Solar Powered Christmas Trees not a shining success so far

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solar powered Christmas Trees
The new solar powered Christmas trees have not been a shining success during their first Christmas in Abingdon.

I have seen a blue flicker from some of the trees positioned, next to far brighter street lights, on Abingdon Bridge, but don’t know if it is the sun or the streetlight giving them the energy for their faint flickerings.
solar powered Christmas Trees
Some other trees have not managed a flicker, that I have noticed, but then the sun has been like a stranger to us this Christmas. Lets hope things change before twelfth night.

Abingdon Town Centre Shop Changes in 2012

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Flooding Continues
Press on Changes in 2012 for a bigger pdf version. Not a brilliant map and not to scale but it serves this yearly purpose.

Key:
Green is a shop that was vacant at the start of the year which is now occupied.
Yellow means a change of ownership.
Red is a vacant shop premises that was occupied at the start of the year.

Change in 2007 ( 6 green, 5 yellow, 10 red ) – Net Loss 4
Change in 2008 ( 10 green, 8 yellow, 13 red ) – Net Loss 3
Change in 2009 ( 9 green, 6 yellow, 6 red ) – Net Gain 3
Change in 2010 ( 9 green, 6 yellow, 5 red ) – Net Gain 3
Change in 2011 ( 2 green, 8 yellow, 5 red ) – Net Loss 3
Change in 2012 ( 6 green, 1 yellow, 7 red ) – Net Loss 1

Goodbye to: Thai Orchid Restaurant and Supermarket, The Florist and Bistro in Bath Street, The Snack Kiosk, the Toy Shop nearby, and Lemon Plaice in the shopping centre. YMCA also moved out but their building was knocked down so did not count – nor did the Calendar Shop.

Welcome to Buns in the Basement, Galaxy Techno, The New Nags Head, OX14 Deli, Qutis, and YbuYnu..

The man running Abindon Bowls retired, and so Outdoor Traders moved back in there creating a second outlet. A-Plan also moved to a larger premises, and are looking to Let their previous premises.

So really not such a bad year for Abingdon given the disruption caused by the redevelopment of the Abbey Shopping Centre. Let me know if I forgot anything important.

Flooding Continues – two days on

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Flooding Continues
The level of the flood water has remained high over the last 48 hours, and the blue floodgate by St Helen’s Wharf is still needed. I don’t think either river got quite as high as last month but the spread of water over the flood plain is less predictable.
Flooding Continues
Water continues to pour under Maud Hale’s Bridge, and any other opening. Tomorrow’s match at Abingdon Town F.C has been called off as the pitch is under a foot or more of water.
Flooding Continues
The causeway to Culham has water on both sides.
Flooding Continues
There is a watery view back across the fields from the causeway to Abingdon School boathouse, the Marina, and Wilsham Road.
Flooding Continues
Along Wilsham Road there is still some way to go before the boats are at the same level as the cars.
Flooding Continues
But nobody is risking their car at the Marina car park at present. Water continues to pour through the gate with some force.

(More pictures on facebook where I created a page to hold surplus pictures.)

Increase in applications to change town centre offices to residential use

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Change of Use
Six new apartments are on the market in Stert Street which were until recently vacant offices.

2012 saw an increase in the number of applications to change offices in Abingdon town centre to residential use.
Change of Use
In July 2012 plans were submitted to convert ground floor offices in Lombard Street to form 2 one bedroom and 1 two bedroom apartments.
Change of Use
October 2012 – West St Helen Street – plans submitted for change of use of building from offices to residential to form 10 flats.
Change of Use
November 2012 – Bath Street – plans submitted for change of use from commercial to residential.

There were also three other planning applications submitted in Bath Street to change upper floors from commercial to residential use during 2012.