East Hunsbury

Infobox UK place
country = England
official_name = East Hunsbury
(Merefield and Blackymore)
latitude = 52.207333
longitude = -0.900000
civil_parish = Wootton & East Hunsbury
population = 9,058 (2001 Census)
(East Hunsbury Northampton Borough Ward)
london_distance = convert|66|mi|km|0
shire_district = Northampton
shire_county = Northamptonshire
region = East Midlands
constituency_westminster = Northampton South
post_town = NORTHAMPTON
postcode_district = NN4
postcode_area = NN
dial_code = 01604
os_grid_reference = SP751573
static_

static_image_caption= Danes Camp Leisure Centre
East Hunsbury

East Hunsbury is a large housing estate in the south of the town of Northampton, England, convert|3|mi|km|0 from the town centre and convert|1|mi|km|0 from the M1 motorway, junction 15. It is part of the Hunsbury residential area, which also constitutes West Hunsbury on the west side of Towcester Road. Shelfleys is the original name for the area of Northampton currently referred to as West Hunsbury which is also part of the Borough of Northampton. The name of West Hunsbury still appears on maps for the district as Shelfleys. Merefield is the corresponding name for East Hunsbury, together with the name "Blackymore" for the eastern part of East Hunsbury. All three names are still on local direction signs in Northampton as at 2007 although all three are no longer in use by the local people living there. The areas developed in the 1980s and 1990s as part of the expansion of Northampton. The Northampton loop of the West Coast Main Line railway running between Northampton and London Euston runs under East and West Hunsbury in a tunnel emerging near Hill Farm Rise which follows the original course of Towcester Road prior to the 1980s. Ventilation shafts are visible in the housing estate in Yeoman Meadow.

Demographics

The 2001 censuscite web|title = UK census 2001 - data|url = http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=6075306&c=NN4+0PH&d=14&e=16&g=473208&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1222532124930&enc=1
accessdate = 2008-09-27] shows a population of 9,058 of which 4,561 were male and 4,497 female, in 3,616 households.

Facilities

Community

There are two smaller retail parks, one at Blackymore has a Tesco Express, takeaway Fish and Chip shop, Florists, Chemist, Hair Salon, a public house, "The Collingtree", Community Centre and an Estate Agent. At the other in Merefield, adjacent to the Mereway ring road, there is a large Tesco 'Extra' supermarket open 24 hours, except Sunday, 10.00 to 16.00. It has a Costa Coffee, Virgin Holidays and a petrol station. Also on the same site is a Subway restaurant, estate agent, O'Riordan Bond, 'Chillies', a licensed Indian restaurant and take-away and a licensed bar 'Serenity'. There is also the Danes Camp Leisure centre and swimming poolcite web|title = Danes Camp Leisure Centre|url = http://www.explorenorthamptonshire.co.uk/exec/113040/5512/reg_name=,pno=15465,pcode=GBNOR0035X,database=twn_lon,search_link=5510,prd_x=474573,prd_y=257879|accessdate = 2008-09-26] . Collingtree Park Golf Course is in Windingbrooke Lane and accessable from Rowtree Road.

East Hunsbury is also home to the Grangewood Park Residents Club, a leisure complex converted from grade II listed farm buildings for the exclusive use of 265 homeowners on the Grangewood Estate (located within 'Merefield' - see above) and their invited guests. The leisure complex includes two licensed bar areas, tennis & squash courts.

chools

There are two primary schools in the area: East Hunsbury Primary School and Simon de Senlis Primary School, which was rebuilt in 2006-8, having previously been a Lower School [ [http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Learning/Institutions/schoolsdir.htm?SchoolDetail=9282220|Primary Simon De Senlis Primary School, including March 2008 OFSTEAD report at Northamptonshire County Council website. Retrieved on 26 September 2008] ] cite web|title = Simon de Senlis Primary School website|url = http://www.simondesenlisprimary.ik.org/home.ikml|accessdate = 2008-09-26] .The re-build was part of the Northampton PFI, the governments Private Funding Initiative, with the partner companies involved being Babcock & Brown Propertiescite web|title = Babcock & Brown - PFI partners at Simon de Senlis school|url = http://www.babcockbrown.com/|accessdate = 2008-09-27] , Ameycite web|title = Amey plc- PFI partners at Simon de Senlis school|url = http://www.amey.co.uk/|accessdate = 2008-09-27] and Galliford Trycite web|title = Galliford Try - PFI partners at Simon de Senlis school|url = http://www.gallifordtry.co.uk/|accessdate = 2008-09-27] .

The area is in the catchment of Abbeyfield Secondary School, formerly Merway Upper School and later Community College, located on the north side of Mere Way dual carriageway which is also a business and enterprise college. It now has excellent facilities and is continuing to improve. Many children of secondary age also use Campion School in Bugbrooke and the newer Caroline Chisholm School in Wootton, Northamptonshire.

Governance

The area has a Parish Councilcite web|title = Wootton and East Hunsbury Parish Council|url = http://www.woottonpc.co.uk/|accessdate = 2008-09-25] which includes the village of Wootton as it traditionally looked after the area when it was open countryside.

The area comes under East Hunsbury ward of Northampton Borough Council, electing two members, both Conservative. However, note that the area of Collingtree Park and Collingtree village, although adjacent to East Hunsbury are in the Nene Valley ward for both tounty and borough elections.

The area is part of East Hunsbury divsions of Northamptonshire County Council, electing one member, a Conservative. The area of Collingtree Park and Collingtree village, although adjacent to East Hunsbury, are in the Nene Valley ward.

New developments

A major urban extension of 2,000 houses, of which "ca."35% would be affordable housing was proposed by Bovis Homes in July 2008 at Collingtree Park with all access from Winingbrook Lane, off Rowtree Roadcite web|title = "Housing Golf course flooding sparks new homes protest" - Northampton Chronicle & Echo|url = http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Golf-course-flooding-sparks-new.4470808.jp|accessdate = 2008-09-26] .

References