Challney

Coordinates: 51°53′38″N 0°27′54″W / 51.894°N 0.465°W / 51.894; -0.465

Challney
Challney  Challney shown within Bedfordshire
Population	13,360 [1]
OS grid reference	TL0522
Unitary authority	Luton
Ceremonial county	Bedfordshire
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LUTON
Postcode district	LU4
Dialling code	01582
Police	Bedfordshire
Fire	Bedfordshire and Luton
Ambulance	East of England
EU Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	Luton North
List of places: UK • England • Bedfordshire

Challney is a district in Luton off the main arterial road leading from Luton to the town of Dunstable. Challney was originally just another name for Chaul End up on the hill to the south of the district.^[2]

Challney was a sleepy residential area until the extension of the nearby M1 motorway on the west side which was built in the early 1960s. The Luton and Dunstable Hospital is also situated nearby and with the increase in traffic (and accidents) has a good reputation for the treatments of car crash victims. Electrolux was for many years the main employer of the area but closed its manufacturing operations in the 1970s. However, Electrolux has moved its UK headquarters back to the area.

Challney is still a relatively residential area with good schooling and local amenities. One of Luton's large Retail Parks for DIY and Electronic goods is located in the area and attracts visitors from all over the county. Leagrave railway station is close by for residents wishing to commute to Bedford or London.

Challney has separate high schools for boys and girls, Challney High School for Boys and Challney High School for Girls, both of which are located on Stoneygate Road. Challney Community College is also based in Stoneygate Road. The High School has recently been designated as a Leading Edge school and Challney is the Business Studies Spoke School for the elearning centre in Luton.

Politics

Map of Luton showing Saints

Saints ward is represented by Cllr Khatija Malik(Labour), Cllr Tahir Malik(Labour) and Cllr Tom Shaw (Labour).

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

Local attractions

Key
	Abbey/Priory/Cathedral
	Accessible open space
	Amusement/Theme Park
	Castle
	Country Park
	English Heritage
	Forestry Commission
	Heritage railway
	Historic House
	Museum (free/not free)
	National Trust
	Zoo

Dunstable Downs Chiltern Hills Leagrave Park Leighton Buzzard Light Railway Luton Museum & Art Gallery the hat Factory Luton Hoo Mossman Collection Someries castle Stockwood Craft Museum Stockwood Park Wardown Park Waulud's Bank Whipsnade Tree Cathedral Whipsnade Wildlife Park Woodside Farm and Wildfowl Park Wrest Park Gardens

Local newspapers

Two weekly newspapers are delivered free to all the houses in Challney. However they are not specific to Challney. They are:

• Herald and Post - Delivered every Thursday
• Luton on Sunday- Delivered every Sunday

Notes and references

1. ^ Luton Borough Council, Population Estimates and Forecasts, estimate for Challney ward in 2007. The count in the 2001 Census was 11,819.
2. ^ This is stated in a deed of sale of rectoral tithes dated 1599 (H. Cobbe, Luton Church: Historical and Descriptive, George Bell, 1899, page 45). Medieval forms of the name included Chalveleye, Challe, Challeye and Chaleie (S. Coleman, Caddington and Kensworth, Bedfordshire County Council (Bedfordshire Parish Surveys, Historic Landscape and Archaeology, 4), 1985, ISBN 0-907041-39-6, page 63). Why would the name of Chaul End be used for a district of Luton? One link is that some of the Chaul End land, such as Badgerdell Wood, was originally in the parish of Luton (Cobbe, pages 43 and 599). Another link is that the part of Challney ward to the south of Dunstable Road was in Chaul End Field, and in the parish of Caddington before it was transferred to Luton in 1928, 1934 and 1964 (Coleman, page 11 and map 2).