- High Town
infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.885
longitude= -0.4151official_name= High Town
os_grid_reference= TL095215
population= 7,062(est.). [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=5940142&c=high+town&d=14&e=15&g=404823&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1] .]
region= East of Englandunitary_england=
Luton
lieutenancy_england=Bedfordshire
constituency_westminster= Luton South
post_town= LUTON
postcode_district = LU
postcode_area= LU
dial_code= 01582High Town is a hilly district of
Luton adjacent toLuton railway station and extends in a north easterly direction towardsHitchin . It is a convenient location for the dailycommuter toLondon and the district has been recently renovated after many years of neglect.Compared to Luton town centre, High Town is a quieter, older world of small shops and Victorian terraced houses. It was always a mixed area that provided work, housing and leisure to people employed in the hat trade that flourished in Luton until the late thirties.
Luton Council has recently finished a programme of refurbishing shop fronts and re-paving roads. This has been undertaken in a style befitting the Victorian heritage of much of High Town. The High Town Action Trust has its offices in High Town Road, just across the road from the Council’s Wellbeck Centre. There is now a Polish deli and a brand newLithuania n café and grocer shop. But there are still the older, seedy junk and second hand shops as well as other signs of dereliction.Further up High Town Road and on the side streets and adjacent roads are terracesof Victorian houses, traditionally built in local brick with bay-windows and all with very substantial back gardens. Between High Town Road and Hitchin Road, is an area of warehouses and factories.
High Town has always been a favourite location for the young with many lively
pubs and clubs in the area.Diana Dors , the famous 60s British actress, spent some time as a barmaid at The Rabbit public house, located in the area. With recent renovation and building projects, such as Milliners Court (a large warehouse converted into apartments), High Town is seeing a growth in commuters living in the area. This has been encouraged by the fast train connection to London's Kings Cross which is less than 25 minutes journey time.Politics
High Town is represented by Cllr Lakhbir Singh (Labour) and Cllr Dave Magill, an independent member of the council.
The ward forms part of the
parliamentary constituency of Luton South, and the MP isMargaret Moran (Labour). High Town is within theEast of England (European Parliament constituency) .Local Attractions
Local Newspapers
Two weekly
newspapers are delivered free to all houses in High Town, with news about Luton and the surrounding area.
* [http://www.lutontoday.co.uk Herald and Post] (Luton based) - Delivered every Thursday
* [http://www.lsnmedia.co.uk/Luton/ Luton on Sunday] - Delivered every SundayReferences
Further reading
*J. G. Dony, "The Story of High Town", Bedfordshire County Library, 1985, ISBN 978-0-907041-30-6.
* [http://www.carl.co.uk/downloads/Urban_Futures.pdf Urban Futures case study into High Town comparing this to Burnley]
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