Bury Street Square: Proposed Kiosk and Café Redevelopment

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The town council planning committee is meeting tonight to review several proposals, including one for redeveloping a small square in Bury Street, the one with the trees and kiosks. This area was left untouched during the previous redevelopment of Bury Street.

The proposed plans would demolish one kiosk (currently Phone Box) and build two new kiosks. It would combine and extend units 19a (currently Khush’s Brow Boutique) and 20 (currently Timpson) to create a café with outdoor seating.

The larger tree (a Maple) would be kept, while the smaller tree (a Cherry) would be removed and replaced with planters.

The plans also include new benches, planters – one with a sculpture, new paving, and a mural on the high wall above the store being used for prom dresses.

On Broad Street, a featureless brick wall would become a community wall featuring art by local people.

For more information see: P25/V0236/FUL

Abingdon Candidates for May County Council Elections

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Candidates have been announced for the upcoming Oxfordshire County Council elections on 1st May 2025. Abingdon’s representation remains unchanged with three county councillors. However, due to new boundaries, the total number of councillors across Oxfordshire will increase from 63 to 69.

Alison Rooke, who served for many years as a county councillor and is currently Chair of Oxfordshire County Council, has retired. Nathan Ley and Neil Fawcett are both standing for re-election.

Conservative candidates are standing under the banner ‘Local Conservatives’ to distance themselves from the national party.

This is likely to be the final election for Oxfordshire County Council in its current form, due to proposed reorganisation of local government into unitary authorities. The County Council has suggested a single county-wide unitary authority to retain services such as social care and transport. Meanwhile, West Berkshire, South Oxfordshire, and Vale of White Horse District Councils have proposed a joint alternative: a new ‘Ridgeway Council’. Final proposals are due by 28th November 2025, with the new council potentially in place by 2028.

Peace, Twinning and Music at St Ethelwold’s

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A peace ceremony was held today in St Ethelwold’s Garden beside the Peace Pole, marking the first anniversary of its installation. The Mayor of Abingdon, Councillor Gabby Barody, took part in the ceremony.

Among those attending were people from Ukraine and Afghanistan, along with civic leaders from Abingdon’s twin towns, here for a Mayor’s conference – a reminder of how town twinning, which grew after the Second World War, was intended to foster peace and understanding by building personal connections across borders.

Former Mayor Councillor Gwyneth Lewis spoke about the peace process in Northern Ireland and shared a photo of the Peace Bridge in Derry. There was also a talk by a speaker from The Parents Circle — a group that brings together Israelis and Palestinians for dialogue and reconciliation, and another group of ex combatants for peace. Roger Baker, from the Abingdon Peace group, led people in an affirmation of peace.

After the ceremony, there was music played on the bandura, a traditional Ukrainian harp.

Coffee, cakes, and circle dancing followed, led by women in Ukrainian costume.

It was a lovely sunny afternoon.

A Brief History of Pulpit House and Old Mast House

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Following a query about the history of Pulpit House and Old Mast House — now both up for sale — here is a summary based on information from a booklet called ‘Over 300 Years of Living History.’

In 1700, Abingdon’s Congregationalists built their first modest church near the Square. In 1862, the church was enlarged, incorporating 18 feet of the original 1700 building into the new construction. The church grounds were then enclosed by iron railings, as shown in the etching below.

By 1966, the Congregationalists joined with Trinity Church and vacated the old church.

The original church building in the Square faced planning delays — at that time, the A34 ran along High Street and Ock Street, making access and parking difficult. The building was used variously as an arts centre and even for skateboarding before its eventual sale in 1980.

It was later converted into offices for a marketing company, which received a design award from the Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC) in 1987. The company moved out some time before 2006. In 2008, Ask Restaurant moved in and continues to operate there today.