse planning permission for a large retail store, but they have no formal say as to which store swip (the leaseholder) would then rent the facility to.
I would assume swip will basically lease it to whichever supermarket offers tge best commercial deal.
That is interesting Iain. The quote by the way (as I remember) came from a Cabinet Member on Planning. Does this mean that the SWIP own the lease on the Charter area also?
Some of the land is currently leased to swip, some is owned by the vale and some is leased to occ. I believe the general arrangement would be that the whole area would be leased to swip in return for their commitment to invest the £50m.
Obviously this gives the local authorities done sway in influencing what facilities would be built, but I do not believe this goes as far as being able to tell swip who they can and can’t rent their shops to.
I’m sure the planning authorities would be aware of which supermarkets are in discussion with as it would influence the type of facilities required but I’d be surprised if they have any decision making authority in that area. I’m not an expert on this though so maybe someone knows better?
Read and absorb this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2074966/Spanish-town-painted-The-Smurfs-3D-premiere-set-vote-stay-blue–80-000-tourists-create-mini-economic-boom.html
The seed of a marketing idea capable of changing the fortunes of Abingdon forever. The story of a town that painted itself Smurf Blue and is now raking-in mucho euros in tourist income. How a few pots of paint can change your World.
I suggest that we forget all this ‘-on-Thames’ stuff, get sponsorship from Britvic, paint the whole town orange (including The County Hall when English Heritage aren’t looking) and advertise ourselves as ‘Abingdon – The Town That Got Tango’ed’. Tourists will flock to see.
Job done. I’m a marketing genius!
Think Tobermorey (or is it balamiray) already got that gig covered 🙂
Cassandra – it’s more likely to be an Aldi than a Sainsburys. I heard that M&S/Debenhams are headed for Dicot, which means it is highly unlikely we’d get them too.
Well doozer i think that is a pity – a Debenhams or M and S would fill a gap in the offerings shops in Abingdon. Another food store is bad enough but an Aldi????!!!!
Couldn’t agree more! However, what we want isn’t even an agenda item. The ‘consultation’ was a bit of a farce and not really seeking anyones opinion on “what shops”, and as far as SW are concerned, they just need it paid for – By who is neither here nor there.
Personally, what I feel we need is a GAP….
Hod on, hold on……hear me out. Other, more intelligent people have proffered such an idea before on this and/or on other similar forums; but by a GAP…I actually mean a “Grand Abingdon Plan”. As a mere resident of the town I am not aware of any direction of momentum, or any unified theory of how the Town is to move into the future (or indeed – with it being Christmas and all… the present)!
There’s a little hive of activity with the Old Gaol. There’s a buzz about the precinct. There’s a flutter about free parking. There’s even some mulling over the Meadow. But what’s the plan Stan? What direction is Abingdon taking…and why? Are we to try and compete with shopping “Meccas” like Didcot or Oxford? Big chains won’t come here too…will they? Would we want them too? Perhaps we’re a historic market town, with independent shops and it is this individuality, as well as a vibrant river frontage, heritage, etc etc that should be exploited…? Maybe Rudolph nose which way we’re headed…but I certainly don’t, and I live here. So goodness knows what message is reaching further a field!
As I heard from someone else. Until we start asking the right questions…we’re never going to get the right answers. But as no one seems to even know what those questions are…we keep ploughing on with a little development here, or a little positivie project there. Enough to keep it looking like “something’s being done” and hoping it’ll save the day. But all the time eroding any sense of urgency or need for joined up thinking because, well, hey – something’s being done already.
Personally I’d say…”STOP”! Put the money under a mattress, ask the residents. Get a plan…a vision….a strategy in place…then start building towards it.
I think we should leave the precinct as it is and market it as a classic example of 60s planning. A few more years and it’ll be listed and people will flock to see it. In the meantime we can have a groovy relaunch….. 😉