Election Count and Abingdon results

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The local election count took place today at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre.

Four years ago, the count occurred in the centre gym. The centre’s larger indoor tennis area was used successfully at the County Council election two years ago and again today.

At one end was the count for the South Oxfordshire District Council and parish councils in South Oxfordshire.

At the other end was the count for the Vale of Horse District Council and parishes.

After the count, the number of councillors on Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council remains unchanged, with 18 Lib-Dems and 1 Green.

The Conservative Party lost all 6 of their councillors on the district council, and the Lib-Dems and Green Party gained 3 each. There are now 34 Lib-Dems and 4 Greens.

Congratulations to all the winning candidates, and commiserations to those that lost.

Heads of Terms – Agreed or Not Agreed

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The Abbey Cinema, in the Guildhall, has the King’s Coronation on the large screen for anyone who books.

There will also be voting at the Guildhall tomorrow for town and district local councillors.

One issue on the eve of local elections is the future of the Abbey Cinema. There are emails between the Abbey Cinema and the Chair of the Town Council’s Community Committee, about the lease negotiations, which, if not completed by June, could see the cinema closing.

Both sides want the cinema to stay open but are waiting for the other to respond.

The Chair of the Town Council’s Community Committee said, ‘My understanding is that having agreed to the Heads of Terms informally, the Town Council has been waiting for the Abbey Cinema team to sign them.‘

The Cinema’s property consultant has replied, ‘The Heads of Terms are not agreed.  On the 17th February 2023 I responded to the Council’s consultant to various points raised by the Town Council on the draft Heads of Terms. I have yet to receive a response to that email. ‘

P.S. ‘A Head of Terms’ refers to an agreement on the key issues of a negotiation.

Abingdon Museum (Theme Day Museum)

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The County Hall has dominated Abingdon Market Place since it was built between 1678 and 1682. It housed the Berkshire County Court on the first floor until all sessions were moved to Reading in 1868. It was then used for theatre, balls, lectures, and penny readings until the Corn Exchange was built in 1884 and took over these activities.

In 1928 a new use was found for the building. It became Abingdon Museum and has continued as Abingdon Museum for nearly a century.

There are permanent exhibitions of Abingdon’s long history ( Abingdon is the longest continually inhabited town in the UK, dating back to the Iron Age.) There are also temporary exhibitions so that even locals who visit a lot can find something new.

The staff are so welcoming and informative. It is open 10am – 4pm, Tuesday to Sunday & bank holidays (closed 24 December to 2 January).

City Daily Photo Theme: Museum.