Sunday 24 February 2008

Asset-Stripping



It seems likely that the COG (Community in the Old Gaol) campaign to achieve some modest community provision within the redevelopment of the Old Gaol may be approaching its end without achieving that aim. The Old Gaol and its lease have been sold (for housing and shops). It is now clear that the Vale Council never had any intention other than to sell it off for the maximum possible cash and has used unheard-of levels of secrecy to avoid any discussion with the local community, including COG. COG’s aims were widely supported by Abingdon residents and local groups and included a petition from 6000 people.

It might be thought that a few crumbs from this sell-off might have been ring-fenced to secure some community provision that the town centre sorely needs. Evidently not. There is now some vague proposal from the Vale that maybe if there is a surplus (yes, a surplus!) in about three year’s time, something might be considered.

Comments by the Vale are now appearing in the media attempting to put a good face on this sell-off. I believe there is an alternative version that goes something like this:-

In 2002 the Vale hired a firm of architects to present them with options for developing the Old Gaol. In June of that year the Vale opted for the most splendid of these options. This satisfied all forseen needs for community/arts use, for the surprisingly modest sum of £10 million. Was there an immediate review of this figure and the assumptions which underlay it? Or was the consultant just paid his fee in recognition of this happy outcome?

In 2004 they hired a different consultant and in that November they announced that the same scheme (so far as I can see) would now cost an unaffordable £20 million. Of course the house of cards collapsed.


How could this dramatic change occur in a process overseen by a competent local authority? The only explanation I have seen so far is that important costs were missing from the earlier estimate.


Following this fiasco, was there a temptation to just get rid of the Old Gaol and its lease for the maximum cash, and by any means possible to shut out the voice of the local community? Perhaps not, but this is what seems to have happened.

Since November 2005 COG has tried to work in a co-operative way to ensure that at least some modest and affordable community facilities were included in the development. The Vale refused all discussion with COG and the outcome is that the centre of the town remains bereft of sorely needed community facilities.


The Old Gaol has been sold, and the cash will go into the Vale’s coffers without any recognition of what has been taken from the town. Asset-stripping is not too strong an expression for this outcome. Abingdon residents might ask whether the Vale has exercised good stewardship and management of this once-valuable asset.

No doubt the Vale has followed acceptable bureaucratic procedures throughout this saga, but where is the vision and good judgement? It looks so heavy-footed.

Friday 25 January 2008

All is revealed


I ought to mention that although I am a member of the COG committee, this blog is my own and I might not always be totally in step with COG's views!

On Tuesday the Vale Council disclosed its plans for the development of Abingdon's Old Gaol. Details can be seen on the Vale's website http://www.whitehorsedc.co.uk/, and there is a picture of a model of the proposed development on www.heraldseries.net/_images/misc//Gaol.jpg. Also the model is on display in the lobby of the Vale offices in Abingdon.

Well, I thought it was a really nice model. No-one wants to live with derelict buildings. And it's good that the selected developer is local, and that the access to the river garden is provided. So does this look like a happy outcome for the residents of Abingdon? I'm afraid not.

The sheme is for 61 homes and 5 or 6 shops and restaurants. Not too much problem there although there must be questions about how much more housing our already crowded town centre can take and the need for more restaurants.

The major problem lies in what is NOT there, which is any facility for community use (except the Bridge Project), such as a cinema/theatre, a display area or arts and music spaces. The Vale refers to a 2004 cost report on a fundamentally different scheme as justification for not considering such provision. It seems more than likely that had the Vale had any discussion with the local community before embarking on this project, some affordable provision could easily have been arrived at. Regrettably no such discussion took place.

However did this come about? Why was there a refusal to discuss any aspect of the Vale's plans for the Old Gaol even before bids were solicited? This refusal included COG (Community in the Old Gaol, a well supported community group) and Abingdon Town Council.

The Vale's claim that this extreme secrecy was required in the name of "commercial confidentiality" strains credibility. Their purposeful determination to avoid any community input appears more likely to arise from a desire to maximise cash return by excluding local opinion from the sell-off process. The cash will soon be gone but so unfortunately will the Old Gaol so far as Abingdon is concerned.

It need not have been like this. A great opportunity has been lost to provide something of lasting benefit to the community in a remarkable location which called for that spark of imagination which seems to be missing from what has emerged.

Will some of the cash be used to provide help provide some other community facility in the town centre. I'm not holding my breath!

On a more positive note, the latest COG press release says, "The need for such facilities remains and we shall be pressing the Vale to set aside funding from its capital receipt from the Old Gaol to develop them elsewhere in the town." .

The Herald Newpaper has been very involved in this issue and is running a poll on it. Please do respond to it if you would like to make your views known. It's on http://tinyurl.com/35t3jo - it is not easy to spot but is at the bottom of the "Editors Choice" column.

