I see the Town Council meeting is to be held in the newer Abbey Hall at 7pm today (Wednesday 25th Jan 2012) and not the older Council Chamber …
Work has started on the refurbishment of the old part of the Guildhall (including the Council Chamber) and so the old rooms are closed until the spring. The work is more about making the rooms easy to use in terms of services. And so electricians vans and decorators are to be seen round the back.
Work on the new part will follow a report by some consultants who are looking to see whether the newer part, including the Abbey Hall, can be turned into a multi-purpose entertainment venue.
Unfortunately I cannot get to the town council meeting as I have another meeting.
I see on the agenda…
1. It is proposed to give a vote of thanks to the Chamber of Commerce for the hugely successful Extravaganza Evening they organised.
2. It is also proposed to give a vote of thanks to the museum curator who will soon be retiring.
3. There will be a report from the Guildhall Committee, and all the other committees, about progress.
4. Also the Deputy Mayor, Peter Jones, has suffered a stroke and is in hospital. So I am sure they will be sending their best wishes for a full recovery, as well as signing him off from council duties for a while.
5. At the last meeting Abingdon Town Council voted to change the name of Abingdon to Abingdon-on-Thames. It has been announced “The Vale of White Horse District Council is to consider a request from Abingdon Town Council to change the name of the parish of Abingdon to Abingdon-on-Thames when councillors meet on Wednesday 22 February 2012.
The Local Government Act 1972 enables the district council to change the name of a parish where a request has been made by a parish council.
Members of the public are invited to submit their views on this proposal in advance of the meeting.
To contact the council regarding the proposals email: democratic.services@southandvale.gov.uk.
If it does go ahead, I will consult with readers whether this blog should move to Abingdononthames.co.uk.
Thanks for details of how to register our comments about the proposed change of name for the town.
How much will it cost to change road signs, letter heads, maps, and all the other places where the town’s name occurs?
What is the purpose? Is it to distinguish ourselves from the various communities called Abingdon in the USA and elsewhere? To be on the safe side why not Abingdon-on-Thames-in England?
With all the other priorities facing our town, I cannot imagine that adding -on-Thames is going to revive trade or improve the roads, schools, leisure facilities, day-care centres, etc.
Lord, what fools these mortals be!
Paul
Most people I’ve spoken to like the idea Paul, one or two folks have said they do t see a need but a small minority.
Some folks have a strong perspective that this is a re-adoption of the name given up in 1974 (which I think was technically the borough name), which is important to some.
My personal view is that we don’t make enough of tge river which is our major natural asset. Visitors (and potential visitors) to the town could easily be excused for not realising that Abingdon is a beautiful market town on the river. The renaming would help with this.
I think the cost issue is a bit of a red-herring. I’m sure noone is planning a wholesale replacement of signs, stationery, etc – more of an update as and when things are replaced. You can see this is how things work if you look at earlier blogs where alistair has posted pictures of signs that still bear the old ‘on-Thames’ label.
The bigger priorities argument implies that this is stopping work on other major projects which is nonsense. Lots of activity is happening in the town, the guildhall changes are mentioned above, the museum development in the previous blog, the bury street changes are due to start next month, free shopper parking has arrived, the chamber have just completed an excellent extravaganza – loads is happening Paul 🙂
it is true that we have one of the finest river-fronts in the country; thisis why the BBC Oxford news uses it as a background picture. At the same time Abingdon is ignored by A34 signs:- it’s Marcham interchange (who’s heard of Marcham?) and the tourist brown sign directs to Millett’s Farm!!
I didn’t know that it had ever stopped being called on- Thames! –
Mmmm- Abingdon Town Football Club (ATFC) becomes
A-o-T TFC ??
Thanks for the information; however, there will be cost implications. If the plan goes ahead all Council signage and stationery will have to be changed forthwith – otherwise, the change will not register.
I realise that a lot is being done in attempts regenerate this town centre, and I agree that we ought to be grateful for what Iain lists. I do also recognise that the Town Council is not responsible for road – which a County Council task.
I am still not convinced that this ought to be a priority at this time. I am not beyond persuasion, but nothing yet convinces me.
Paul
Signs will be changed when they need to be changed. Not before.
Perhaps if you attended meetings you would know that, like the rest of us public do!
Unfortunately, Lesley, on Wednesdays I have another commitment.
Paul
Alistair – did Jim give you an update on the council meeting yesterday which I know you were unable to get to or would it be helpful for me to drop you a summary?
Backstreeter:: just because a council passes a resolution it does not mean you have to slavishly follow. If you want the blog to remain “this Abingdon ” then make it so.
The town of Abingdon has never been called Abingdon-on-Thames. It has always been Abingdon.
The pre-’74 Borough Council was called Abingdon-on-Thames.
In my view there are huge benefits in marketing Abingdon as Abingdon-on-Thames but there is no need at all to formally change the name.