ABINGDON High Street is to undergo a “much needed” £450,000 facelift in a bid to pull in more visitors.

Work to install a new pavement and kerbstones to make the shopping area more attractive started on Monday.

And there are also signs the green shoots of recovery are sprouting with the news a new owner had been found for the vacant Woolworths store.

Furniture store Cargo is to move into the Bury Street site and is expected to open by the end of the month.

Trade in Abingdon was hit hard by empty shops and a lack of tourism with scores of traders concerned the town was not attractive enough to compete with its neighbours.

But last night, traders, councillors and shoppers said the news was a shot in the arm.

Lesley Legge, leader of Abingdon Town Council, said: “Everyone in the town has said these improvements to the High Street have been desperately needed for years, so it is very pleasing that they will finally take place.

“It seems that with this announcement Abingdon has turned a corner after people had started to get a bit down.

“Coupled with the fact the Woolworths store has been taken over it bodes well for the future.”

Cargo managing director Clive Gilbert said: “We’ve had a shop in Abingdon before and people were disappointed when we closed, so we’re really excited to be coming back.

“As it is a large unit we will also be operating our Homestyle range, which is soft furnishings.

“We’re hoping to thrive in what is a fantastic town and look forward to opening towards the end of the month.”

Work on the scheme is expected to last until March, although Oxfordshire County Council – which is undertaking the project – said the scheme would stop in December and the first week of January so traders did not lose out on Christmas and New Year takings.

Road closures will be necessary in March when resurfacing work takes place.

The scheme is part of Abingdon’s Integrated Transport Strategy, a joint initiative between the county council, Vale of White Horse District Council and Abingdon Town Council.

Peter Wiblin, joint president of Abingdon Chamber of Commerce, said: “These improvements will make the High Street look great, particularly as it will be the same materials used to refurbish Stert Street. However, it’s important the district council keeps the street clean.

“It’s obviously good news about Cargo, but it won’t solve Abingdon’s problems on its own and we’re going to need an anchor store for real impact.”

County councillor Rodney Rose, cabinet member for transport implementation, added: "Our commitment to making improvements in Abingdon remains and this is the latest work.”

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