Working to Revitalise Abingdon (Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats)

Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats <info@oxwablibdems.org.uk>

Working to Revitalise Abingdon

October 10, 2008 12:32 PM

Changing lifestyles and increasing traffic has put pressure on many traditional county town centres, as people demand different shopping and leisure experiences. Abingdon is no exception.

Liberal Democrats on Abingdon Town Council and the Vale of White Horse District Council have been working to revitalise the town centre, and have been pressing for support from the Oxfordshire County Council. At the County Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 20th May, Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Zoé Patrick regretted that there was no proper mention of Abingdon in the County Council's Annual Report, despite reports of work done towards developing a world class economy in the north and west of the County.

The Abingdon Joint Economic Forum (set up in 1995 by the Vale District Council, Abingdon Town Council and the Abingdon Chamber of Commerce) has already commissioned an independent advisor from the Oxfordshire Chambers Network to look at all the background research already done and explore ways to develop an agreed strategy with all three Councils, the Chamber and other key players in Abingdon.

Meantime the work which Councillor Lesley Legge, County Councillor for Abingdon East and Leader of Abingdon Town Council, has undertaken to raise support for the larger market towns in the County with the County Council has paid off. Cllr Keith Mitchell is now in correspondence with Councillor Lesley Legge and meetings are being set up to progress this with the Town and Vale Councils.

Lesley said, "We are very pleased that the County Council will work in partnership with the Town, District and Chamber to develop and implement this Strategy. The County had seemed intent on ignoring work already undertaken and the views of local people. The strategy will only work with real partnership of all those involved in the town and I urge the County Council to ensure they work with us not against us.

"It is particularly important for the County Council to be involved so that they see the traffic scheme they have introduced much more in context. There needs to be a better understanding of the unpredictable effect it is having on traffic and thus the town centre vitality. The negative publicity which has followed the implementation of the town centre scheme has been relentless and has impacted on vitality, it has put local people and visitors off from coming into the town. We are fighting back and showing that Abingdon is a lively town."

The Town Council has budgeted and introduced more measures to revitalise the town centre. There is an exciting programme of events planned for the next two years for Saturday mornings on the Market Place and many other initiatives. Dr Evan Harris MP is also meeting with local councillors to help them with the strategy and ideas. More information is available in a background paper from the Town Council - see link below.

Lesley added, "We are all intent on finding ways forward through these changing economic situations and sometimes difficult times and working in partnership to support our beautiful, historic and very active town of Abingdon."

For more information, please contact Lesley at lesley.legge@oxfordshire.gov.uk