A planning application has been submitted for the former Stan James betting shop to become a restaurant. The premises has been empty since May 2016. The proposal includes a first floor roof terrace at the rear, and so the issue of noise and disturbance to residential neighbours nearby is one consideration. Another consideration is the change of use. Before becoming a betting shop in 1998 it was retail.
Not another eating place! Haven’t we got enough in this town? We need a Wilco or a Robert Dyas.
What an eyesore, a new restaurant would be good.
Prefer a restaurant to a charity shop, estate agent or God forbid, another barber/hairdresser, but how many eateries can Abingdon sustain?
pjh64. And where are all their customers going to park in the evening. Most of the roads opposite are taken up with parked taxis.
Maybe they’ll get a taxi there?
Spent Wednesday having a very pleasant time in Witney, what s contrast to Abingdon? In their new shopping centre their anchor stores are Debenhams and M & S, whereas Abingdon is Peacocks & Poundland!
Someone once said on here Abingdon gets what Abingdon deserves? That maybe so, but past councillors and their officers together with the “movers n shackers” of Abingdon have an awful lot to answer for, it’s they who’ve steered the town to the position/condition it’s in now, not content with giving away public assets the Vale now want to demolish Old Abbey House to make way for social housing! have they no vision? But more importantly no conscience!
You can also park in Witney (by the green) for four hours without charge!
Abingdon is less ‘isolated’ than Witney, which doesn’t have close retail competition such as Oxford and Didcot, however, our councilors (at all levels) don’t seem able to promote the case for Abingdon. Improving the traffic situation would help immensely and a diamond interchange at Lodge Hill is the keystone to this. Of course, the A34 is what makes Fairacres so attractive to major retailers as it gives quick access to all the smaller villages to the west of the road … Tesco are even busing customers into their Marcham Road store from Farringdon. This doesn’t help the town centre. Total lack of foresight from our political representatives, whether the middle-of-the-road idiots, or the right idiots.
Nice to see he road improvements around West Hannay continue with the village itself now benefiting. There must be someone altruistic in the area with influence and a neighbourly attitude to have these relatively lightly used roads made up to Tour de France standards. Makes me wonder why a the conduit under Stert Street, a main traffic artery for Abingdon and it’s easterly hinterland, took so long to fix … it’s a mystery to me.
newcomer – West Hanney… where Matthew Barber lives… Councillor and leader of the VoWHDC… it must be a different West Hanney you talk of, surely he wouldn’t have a greater localised influence related to his position. Ho, ho, ho!
Look forward to a new restaurant. Am always up for a another eatery!!
When will we stop trying to compare our town to Witney, Didcot or Oxford. We are a small beautiful market town who should be looking to base ourselves on the likes of Woodstock, Wallingford or even Burford. Attract small independent business who offer a different shopping experience, where people come for a day out, to browse, buy, lunch and yes visit a hairdresser and beautician. Who want to return again and again and a lovely day out with friends and family. And don’t forget all the beautiful buildings they can visit and all the history of our beautiful town. Stop talking our town down and trying to compete with the big boys. Build on what we have and take some control on which business come and how many of each.