Blacon

infobox UK place
country= England
latitude= 53.1926
longitude= -2.8912
official_name= Blacon
map_type= Cheshire
population= 13,495 (2001 Census)
os_grid_reference= SJ385675
shire_district= Chester
shire_county= Cheshire
region= North West England
post_town= CHESTER
postcode_district= CH1
postcode_area= CH
dial_code= 01244
constituency_westminster= City of Chester

Blacon is a large ex-council owned housing estate near Chester, in Cheshire, England, containing a mixture of private homes and substantial public council-built properties. At one time it was one of the largest council housing estates in Europe, [ [http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/files/CRC38%20Chester%20Rural%20Art%20Project,%20Chester.pdf "Making Best Practice Stick"] , Commission for Rural Communities, CRC 38 / December 2006] but is now owned, run and maintained by the Chester And District Housing Trust.

Geography

Blacon is situated adjacent to the Welsh border and is located on a hill, one mile to the north-west of, and overlooking Chester. The village is built on what was previously farming land and is surrounded by open countryside. Blacon has views across to the city centre of Chester and to the Welsh hills some twenty miles to the west.Other nearby places include Upton to the east and the villages of Mollington and Saughall to the north. [ [http://maps.google.com/maps?key=abqiaaaai7fqv1onmpufpwr-xf2zibs7aq1psctt6lzqg5jqjqrr3ls1gxt4gdsxjnilhd4fhsncieb6cfgb_a&ie=utf8&om=0&z=13&ll=53.20048,-2.907944&spn=0.031774,0.076904 Map of Blacon] ]

History

North Blacon (Blacon Hall)

Blacon was originally known as "Blakon Hill" and was owned by the Marquess of Crewe. [Page 4 The 'Blacon Voice' December 2006 Issue #42 ] The Parish of Blacon cum Crabwall was formed in 1923, and on 1 April 1936, under the Cheshire County Review Order, 1936, most of the parish was transferred to Chester County Borough. [ [http://archive.cheshire.gov.uk/dserve/dserve.exe?&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=2&dsqSearch=((text)='blacon') "Blacon cum Crabwall Parish Council"] , 1894-1936]

It was a small farming village community until major building work by Chester City Council began in the early 1950s. Most of the older and original estate, was built in the ten years to 1960; though further parts were added on the old army camp site in South Blacon, in the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. 'The Parade' Shops, built in 1954 in north Blacon, are an example of Chester City Council building.

Blacon Camp (Blacon Lodge)

The British army [ [http://www.cheshireregiment.org/ The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment] ] had maintained an army camp in south Blacon, from just before, to just after, the second world war. A mixture of wooden and 'Nissen' huts were occupied by soldiers until the late 1950s; and the army firing range was still in evidence until the Chester City Council 'tower block' buildings of the mid-1960s. This part of Blacon is often referred to as 'The Camp'.

Community initiatives

The Blacon community are taking part in initiatives, led by the government's Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder Programme, [ [http://www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/publications.asp?did=331 "Blacon Together"] , Pathfinder Portrait] and a number of projects have been established by, and for, Blacon residents. [ [http://www.blacon-together.com/meetings2.html Current Partnerships] ]

Progress to improve the estate continues apace, with work done by the Blacon Community Trust [ [http://www.blacon.org.uk/ Blacon Community Trust] ] and Blacon-Together [ [http://www.blacon-together.com/ Blacon-Together] ] already giving results. Discussions continue about further regeneration initiatives, both for north and south Blacon, with a timescale of three to seven years.

Policing

Blacon is home to the new headquarters of the Western Division of the Cheshire Constabulary [ [http://www.cheshire.police.uk/ Cheshire Constabulary] , official site]

chools

Primary

* St. Theresa’s Catholic Primary School
* J H Godwin Primary School
* Dee Point Primary School
* Highfield Community Primary School
* The Arches Community Primary School

econdary

* Blacon High School, a specialist school (sports)
* Blacon Young Peoples Project

Places of worship

There are several places of worship in Blacon to cater for Christian and Muslim faiths.

Blacon railway station

[
right|thumb|250px|Blacon railway station in December 2006 showing cycle path/walkway and bridge in distance] The station was closed to passengers on 9 September 1968 as part of the Beeching Axe for the economic modernisation of the British railway network in the mid-1960s. [Richard Beeching's report "The Reshaping of British Railways" was published in 1965.] Freight trains ran through Blacon until 20 April 1984, resuming as a single track line on 31 August 1986 before closing again in the early 1990s. [citeweb|url=http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/b/blacon/index.shtml|title=Station Name: Blacon|work=Disused Stations|accessdate=6 October|accessyear=2008] [citebook|title=Cheshire Railways Remembered|last=Oppitz|first=Leslie|date=1997|pages=p111|publisher=Countryside Books|isbn=1-85306-458-0]

Although the old station and railway line have gone, they have been replaced with a tarmac road surface, which now provides a cycle path, jogging track and a countryside walkway. [citeweb|url=http://www.chesterwalls.info/railstroll/rail18.html|title=A Virtual Stroll Along the Mickle Trafford-Shotton Railway] This amenity is accessed from the side of old Blacon station bridge; but its route can also be joined (just off) Chester's 'Fountain' roundabout, travelling via Blacon, and on to the North Wales countryside. Other joined routes can be accessed along the way.

Politics

Chester City Council

Blacon consists of two Chester City Council [citeweb|url=http://www.chester.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/city_councillors/your_councillors/councillor_by_ward.aspx |title=Council and Democracy|work=Chester City Council|accessdate=6 October|accessyear=2008] wards, each of which elects three Councillors.

Blacon Hall ward

Population 7,977 (2001 Census)citeweb|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=6073288&c=blacon&d=14&e=15&g=427359&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1223295412334&enc=1 |title=2001 Census: Blacon Hall (Ward)|work=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=6 October|accessyear=2008]
* John Price, Deputy Leader of the Council, Labour
* Judith Stainthorp, Labour
* Norman Stainthorp, Labour

Blacon Lodge ward

Population 5,518 (2001 Census)citeweb|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=6073289&c=blacon&d=14&e=15&g=427384&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1223294785920&enc=1 |title=2001 Census: Blacon Lodge (Ward)|work=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=6 October|accessyear=2008]
* Reggie Jones, Labour
* Marie Nelson, Labour
* Ethel Price, Labour

Cheshire County Council

Blacon has Labour representation on the County Council.

UK Parliament

Blacon, as part of the City of Chester constituency, is represented in the UK Parliament by Christine Russell, Labour Party.

European Parliament

North West England

References and notes

External links

* [http://www.upmystreet.com/local/my-neighbours/neighbourhood-profile/l/CH1+5QT.html Socio-economic profile of Blacon]