Chamber of Commerce Current Issues
Chamber members are currently involved in many issues. In some cases, we have been invited to discuss these issues as a major stakeholder; in other cases, we feel our voice is relevant and our views have to be heard even if we have not been invited to participate!
Below is a list of the major topics - more information will be posted in due course. Updates on any of these topics are discussed at our monthly meetings whenever it is relevant.
News
The primary focus for 2010 will be working with the new 'Choose Abingdon Partnership' Board and the projects they identify to improve the vitality of the town. Early projects include an initiative to replace the half dozen existing town maps that are located at various places around the town wtih improved and updated images that should encourage visitors to the town to come and explore.
The next major Chamber initiative will be a series of 'Showcases' that will be held in the Market Place. Dates and details will be available shortly.
The Chamber have also established a new sub-committee to look into the possibility of having Business Awards being awarded - again details will be made available as soon as they are finalised.
Previous Issues
Chamber Communication Network
Following the 2009 AGM of the Chamber, it was clearly identified that better communications were required for anyone interested in the workings and actions of the Chamber Officers and Members. As a result, a new 'email' group has been created to enable easier and quicker communications to be received by all members. Any member interested in joining this group should contact the Joint President Mrs Terry Boswell
Abingdon Town Vitality
The Chamber is taking a keen interest in the future vitality and promotion of the town and wishes to foster development and growth. The 2008 Retail Study commissioned by the Vale is currently (March 2009) being considered and it is intended to work with both the Vale and the Town Council to consider the best way forward as a result of the report findings. Any local business interested in expressing ideas and suggestions should, in the first instance, contact the Joint President Mrs Terry Boswell
Joint Economic Forum
The Chamber has been meeting regularly with the Town and Vale Councils to discuss economic affairs relating to Abingdon. These meetings have been called the “Joint Economic Forum” (JEF). The Forum takes the plight of trade in the town as a serious matter and has been keen to create an action plan for the town to maximise the potential we have as a business community. Consequently, Iain Nicholson of the Oxfordshire Towns Chambers Network was commissioned to prepare a report and, most importantly, an action plan for the town. The September JEF meeting was largely devoted to adopting Iain’s report and discussing ways of implementing it.
The major outcome of this is that a working party has been formed to begin to put the new infrastructure in place and to start working on some of the 'Actions Now'. This working party will continue to be led by Iain and the two groups that have been formed, the Key Players Group and the Community Group, will also continue. The members of the working party are Lesley Legge and Nigel Warner from the Town Council, Richard Webber and Toby Warren from the Vale, two to be appointed from the County Council and Jill Carver from the Chamber.
We will keep our members informed of the developments. However, one important feature that has come out of the report is that Abingdon needs a strong Chamber to represent all the businesses in the town. We would urge you all to take an active role in the Chamber to help us build the business community.
Abingdon Town Centre Partnership >> Print PDF
Abingdon Town Centre Report >> Print PDF
AbITS – Abingdon Integrated Transport Strategy
Click here to view Power Point Presentation for a second bridge, (use the right arrow key on your keyboard to move through the slides).
Update from Oxfordshire County Council
Oxfordshire County Council has commissioned TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) to undertake a review of the SCOOT system. They will be taking a detailed look at how the signals and pedestrian crossings are set up in particular and advise on any improvements in that respect, in addition to giving more general advice about the way that the scheme functions. They have made a start on this and are not expecting it to be a particularly lengthy process, however they do need to wait until all of the schools (private and state) have returned and the Bridge Street signal has been moved to understand the most up to date situation and therefore provide the most relevant advice.
Loading/disabled signplates for Stert Street are being progressed. Relevant traffic regulation order to be made and advertised and the signs erected.
Dropped kerbs to the disabled bays are to be installed.
Stert Street potholes to be dealt with in next few weeks.
Update received from Oxfordshire County Council 3rd April 08:
With regard to the review, we have commissioned consultant TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) to undertake a review of the SCOOT system. They will be taking a detailed look at how the signals and pedestrian crossings are set up in particular and advise on any improvements in that respect, in addition to giving more general advice about the way that the scheme functions. They have made a start on this and we are not expecting it to be a particularly lengthy process, however they do need to wait until all of the schools (private and state) have returned and the Bridge Street signal has been moved to understand the most up to date situation and therefore provide the most relevant advice.
Once TRL have reported their findings on SCOOT we will need to take a view on when to proceed with the second part of the review, i.e. looking at the wider impact that the scheme has had on Abingdon and the surrounding area. It may be that, depending on the scale of any recommendations from TRL, we pursue those and allow them to settle in before undertaking the second part of the review. We have yet to discuss this with members though and will need to see what comes out of the TRL work.
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