Also if you go to the Vale offices to see the model, there are comments forms available.

And of course you can post comments on this blog.

And visit COG website on www.oldgaol.org.uk

Monday 22 October 2007

Abingdon Says Wake Up!






A message fron Alison Mummery, a member of COG: -


Today is the final day for the short listed developers to hand in their bids for the Old Gaol.
COG, Community in the Old Gaol, are pressing for this historic building to be developed so that it will have some community use for the people of Abingdon.


As time is running out for the Old Gaol, a Wake Up Call was held at 11 am on Saturday 20 October to remind the District Council that although the decisions are currently being made behind closed doors, the people of Abingdon deserve to be consulted over the Old Gaol’s future.

Around 200 people gathered in the Market Square to hear Glynn Butt, Chair of COG, explain the current process of selling off the Old Gaol and that a decision will be made on the developer by 7th December.


Evan Harris, MP, then made a passionate speech about the importance of the Council’s decision. He said ‘The question for the Council is whether the bottom line is purely financial or whether it is about more than the finances, about maximising the money that they can get for the site and balancing that with the need for community use – not just community access but for community use of a very important and historic site.’ He received cheers and applause when he said that the Wake Up Call shows that ‘the people of Abingdon don’t want it just to be a financial decision’ and that COG are not ‘going to be stopped by excuses about commercial sensitivity from doing their best to lobby the people that we have, after all, elected to take a decision not just in the interest of the Council but in the interest of the people of Abingdon…. We want to see the sort of Arts use, the sort of community meeting place use that every town the size of Abingdon needs more of.’

The Mayor of Abingdon, Councillor Lorraine Oates, gave her support to the ‘timely’ Wake Up Call and then handed over to the Town Crier who led a countdown to a few minutes of bells, alarms, drums, and cheers, accompanied by the pealing bells of St Nicolas’ Church.

Chris Brown with his trio, Jazz Café, returned the mood to a mellower sunny day as people dispersed, hopeful that their voices will be heard by the Council and that one day the vibrant town centre will be enhanced by a beautiful water side development we can all use.


For further information, please contact Alison Mummery.
Home: 01235 538956
Mobile: 07813 660576
Or visit our website at www.oldgaol.org.uk

Thursday 18 October 2007

Be There if You Can!

A reminder from COGs Secretary about the event planned for Saturday: -

Just a quick reminder about our "Wake-up Call" event on Saturday - 11.00 in the Market Square. Evan Harris has agreed to come and lend his support and we have musicians lined up for entertainment afterwards and possibly before. We hope to get press and TV coverage so need as many people as possible to come and make a noise for 10 minutes - so bring your friends and families - noisy children and teenagers especially welcome - together with alarm clocks, bells, whistles or other noise-making devices.

Two other things you can do:

1) The decision on the future of the Gaol will be taken by the Executive - formally on 7 December, but in reality their minds will be made up a week or two before that. The full Council will be briefed on the proposals in mid-November and will make their recommendations to the Exec shortly after that. We need people to talk to Vale Councillors before mid-November to urge them to make their recommendations based on the broader value to the Vale community - taking account of social benefits not just the cash receipts. PLEASE contact your councillor asap to make your feelings known. Their contact details can be found on the Vale website http://whitehorsedc.moderngov.co.uk/mgMemberIndex.asp?bcr=1 Councillors have told us that hearing direct from the public does make a difference so it really is worth doing this.

2) Have you seen the latest issue of Vale Views? It has been delivered in some areas but not others, but can be seen on the Vale website. It includes a questionnaire about what people think should be in the Vale's "Community Strategy" - and announces a series of "Area Forum" open meetings so people can make their views known. The Abingdon meeting is on Wednesday 14 November - 7.00 p.m in the Guildhall. This is another - and very timely- opportunity to get the message across to the Vale. I hope we can get a good and vocal turnout from COG supporters at the meeting - and plenty of questionnaires returned!

Hester

Wednesday 10 October 2007

The Eleventth Hour!


The Vale of the White Horse District Council's secrecy over the future of Abingdon's Old Gaol remains as tight or even tighter than before!. The wishes of townspeople of Abingdon and other local people have been resolutely ignored - amazingly the Vale has refused to discuss any proposal or suggestion from COG (Community in the Old Gaol). COG was formed eighteen months ago to try and ensure that some account was taken of the wishes of the local community in what is to become of this very important part of Abingdon's history.

COG continues to work behind the scenes for the inclusion of community facilities in the redeveloped Old Gaol.

Short listed developers are due to submit their bids and plans to the Vale Council by 22nd October, and to coincide with this, COG is organising an event : -


"WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE OLD GAOL!"


in Abingdon Market Place on Saturday 20th October at 11.00am prompt.


