Shopping Centre Consultation

Option 1 shows...

• Improving the appearance of the shopping centre, and the gradual replacement and enlargement of the existing shops.

• The redevelopment of the Cargo and Somerfield stores with more modern shopping units on the ground floor with a new library and health centre above.

• A major new store with car parking above. That's the big orange block at the top of Option 1.

The consultation made the BBC Oxford News. They want people's opinions. Its on again today and Monday in one of the empty shops.

The Tanneries Part 2

The second half of the new Drayton Road development, on the site of the Crossroads Garage and Esso Filling Station, looks like it is nearing completion.

This is how it appears in the window of Thomas Merrifield the estate agents.

Fresh Snow

A week after the first snow, yesterday brought fresh snow overnight and through the day.

Schools were open, and most children trudged through the snow - this time - rather than getting to play out.

Today the rain has set in, so it is all starting to wash away.

Abbey Come Abbey Go

The VoWH council are running a public exhibition in the recently renamed Abbey Shopping Centre on the 15th 16th and 18th January. The exhibition will be seeking everyone's views on plans to enhance the Charter Area of Abingdon - and will also show plans for the refurbishment of Abbey Shopping Centre. Pictures hopefully to follow after the 15th.

Meanwhile, at the top of the Shopping Centre, the Abbey bank looks about to morph into Santander.

In 2004 The Spanish Bank Santander aquired the Abbey National (renamed afterwards Abbey).

Holiday Catch Up Abandoned

After the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays, the waste and recycling contractor were trying to catch up back to their normal schedule. But given the added problem of the weather that appears to be out of the question now. So rather than confuse matters further they will return directly to non-holiday collection days. That was meant to start, yesterday, Monday 11th, but Health and Safety ruled that out, so maybe Tuesday.

For the full low down see http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/ press releases.

The image above will soon be a thing of the past. Where lots of houses have the same drop off point, the mountains of black bags will give way to ...

wheelie bin parks.

Ice

The new canal cutting...

and the Marina have been frozen over - as have many of the man-made lakes.

There have been far more swans than usual flying into Abingdon - waiting near well known feeding spots like the Margaret Brown Gardens - for the next meal.

Helping Vulnerable Neigbours

Not everyone likes the snow and ice quite so much. There is a link at the side with a Help The Aged / Oxfordshire County Council information sheet about Helping Vulnerable Neighbours in these cold and slippery conditions.

I was chasing the sunset yesterday as we walked back from Abingdon Lock where the snowman family still sit, although he has lost his arm.

Here is a view over the Cricket Field...

and the view from Abingdon Bridge.