Celebrating Albert Park and Exbourne Road

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Celebrating Albert Park
A book, celebrating 150 years of The Albert Park was launched today by The Albert Park Residents’ Association.
Celebrating Albert Park
The Albert Monument was unveiled on 22nd June 1865, 150 years ago, in ‘the good old town of Abingdon’ – as described by the Oxford Times of the day.

The park on which it stands is owned by the ancient charity Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon, who established and still maintain the park.
Celebrating Albert Park
Rev’d Paul Smith, the vicar of St Michael’s and All Angels Church, next to the park, welcomed people into the church for the launch of the book, and for a celebration of those 150 years.
Celebrating Exbourne Road
Meanwhile, a short distance away there was a road closure, from 9am-10pm, for another celebration – the annual Exbourne Road Street Party.
Celebrating Exbourne Road
There were lots of activities, and entertainments, visitors, and food. During the time I was there, after 4pm, the residents were being entertained by Ashnah Tribal Bellydancers,
Celebrating Exbourne Road
and Mr Hemmings Traditional Morris Dancers
Celebrating Exbourne Road
I left before the Naffle draw at 6pm. “The only rule for the free draw is you have to take the prize home.”

Abingdon Guildhall Project Changes Course

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Project Guildhall Changes Course
A new Town Council have been voted in during May 2015. As happened four years ago the plans for the Guildhall have changed after the election.

In 2011 the outgoing council had proposed some quick wins to make the modern part of the Guildhall – the Abbey Hall – more usable:

  • Install a bar at the back of the Abbey Hall
  • Improve disability access and toilets
  • soften the look of the hall with designer drapes round the sides
  • modernise the kitchen
  • improve the problematic sound system.

After those quick wins they wanted to take time to consider how to invest the bulk of the £1.2m that had come with the Guildhall.

The incoming 2011 council hired new consultants. The first thing they did was spend money on refurbishing the old part of the building – the part where you might reasonably expect to get grants.

They then developed a new scheme for the Guildhall. It’s main points were:

  • Add a one screen cinema, as a new box construction, at the back
  • Install retractable seating for the Abbey Hall, so that it too could serve as a cinema or theatre, or as a dining or dance floor
  • A stylish new front to the building
  • Better access throughout.

The project was modular so that one part could be developed ahead of the others. However the full scheme failed to win lottery funding, and so the town council looked for investment from cinema operators to try to make the cinema part happen. The tenders came in just before the 2015 election.
Project Guildhall Changes Course

Yesterday’s press release by the incoming 2015 council has gone for a less ambitious plan.

The three cinema companies that tendered to run the cinema, have not come up with enough money, and the new council does not want to take out a large loan. The tenders would also lead to loss of community space. I gather they thought the scheme was only viable with two screens. And so all three tenders were rejected.

Regarding the cinema, the Town Council will now ask the Leader of the Vale of White Horse to try to attract cinema operators to Abingdon. Hopefully they will ask for this to be into the town centre, and not out of town.

The new 2015 cut down plan, to be designed and built when the Guildhall closes at the end of August, is:

  • Abbey Hall improvements, including installing cinema projector equipment and screen, retractable seating and soundproofing
  • Creation of entry to the modern part of the Guildhall at street level
  • Access improvements across the whole building
  • Improve toilets
  • Replace boiler / heating system and relocate boiler room

The Abbey Hall could then be used as a pop-up cinema, but might also attract the likes of the Abingdon Operatic Society, and Abingdon Drama Club.

The council have also added into the project for a phase 2:

  • Kitchen Improvments
  • Install Wi-Fi and hearing loop in historic rooms
  • New carpeting

Project Guildhall Changes Course

  • Removal of access ramp to the rear so long as satisfactory disabled access and fire stategy agreed

Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme Consultation comes to Abingdon

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Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme Consultation
There has been a lot of flooding in Oxford recently. And so the Environment Agency, with funding from councils, are aiming to create a flood relief channel to the west of Oxford from the Botley Road to Sandford on Thames.

A few miles downstream from Oxford is Abingdon. So Abingdon has been included with Kennington, and a few venues in Oxford, to get this first consultation before design work starts. If you missed it there will be another consultation later in the year after design work is done.
Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme Consultation
Consultants wanted to assure the Abingdon public, that although the relief channel would allow River Thames flooding to reach Abingdon sooner. the water levels would not go any higher (using their flood modelling techniques) or they would have to go back to the drawing board. They also wanted to pick up some local knowledge, and so were glad to meet with local flood groups.
Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme Consultation
The only risk with their outline scheme, that I could see, is that Abingdon normally gets flood water from the River Ock and River Stert first, and then from the Thames a day or so later. What will happen if these different rivers are at their high point nearer the same time?