This is one place where AbITs (Abingdon Integrated Traffic Strategy) had a notable success with the completion of the dual carriageway from the A34 to Tesco and Fairacres over the road.

The Fairacres retail park has seen big changes this year to take it “to the next level”. This is the first major revamp since the park was built in 1969.

Mays Carpets (an old Abingdon retailer) has became part of the larger Carpet right chain, and the May family now concentrate on managing the property park.

Most of the new stores have been completed. Pets at home is nearing completion.

Between Argos and Carpet right, where the Ab Fab cafe used to be, building continues on what looks like the last retail unit (s). So who might go there? One rumour doing the rounds is that Woolworths and/or Boots will move out of town. Hopefully it is just a rumour.

This board encourages people to venture on to Abingdon Town Centre – England’s Oldest Town – where AbITs has hit more problems.

The Riverside development can be seen behind the recently restored Victorian Lake. That view must be worth a bit.

This is the state of the town centre at the end of 2007 (press on image for a bigger version and if it that looks grainy press again the (+) magnifying glass).

Red is a vacant shop premises that was occupied at the end of 2006.
Yellow means change of ownership.
Green is a shop that was vacant at the end of 2006 which is now occupied.

High Street and the Bury Street shopping precinct have not had a good year. Other areas have done better.

Four shops have moved within the town: Frend & Co the jeweller, moved to West St Helen Street for a lower rent. The Chinese Medical and skin centre also moved for a lower rent. Chancellors the Estate Agent moved to be nearer the other Estate Agents. Going Places moved in with Thomas Cook after their parent companies merged.

Patesserie Pascal is a new addition. Other new shops include Limoncello, the restaurant, Poldeli, the Polish deli, and Kelso, a leather and craft shop.

A stage has been set up in the corner of the museum, and for a few days only there is a performance of ‘The Night After Christmas’ (27-30 Dec 1.30PM to 3:30PM and 2-5 Jan 11.00AM to 1.00PM). Its free.

Father Christmas relates his experience travelling around the world, and how different countries treat him.

The show can be seen by all those who can climb the stairs. The lift to the County Hall is still planned. If there is lottery funding available it will be a scaled down version. English Heritage would not agree to the full lift, and Private Eye didn’t want it either.

(The Abingdon Herald has the full story about the museum lift compromise. I see above that Gordon Rogers, the Abingdon local reporter, is retiring. The editor writes “Gordon has been a great district reporter. He has immersed himself in the patch he covers, and our readers, are going to miss him greatly.”)