Annual Parish Meeting
Your chance to hear directly from Committee Chairs about the work they have been doing this year, and an opportunity for the public to ask their questions.
For more information please click here
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency
The Council has established a dedicated section of its website to update residents on the impact on Council services, the Council’s actions and to provide information. Please click here.
Abingdon-on-Thames is a vibrant market town with a population of over 33,000. Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council is a parish council under the Local Government Act 1972 and is the successor authority in terms of parish functions to the Abingdon Borough Council. The Town Council is responsible to the residents of Abingdon-on-Thames for a wide range of services. In this section of the Abingdon-on-Thames website we outline these services, as well as information about council meetings, committees, councillors, budget spending and the civic calendar.
The Council’s Vision is “to develop an inclusive community so that Abingdon is the place where everyone wants to live and where the wellbeing of residents is prioritised. In developing this community, the town will be one which is environmentally sustainable, vibrant, resilient and safe.” This is core to delivering and developing our services. The Council has adopted four key strategic objectives in order to acheive this Vision:
1 To respond effectively and speedily to the climate emergency.
2 To develop a resilient, sustainable town which will provide a home for residents now and in the future.
3 To manage the Council’s assets efficiently and effectively to meet for the needs of the community now and in the future.
4 To work with community partners to support those who are vulnerable and in need and to create opportunities to increase social inclusivity.
Find our contact details on the contact us page.
Commonwealth Day marked in Abingdon-on-Thames
We might be looking up into a grey and gloomy sky today but the blue of the Commonwealth flag is fluttering bravely above the County Hall Museum. At 10 o’clock this morning the Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Cllr Angela Lawrence, and the Chairman of the Vale of White Horse District Council, Cllr Mike Badcock, marked the raising of the flag for Commonwealth Day by reading out messages from the Queen and the Commonwealth Secretary General.
Kamalesh Sharma, the Commonwealth Secretary General, sent his best wishes to all involved in flag flying ceremonies, saying that the inaugural year of this initiative, 2014, had shown that it was a successful way to “bring greater understanding and appreciation of the values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter to which the governments of all 53 Commonweatlh countries are committed, and to which each of us as individual Commonwealth citzens can recommit ourselves on Commonwealth Day.”
For further information about the purpose and meaning of Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth please click here.
Calling All Local Photographers
In May the Town Council will be publishing the Town Crier magazine which will be distributed to all households in the parish. The new A4 format is aiming to be more eye catching as it arrives on your doormat and we are looking for a really great photograph to capture the beauty of Abingdon-on-Thames in the springtime.
Budding photographers who would like to see their work on the front cover of this magazine, which has been in print for 53 editions now, should email events@abingdon.gov.uk to reach the Community Services Team, attaching the image as a jpeg or similar image file. If high and low res versions are available just send the low res one in and let us know in the email that a high res one is also available.
The image (or part of the image) should look good in portrait format and it should be fairly recent particularly if it shows places that have altered in the past few years, So look through your great shots of the river, the Market Place, the County Hall Museum; any of our wonderful buildings, views and scenery. Pick out your most colourful, sunny and joyful images of the town looking its best and send them in.
Please note that unfortunately any image with recognisable faces of children will not be usable unless a parental consent form is also provided.
Please send photographs in by 23rd March when the shortlist will be drawn up.
The Future of Abbey Meadow
The Vale of White Horse District Council own and operate the Abbey Meadow and are consulting regarding its future. The District Council wants to improve Abbey Meadow so that it attracts more visitors to the area throughout the year. To help achieve this, three scenarios showing how funding could be used to improve the area have been drawn up.
To learn more about the scenarios being proposed and to have your say in an online survey please click here to reach the appropriate page of the Vale of White Horse District Council website.
The results of this public consultation will be published in the summer 2015. The Vale Council’s cabinet will then consider which scenario to take forward for development, subject to planning and other constraints.
