UNCERTAINTY still surrounds a £50m proposal to revitalise Abingdon town centre.

In 2011, Vale of White Horse District Council agreed the £53m deal with Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP) for The Charter area.

The March 2011 plan would have demolished the multi-storey car park, then built a new one plus a library and health centre with a new supermarket.

But in April this year, Sainsbury’s announced it would not be taking part in the scheme after discussions with the council. Six months on, SWIP is refusing to say whether any further progress has been made.

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Spokesman James Thorneley said: “We would like to be able to update shoppers and residents as soon as possible, but there is no update at the moment.”

It has a 150-year lease from the district council and has already spent £4.5m revamping existing shops in the Bury Street precinct.

But two central units in the precinct remain unfilled.

Heather Brown, a spokesman for Choose Abingdon Partnership, which promotes town and community events, said: “As far as I am aware, discussions have been taking place between Morrisons and SWIP but they are commercially sensitive.

“Shoppers and residents will have to be patient when it comes to The Charter.

“I would like to see it redeveloped in some way, even if a new supermarket doesn’t go there.”

Mr Thorneley would not comment on whether it was in discussions with Morrisons. The supermarket had yet to comment.


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