Sundon Park

infobox UK place

country = England
official_name= Sundon Park
latitude= 51.92
longitude= -0.47
os_grid_reference= TL055255
population= 7,585(est.). [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=5940132&c=sundon+park&d=14&e=15&g=405125&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1] .]
region= East of England

unitary_england= Luton
lieutenancy_england= Bedfordshire
constituency_westminster= Luton South
post_town= LUTON
postcode_district = LU3
postcode_area= LU
dial_code= 01582

Sundon Park is an area of north Luton in Bedfordshire. The name is taken from the nearby villages of Upper Sundon and Lower Sundon, and the estate was originally built as a self contained community based around the SKF ball bearing factory.

Local Area

The "official" entrance to Sundon Park is through the "Sundon Arch", the railway bridge which connects Sundon Park Road to Toddington Road. The estate is in two distinct parts, divided by Hill Rise. The older part to the south (known colloquially as "the Avenues") consists of a number of long, straight avenues which are numbered ("Fourth Avenue", etc). These houses were built in the 1930's. North of Hill Rise , are the newer houses, built mainly in the 50s and 60s. Most of the roads here are named after hills and mountains e.g. Grampian Way, Pennine Avenue. These were all built as owner-occupier properties.

Shopping is provided around the junction of Hill Rise and Sundon Park Road, with a precinct featuring convenience stores, takeaways and a petrol station. Sundon Park Library is also located here, as well as a community centre. There is also a smaller parade of shops on Ashwell Avenue. The SKF factory has been largely turned into industrial units, with other large industrial facilities concentrated in the strip between Sundon Park Road and the railway line.

The line between the Marsh Farm and Sundon Park estates is clearly marked by a long footpath running from Spinney Road to the town boundary; south of this the Spinney Woods mark the division. Because of the negative connotations associated with Marsh Farm, estate agents in the area often market properties just over this line as "Sundon View".

Education

There are three schools in the district. Cheynes Infant School, on Cranbrook Drive, caters for 5-7 year olds; Sundon Park Junior School (SPJS), on Kinross Crescent, is for 7-11 year olds; and Lealands High School on Sundon Park Road is for 11-16 year olds. Next to Lealands is the City Learning Centre for Luton, elearning@luton.

Politics

Sundon Park ward is represented by Cllr Doris Hinkley (Liberal Democrats),and Cllr Anna Pedersen (Liberal Democrats).

The ward forms part of the parliamentary constituency of Luton North, and the MP is Kelvin Hopkins (Labour). Sundon Park is within the East of England (European Parliament constituency).

Local Attractions

Local Newspapers

Two weekly newspapers are delivered free to all the houses in Sundon Park. However they are not specific to Sundon Park. They are:
* [http://www.lutontoday.co.uk Herald and Post] - Delivered every Thursday
* [http://www.lutononsunday.com/ Luton on Sunday] - Delivered every Sunday

References

* [http://www.luton.gov.uk/ Luton Borough Council]