All the big decisions had been made in committees and so most matters went through with a nod. The meeting was finished in under an hour. So I am scouring the committee papers for something to report…
On the museum committee “Members did not consider that a display of photographs from the 2013 Passion Play was suitable for an exhibition”.
Amenities and Recreation committee minutes say “MG Garden was almost complete apart from a few minor jobs”
The planning committee did not like Greene King’s new design for The Broad Face pub sign. They found the sign showing a gallows “inappropriate and insensitive”.
They had no objection to a change of use from a Jessops retail store (A1 use) to a mixed class coffee shop (A1/A3) to serve the existing adjacent Costa Coffee. Costa are to expand.
They had no objections to the refurbishment of the Crown and Thistle.
They did not like, and recommended refusal of, the plans to 57-59 Stert Street because they believe it contravenes 7 separate planning policies.
They also objected to the siting of a modular building, over one-storey, to provide a house room at Abingdon School for a period of five years. The district council, who make the final decision, did approach the chair of planning, Councillor Mike Badcock, and asked him to reconsider the decision of his committee. He refused. The committee decision stands.
The planning committee had no objections to the re-development plans for the Viney / Homebase side of the Fairacres Retail Park.
The town council also gave a decent sized grant of £12.5K to The Abingdon Bridge for a Drugs and Alcohol abuse project. And £600 to Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers for “repairs and renewal of costume and regalia”.
