Eastwood, Essex

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Eastwood
latitude= 51.569
longitude= 0.6636
population = 9,332 [9332 is the population from the 2001 census. [http://www.southend.gov.uk/content.asp?section=121&content=4569 Source: Southend Council Area Profile for Eastwood Park Ward] . The Electorate for Eastwood Park Ward in 2006 is 7,497. [http://www.southend.gov.uk/election/2006/?ward=Eastwood+Park Source: Southend Council] .]
lieutenancy_england= Essex
unitary_england= Southend-on-Sea
region= East of England
constituency_westminster= Southend West
post_town= LEIGH-ON-SEA
postcode_district=SS9
postcode_area=SS
dial_code= 01702
os_grid_reference= TQ832892

Eastwood is a town four miles west of Southend-on-Sea in Essex, England. It is a suburb of Southend and part of the Southend-on-Sea unitary district. Eastwood is sometimes called Eastwood Park, such as for local elections.

It is bordered by Rayleigh to the west, Rochford to the north-east, and Belfairs, part of Leigh-on-Sea, to the south. To the north lies Edwards Hall Park, a large area of open countryside, part of which is farmland. This green space extends all the way to Hockley Woods, and Hockley. There are also several swing parks throughout Eastwood.

Eastwood has good bus links to both Southend and the surrounding areas, with popular services including Arriva Southend's route 9 service, and First Essex's route 20 service. The nearby Southend Airport mainly operates charter and business flights, with the only regular air service being a scheduled flight to Jersey on summer Saturdays. However, the nearest railway stations are Rayleigh station and Rochford station on the Great Eastern Main Line with services to London Liverpool Street operated by National Express East Anglia, and Leigh-on-Sea station on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway, with services to London Fenchurch Street operated by c2c.

It is a mainly residential area with housing and small clusters of independent local shops scattered throughout. There are several pubs, including The Oakwood, The Brookside Tavern, The Bellhouse and The Loyal Toast; and also a snooker club (The Green Baize). Along Western Approaches there is a supermarket (Morrisons) a doctor's clinic (Scott Park Surgery) and a community centre. There is also a larger clinic at Kent Elms corner, with a pharmacy and library.

There is some light industry, mainly centred about the A127 dual carriageway and Progress Road industrial estate. A large number of car dealerships also lie along the A127.

Eastwood has many infant and junior schools. There is also one secondary school, Eastwood School, a mixed school with about 850 pupils (in 2004). Eastwood School is home to the Eastwood Studio Theatre, which puts on several theatrical productions, as well as other events such as battle of the bands.

Eastwood has its own small police station. It is no longer open to the public [ [http://www.essex.police.uk/yourarea/y_soe_04.php Source: Essex Police] ] , but is still sometimes used by the police to book people or take statements. Previously it was open to the public one day a week. The station has been useful to police in their struggle to reduce petty crime caused by some local teenagers. [ [http://archive.thisisessex.co.uk/2003/4/10/147694.html Source: ThisIsEssex.co.uk] ]

According to figures from Southend Borough Council, [ [http://www.southend.gov.uk/content.asp?section=121&content=4569 Source: Southend Council Area Profile for Eastwood Park Ward] ] Eastwood has only half the national average of people having degree level qualifications, but the number of home-owners is above average.

External links

* [http://www.southend.gov.uk/ Southend Borough Council website]
* [http://www.southend.gov.uk/content.asp?section=121&content=4569 Area Profile from Southend Borough Council]

References