Fulwood, Lancashire

Fulwood is a suburb in the city of Preston in Lancashire, England, about two miles north of the city centre.

Economy and society

Fulwood remains a distinctive division of Preston. It is a comfortable suburb with low levels of crime especially when compared with neighbouring wards, possibly due to its lack of council estates or because of Fulwood's high socio-economic status. The suburb is widely considered to be a safe and sought-after area of Preston.

Fulwood has expanded in the 20th century, and has been popular with housing and business developers, with its close links to the M6 and M55 motorways. Since the 1970s when the Central Lancashire New Town was proposed, large sites have been made available for development, such as Longsands, which is a residential area, and "East Preston", where many businesses are currently located, including the Lancashire Evening Post (LEP), Asda, Royal Mail sorting office, Xchanging, CPC [ [http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/office_of_the_chief_executive/lancashireprofile/areas/prconc.asp?version=employment Lancashire County Council: Lancashire Profile ] ] , EDS and Holiday Inn [ [http://www.nbpp.co.uk/property_preston.html. Northern Britain Property Partners NBPP, Valtos, Collective Investment Schemes And Property Asset Management, Northern Britain Property Partners NBPP, Valtos, Collective Investment Schemes And Property Asset Management ] ] . The B6241 (Eastway) provides a vital route, bypassing much of the residential and central areas of Preston, and a road via Longsands connects it to the M6 motorway (at junction 31A which was opened in the 1990s) and the Bluebell Way business park on the boundary with Brookfield.

It is also the home of the Royal Preston Hospital, served by the Number 19, 22, 23, Orbit 88A, Orbit 88C & 99 (early morning only) bus routes.

Amenities

Fulwood has a large number of local amenities. The neighbourhood has a large number of local shops, primary and high schools, pubs, libraries, a large Asda supermarket and Booths supermarket, Preston's main hospital, a college, parks, and many other services.

Parks

Conway
South Drive
Mill Lane

Politics

The electoral wards which make up the area of Fulwood are; Sharoe Green, College, Cadley, Greyfriars and Garrison. Parts of the rural wards, named as Preston Rural East and Preston Rural North, were in the former Preston Rural District. Preston Council meetings are hosted every 3 months classified as Area Forum Meetings, of which Fulwood is the Northern Area Forum.

The wards which make up Fulwood are currently split between a number of parliamentary constituencies due to local government boundaries changing between the Boundary Commission for England's reports on parliamentary boundaries. Thus, Fulwood is split unevenly between three constituencies;
*Ribble Valley - parts of Rural North and Rural East, Greyfriars, Garrison, the northern parts of College, Sharoe Green, Cadley and elements of Moor Park.
*Preston - southern parts of College ward, parts of Moor Park
*Fylde - elements of Preston Rural North and West

Following their review of parliamentary representation in Lancashire, the Boundary Commission have moved the whole of Fulwood into a new constituency of Wyre and Preston North.

For Preston city council elections, see Preston local elections

Between 1894 and 1974 Fulwood was governed by its own urban district council which was merged with other districts under the Local Government Act 1972 to become the new non-metropolitan district of the Borough (now City) of Preston.

Sporting heritage

Cricket - The local cricket team is Fulwood & Broughton CC who play in the Palace Shield. In 2005 they were the most successful cricket side at club level in Britain, winning nine trophies between the senior and junior teams.

Football - The local football team is Fulwood Amateurs FC who play in the West Lancashire League.

Rugby union - The local rugby team is Preston Grasshoppers RFC who play in the national league structure. Probably the most famous player to play for Hoppers is Wade Dooley.

Transport

Fulwood railway station was once in Gamull Lane, on the border between Fulwood and Ribbleton, on the Longridge Branch Line. It was renamed Ribbleton railway station in 1900 and closed in 1930.

References