Clubs and Societies welcomed to Fun in the Park
The application forms for Clubs and Societies to take stall space at Fun in the Park are now available on this website. Groups are invited to take this opportunity to promote their organisation by providing a fun activity or entertainment at their stall that will entertain children or adults. Applications need to be in by 1st April so that organisations can be included in the pre-event publicity.
Space may be limited and organisations are encouraged not to delay in applying. Click on this link to go the page where the forms can be downloaded.
Callout for Fun in the Park
Plans are well under way for Abingdon’s popular summer event, Fun in the Park and its evening concert event, Music in the Park, both taking place on 6th June 2015.
As the Town Council will be hiring a large covered stage to accommodate the bands appearing at the evening event, there is a wonderful opportunity for local school bands, dance clubs, performing groups and choirs to use the stage space to wow the crowds at Fun in the Park. If you run a band or performing group and think your crew might love the chance to perform on our professional stage, send an email to events@abingdon.gov.uk letting us know what kind of group you are and what you would like to perform. Get your request in before the end of February to ensure you also get a mention in the programme and advance publicity!
The programme will be confirmed in April based on the applications made during February and March. Wristbands for the evening Music in the Park event will go on sale on Monday 16th March from the Town Council offices.
Mayors Civic Dinner Tickets selling fast
Tickets for the Mayor’s Civic Dinner on Friday 13th February have not yet sold out but are over the 50% mark so anyone thinking about going should request their ticket application pack in the next few days.
The annual event takes place at the Guildhall and this year will include Scottish Country Dancing as well as a three course meal with table wine included in the price.
For more information click here to go to the event details on the town calendar.
Flood Exhibitions
Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council is hosting two exhibitions and advice evenings to help local residents be best prepared for flooding and other winter emergencies. On the evenings of Tuesday 6th and Thursday 8th January there will be opportunities at Long Furlong Community Centre (6th) and Preston Road Community Centre (8th) to meet emergency service personnel, to receive advice from experts and to be aware of emergency equipment, phone numbers to ring and what to do and not do when it looks as though the water is headed your way.
The Town Council particularly hope that neighbours and family members will help elderly and vulnerable people to attend one of these evenings. A little information can go a long way to reducing anxiety for those living alone. The emergency services can react more efficiently if they have met and know where there are people who might need a bit more help.
For more information about the event at Long Furlong on 6th January click here
For more information about the event at Preston Road on 8th January click here
Town Council Opening Hours over the holiday period
Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council will be open as follows during the Christmas and New Year period.
Wednesday 24th December: 9am to 3pm (Roysse Court offices and Guildhall Visitor and Community Information Centre)
Thursday 25th December: Closed
Friday 26th December: Closed
Monday 29th December: Closed
Tuesday 30th December: 9am to 5 pm (Roysse Court offices closed to public; Council service being provided from the Guildhall)
Wednesday 31st December: 9am to 3pm (Roysse Court offices closed to public; Council service being provided from the Guildhall)
Thursday 1st January 2015: Closed
Friday 2nd January: 9am to 5pm.
During the Christmas holiday period when the offices are closed, in the case of emergencies only you may call the Vale of White Horse District Council out of hours number, 01235 524886. However please note that this number should only be called in an emergency.
What to Do in a Flood
Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council is hosting two exhibitions and advice evenings to help local residents be best prepared for flooding and other winter emergencies. On the evenings of 6th and 8th January there will be opportunities at Long Furlong Community Centre (6th) and Preston Road Community Centre (8th) to meet emergency service personnel, to receive advice from experts and to be aware of emergency equipment, phone numbers to ring and what to do and not do when it looks as though the water is headed your way.
The Town Council particularly hope that neighbours and family members will help elderly and vulnerable people to attend one of these evenings. A little information can go a long way to reducing anxiety for those living alone. The emergency services can react more efficiently if they have met and know where there are people who might need a bit more help.
For more information about the event at Long Furlong on 6th January click here
For more information about the event at Preston Road on 8th January click here