PLEASE COME ALONG AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.

The Vale found it difficult to ignore the petition that so many of you (now over 5000) signed earlier in the year; we want to show them once again that the Old Gaol really matters to the people of Abingdon and we want to be consulted when important decisions are being made.


Bring something noisy with you – alarm clock, whistle, drum, bell, trumpet….., the louder the better – and join us in a rousing wake up call for the Old Gaol before it is too late.


Chris Brown's jazz trio will be performing as part of this event at 1110am for half an hour.

Monday 17 September 2007

Decision day approaches for the Old Gaol


Well summer's nearly gone! Our picture is a nostalgic reminder of July when COG presented its 4500-signature petition (now over 5000) to the Vale Council with the help of pupils from Thomas Reade School. COG has been very active in pursuing its aims (opposing the sale of the freehold of the Old Gaol, ensuring restored free public access to the river-side, and getting some community facilities into the building).

Thanks to all who supported COG events at the Abingdon Fun Day, especially knocking down the tins!
Our next planned event is on Saturday October 20th in Abingdon Market Place. We haven't got the details yet but we hope to do something big! Watch this space for more details soon. It's no coincidence that the following Monday 22 October is the day when the Vale plans, as I understand them, are to make known the "winner" or final short-list of developers. COG hopes to be involved closely in subsequent stages of the development. Readers of the Abingdon Herald will have seen a number of letters from COG members in the past few weeks. Below is reproduced the most recent one for those who have not seen it yet.

"Sir,

Reading the recent articles and letters about Abingdon town centre and its businesses, one could become quite depressed. Jennifer Corrigan asks if the Vale has a plan for the rejuvenation of the vibrancy and vitality of the town. How lucky for this District Council that there is a large, stunning, historic, beautiful riverside building right in the town centre that is empty, waiting to be redeveloped, and it belongs to them! How many other councils would love to have a building such as the Old Gaol at their disposal? This building and its surrounding area provides a rare opportunity to bring people into the town and to boost businesses and tourism. If it is transformed into the like of shops, craft rooms, restaurants, exhibition space, a venue and facilities people can use it could be just the thing to revitalise the town. But, as Glynn Butt pointed out in her letter, a housing developer may well offer more money. Has the Vale got the courage to invest in the long term prosperity of our beautiful town or will it opt for short term gain?
As a member of COG (Community in the Old Gaol) I have been working on the possibilities for the Old Gaol for years but I have absolutely no idea who or what the Council are considering. I am concerned by the secrecy surrounding the sale of the Old Gaol. Has the District Council got something to hide? I can only hope that they are looking at the bigger picture – a vision which members of COG can see so clearly.

Yours
Alison Mummery
Member
Community in the Old Gaol"

Thursday 30 August 2007

VALE OF SECRECY?

I must admit to feelings of frustration at the way the Vale District Council is dealing with the development ofAbingdon's Old Gaol (see also my letter in the Abingdon Herald of 30 August). Our organisation, COG (Community in the Old Gaol), was set up eighteen months ago with the aim of providing a focus for the interests of the local community on the future of the Old Gaol. COG is not a disruptive protest group but wants to engage positively with the Vale and the developers and make a contribution to the outcome. COG has done a lot of research amongst community groups and sites with relevant similarities (such as the successful Oxford Castle development , where discussions with a community groupntook place at an early stage).

It is the response from the Vale that I find frustrating. Despite a petition from 4500 local people (now over 5000) that was presented to the Vale in July in support of COG's aims there has to date been virtually no opportunity offered for any real discussion with the Vale or the proposed developers. Instead we seem to be faced with an extreme interpretation of "commercial confidentiality" to prevent any such discussion. The Vale has shorlisted an unknown number of unknown bidders and will decide on a "winner" (or final shorlist) in a couple of months. Surprisingly, Abingdon Town Council has similarly been kept in the dark. It might be supposed that the Vale has no real interest in what the community thinks, but just wants the maximum cash return that it can obtain.

The only bright note is that the Vale has recently agreed to pass to the bidders the portfolio of proposals developed by COG, although with the proviso that no direct discussion will be allowed, and that the Vale will act as a "conduit" for any exchange of information.

To restate COG's aims, they are (1) to oppose the sale of the freehold by the Vale, (2) to restore public access to the river-front, and (3) to ensure provision of some community facilities in the building.

Even at this late stage COG is determined to continue to press for its proposals to receive proper consideration. If you would like to support COG's aims, it would be worth raising thse issues with your Vale or Town Councillors.

Do visit COG's website www.oldgaol.org.cuk or email COG on oldgaol@btinternet.com