CAMPAIGNERS are working together to try to revive Abingdon’s flagging fortunes.

Traders, business leaders and three local councils have teamed up to form the Choose Abingdon Partnership, which aims to bring in new businesses for the current empty shops, boost trade, and encourage more shoppers and tourists to the town.

They will also look at street signs to make sure they are clear and easy-to-read, examine the town’s parking provision and holding more civic events.

The partnership has been formed in the wake of high-profile shop closures, flagging sales and concerns from traders about Abingdon’s ability to compete with other towns in the future.

A part-time project manager — paid up to £30,000 – will be responsible for making Abingdon great once more.

Lesley Legge, the leader of Abingdon Town Council, said: “This is a real opportunity for bringing everyone in to the town together, businesses, councils, the community and the manager of the partnership to take forward the shared vision for Abingdon and the actions to make it happen.”

Iain Nicholson, an expert on revitalisation of flagging town centres, has been commissioned by the town council to help come up with ideas.

The town council, Vale of White Horse District Council and Oxfordshire County Council have each put in £20,000, while Abingdon and District Chamber of Commerce has stumped up £1,000.

Richard Webber, the district council’s executive member for economic development, said: “We’re confident that we have made an excellent choice of manager and that tangible benefits to town centre and its vitality will soon be very evident – even in the current climate.

“We hope that everyone in the town will give their support and encouragement to the process of designing a thriving town, fit for the 21st century, a town in which we can all be proud.

“We urge everyone to get on board with the partnership and its new manager.”

Peter Wiblin, joint chairman of Abingdon and District Chamber of Commerce and the owner of West End Newsagents, said: “It’s essential that we have started working together to kick-start this town.”

Fellow chamber of commerce member Terry Boswell said: “The chamber hopes to see some fresh ideas for the town.

“One of the first things will be for the town centre manager to fill the empty retail units, as well as talking to local retailers about cleaning up the town and the town centre.

“The biggest thing would be to get a big-name retailer into the former Woolworths store. We need to see the manager’s plans before we can create an objective.”

What do you think needs to be done to rescue Abingdon from the doldrums? Write to: Letters to the Editor, Oxford Mail, Osney Mead, Oxford, OX2 0EJ, or email letters@oxfordmail.co.uk