All the big decisions had been made in committees and so most matters went through with a nod. The meeting was finished in under an hour. So I am scouring the committee papers for something to report…
On the museum committee “Members did not consider that a display of photographs from the 2013 Passion Play was suitable for an exhibition”.
Amenities and Recreation committee minutes say “MG Garden was almost complete apart from a few minor jobs”
The planning committee did not like Greene King’s new design for The Broad Face pub sign. They found the sign showing a gallows “inappropriate and insensitive”.
They had no objection to a change of use from a Jessops retail store (A1 use) to a mixed class coffee shop (A1/A3) to serve the existing adjacent Costa Coffee. Costa are to expand.
They had no objections to the refurbishment of the Crown and Thistle.
They did not like, and recommended refusal of, the plans to 57-59 Stert Street because they believe it contravenes 7 separate planning policies.
They also objected to the siting of a modular building, over one-storey, to provide a house room at Abingdon School for a period of five years. The district council, who make the final decision, did approach the chair of planning, Councillor Mike Badcock, and asked him to reconsider the decision of his committee. He refused. The committee decision stands.
The planning committee had no objections to the re-development plans for the Viney / Homebase side of the Fairacres Retail Park.
The town council also gave a decent sized grant of £12.5K to The Abingdon Bridge for a Drugs and Alcohol abuse project. And £600 to Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers for “repairs and renewal of costume and regalia”.
I hope that the grant to The Abingdon Bride was more than £12.5! £1,250 wouldn’t be too much.
I have no vested interest – other than hoping that those who find themselves gripped by drugs and alcohol may be given all the help they need to recover.
Whilst I don’t especially like the proposed new sign for the Broadface, ( indeed, what’s wrong with the sign it has now..), it is at least better than the ‘meet and eat’ tosh, they’ve put up at the Boundary House, the midget and the college oak…
I’m also wondering what reference a gallows has to do with the Broadface ? Am I missing some local history here ?
Good to see the money going to the Abingdon Bridge.
Wasn’t there an article about finding the original Broad Face sign, and it wouldn’t be changing.
Gallows, ???
tho maybe there is some hope yet..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-22872100
In answer to Anon’s query about the gallows reference, this goes back to when the Old Gaol opposite the pub used to hold executions by hanging. Apparently the victims head would swell massively, hence “The Broad Face.” Lovely!
There is another theory that the “Broad Face” was due to being bloated from drowning and the person was being pulled out of the Thames locally. Either way, it is named for a grizzly reason.
Is there any record of who the victim was?
Comment #1. I forgot the K on the end of 12.5 (added since)
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/8878624.Familiar_face_makes_comeback_at_Abingdon_pub/
Thought I did see an article…
Ah, Backstreeter, thanks for that excellent news. £12,500 is a decent grant. Well done, the Council!
this town is still bad for trade me and the shop next door have averaged £12 – £20 .
Shop owner; what do you sell?
Paul – just to add to the detail Aidan highlighted earlier. The town council give an annual grant to Abingdon Bridge, which as you say is an excellent abd much valued local charity. I cant recall tge exact number off hand but its in the low thousands. This grant is a special, one-off grant to help the charity though a difficult period caused by the loss of a large grant it previously received from comic relief.
The charity has subsequently done a great job at attracting new funding sources to protrct tgeir longer term sustainability. The town council operates a funding pot called the community fund to help charities and community organisations deal with these sort of funding challenges which regretably arise periodically.
Sorry for terrible typing on phone
The original ‘Broad Face’ sign is still owned by the ex-Land-Lord who has it at stored away at his new pub at The Nags Head. Greedy King refused to pay him for it when he left as he had purchased it out of his own pocket once it was re-discovered. He also paid for it full restoration..a considerable sum I seem to remember. Perhaps the new owner, once its changed hands yet again, will buy it back.
@ Iain
Thank you for the additional information; typos on the phone did not obscure the message!
The Museum Committee’s decision about the Passion Play seems incomprehensible. Was there ever an event in this town which involved so many people, was so well presented and so brilliantly acted?
One does wonder. On a passing note, two of the most significant events in Abingdon this year – the Passion Play and Fun in the Park – both received pretty pitiful coverage in the Abingdon Herald. I wonder sometimes whether their method of choosing a front page story involves the use of a blindfold and a pin.
If part of a local museum’s remit is to celebrate and showcase local events and life, then what could be “unsuitable” about the Passion Play which involved almost a thousand local people? I would have thought that photographs of the Passion Play might have more significance than photos an artist and local resident has taken of their back garden. Yet that exhibition is running from May through to September.
Come on, museum committee! Abingdon has a lot going on, and some fairly unique events. Let’s showcase them in our new museum space. Perhaps a member of that committee could explain what was “unsuitable” about the Passion Play exhibition?
David – Janet Boulton is an artist with an international reputation, who we are lucky enough to have living in Abingdon.
Anyone who hasn’t had a chance to visit the exhibition – its well worth a look
Granted. But five months of one exhibition? Especially when there seems to be no space for other exhibitions …
I checked with curator today and aparently the committee felt that there wasn’t enough historical content. I’ll see if we can do something in the guildhall instead which would probably be a more appropriate venue anyway given that much of the passion play took place tgere in any case.
I
Not enough historical content? Subjest matter – Roman history, Jewish history and Christian history, how much more do they want?
Historical significance to Abingdon .. the first performance of it’s kind, involving many sections of the local community and watched by hundreds of local people in spite of the punishingly cold weather **********
How much historical intent is there in photos of an srtist’s back garden?
Srtist’s = artist’s, of course.
Juat the messenger on this one David – im not seeking to justify the decision – but i did enjoy the artists exhibition