The shelves of the Budgens store at Northcourt are emptying. Some lines are at half price as the shop prepares to close on Tuesday June 21st.
A poster in the window says the Co-op are recruiting and will be re-opening the store on this site in August 2016. This shop belonged to the Oxford and Swindon Co-operative Society before it became a Budgens in 1999. So the circle is nearly complete.
(Thanks to Alan for pointing out the previous Co-op history)
There was an old custom in Abingdon to roast an ox in Ock Street at midsummer and distribute the meat among the poor. In the year 1700, this being done, a fight ensued between men from ‘up’ town and ‘down’ town for possession of the horns. The men of ‘down’ town won, and it became a trophy they still hold to this day. Their leader was declared the Mayor of Ock Street.
In modern times there is an election for the Mayor of Ock Street – none of the fighting of our forebears. Those ox horns from ‘1700’ are on show. After the election, the Mayor of Ock Street celebrates his victory by drinking from an applewood pint drinking cup, and is then carried in procession by Morris Dancers around Abingdon’s Ock Street.
The only qualification for having a vote is that you must live in Ock Street, or the adjoining courts. There are two candidates this year: Harry Knight – The previous mayor, and Duncan Brown – The reigning mayor. The election of the Mayor of Ock Street will be this Saturday.
Unicorn School pupil Millie-May is jogging the equivalent of a marathon to raise funds for The Unicorn School. Millie-Maye will be running a total of 26.2 miles in stages throughout the month of June 2016, and for Millie-Maye jogging is tricky so this challenge.
The Unicorn School celebrates its 25 year anniversary this year. In that time they have supported more than 500 pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia. As they enter their second quarter-century the next exciting development is the introduction of a GCSE programme, commencing this September.
To support Millie-Maye’s fundraising campaign donate via her Just Giving Page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Ann-Haggar5
The inspector looking into the Vale of White Horse development Plan to 2031 has said that, subject to some modifications, he is likely to find that the plan is sound and can be adopted. The only modification that may effect Abingdon is ‘Whilst the inspector is happy that there are exceptional circumstances to amend the green belt in four areas where the council is proposing housing allocations.He is not satisfied with other proposed changes to the green belt where no housing is proposed and has stated there are not exceptional circumstances to justify them.’
So it looks like the 1000+ new houses to the North of Abingdon will be allowed. I am not so sure about the Park and Ride for 1600 cars, and ancillary development at Lodge Hill. The full press release is available under the title ‘Great news for the Vale’s Local Plan’