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