Flats Proposed for Former Barclays Building in the Square

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A planning application (P26/V0517/FUL) has been submitted for the former Barclays Bank building at No. 2 The Square in Abingdon, together with redevelopment of the buildings behind.

The proposal would convert the existing ground, first and second floors into eight flats (seven one-bedroom and one two-bedroom). It also includes the demolition of the shoe workshop behind, to be replaced with a new two-storey building providing four additional units (three one-bedroom flats and one one-bedroom unit with a loft space).

No. 2 The Square is a Grade II listed building, while the buildings behind are of later construction but could be treated as listed by association.

The building was decommissioned in March 2024 under an earlier planning approval (P24/V0109/FUL), allowing the removal of banking fixtures such as the ATM. However, from my reading, it remained within commercial use rather than changing to residential use.

This latest application therefore seeks permission to change the use to residential, along with the physical changes together with the demolition and rebuild of buildings behind.

Bluebells at Radley Large Wood

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Radley Large Wood is putting on a glorious display this April. Carpets of bluebells stretch through the trees, alongside a variety of other wild flowers — Wood Anemone, Primrose, Ramsons (Wild Garlic), Lesser Celandine, Greater Stitchwort, and Pink Campion. There’s also the birdsong to enjoy.

But it is the bluebells — their colour and scent — that make this a special time of year to walk through the wood.

There are a few parking places along Sugworth Lane, but the wood is also easily reached by bike from Abingdon or foot from Kennington or Lodge Hill. If you can’t make it in person, here’s a short video to give you an idea of how it looks.

Uncertainty Over South Abingdon Foodbank as Closure Continues

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For the third week running, the food bank at Midget Close in South Abingdon has not opened for its usual Wednesday session. The North Abingdon Foodbank continues to operate as normal.

A notice in the South Centre’s windows (Preston Road Community Centre) says:

“We are sorry the South Centre has not been open recently. This has been due to circumstances beyond our control.

It has not been the team’s decision to close and we are working with others towards a solution.

Please be assured we very much care about our clients and hope to re-open very soon to continue to serve the community.”


The South Abingdon food bank has been running for around eight years, with a dedicated team of volunteers, and is a key part of the local support network. Demand in this area has long been high, making its closure puzzling.

There is no mention of the closure on the Foodbank website, which still lists the South Abingdon distribution point at Midget Close as Wednesdays, 12:30–2:00pm.

New Sign for the The White Horse

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The White Horse Public House on Ock Street is having a refurbishment, and as with all such refurbs they will be changing the sign.

Over the past twenty years, the sign has evolved from a running horse, to a white horse head silhouette, and then to the carved chalk horse on the hill over Uffington after which our district council is named. The current proposal shows a small rearing white horse icon with larger text.

The design is now going through the planning process, where the heritage officer has raised concerns about the balance of the sign. With other signage on the building already relying on ‘THE WHITE HORSE’ text, the officer suggests a more traditional hanging sign – with a larger image and more modest lettering – would better suit the pub. A local resident made the same point.