West Hunsbury

Infobox UK place
country = England
official_name = West Hunsbury
(old name: Shelfleys)
latitude = 52.217
longitude = -0.924000
civil_parish = Wootton & East Hunsbury
population = 7,468 (2001 Census)NB. data for West Hunsbury ward, Northampton Borough Council
london_distance = convert|67|mi|km|0
shire_district = Northampton
shire_county = Northamptonshire
region = East Midlands
constituency_westminster = Northampton South
post_town = NORTHAMPTON
postcode_district = NN4 & NN5
postcode_area = NN
dial_code = 01604
os_grid_reference = SP725585
static_

static_image_caption= Hill Fort known as Danes Camp at
Hunsbury Hill Park, West Hunsbury

West Hunsbury is a large housing estate in the south of the town of Northampton, convert|2|mi|km|0 from the town centre, convert|1|mi|km|0 from the M1 motorway, junction 15A and convert|2|mi|km|0 from junction 15. The motorway can be seen and heard as most of the area is elevated and the winds direction prevaling is westerly. It is part of the Hunsbury residential area, which also constitutes East Hunsbury east of Towcester Road. "Shelfleys" is the original name for the area and still appears on signs and maps. The area is part of the Borough of Northampton. The area was developed in the 1980s and 1990s as part of the expansion of Northampton.

Demographics

The 2001 censuscite web|title = UK census 2001 - data|url = http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=6080847&c=NN4+9RR&d=14&e=16&g=473647&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1222587666843&enc=1|accessdate = 2008-09-28] shows a population of 7,468 of which 3,727 were male and 3,741 female, in 3,005 households. However, note that this data applies to the West Hunsbury ward of Northampton Borough Council which includes areas outside of West Hunsbury proper, as the areas are not parished - see the notes on Governance below.

Facilities

Community

There is a modern church, St Benedicts, Church of England, and shops including a small supermarket, estate agents, post office, pharmacy, optician and a pub, "The Rose and Claret", in Hunsbury Hill Road. On the same site there is also a health centre.

Opposite the shop area is an area of sheltered housing grouped around a small community centre used for social events and meetings.

The area shares many facilites with East Hunsbury especially at the junction of the old Towcester road and Mereway ring road including a large Tesco 'Extra' supermarket open 24 hours, except Sunday, 10.00-16.00, petrol station, Subway restaurant, estate agent, a licensed Indian restaurant, take-away and bar, and dry cleaners. 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 in East Hunsbury.

Hunsbury Hill Centrecite web|title = Hunsbury Hill Centre - Northamptonshire ACRE with links|url = http://82.109.194.215/~northantsacre/restoration.htm|accessdate = 2008-09-26] is a collection of old farm buildings built about 1770 overlooking the River Nene valley to the north. The main farmhouse is a grade II listed building. The centre is for community use and has three separate function rooms surrounding an octagonal courtyard which can host a variety of events. The main hall seats up to 120 and there is ample free parking in the pleasant and peaceful grounds. The centre is owned by Northamptonshire ACRE, "Action with Communities in Rural England" an independent charitable organisation, working with rural communities in Northamptonshire. Income generated from the centre goes to support the charity's running costs.

Parks

Once the site of an Iron Age hill fort, dating from ca. 400BC, the area is now part of Hunsbury Hill Country Park. The area around was also extensively mined for ironstone between 1880 and 1921 and a section of the railway used to transport the material remains in use for demonstration purposes together with a museumcite web|title = Hunsbury Hill Park and facilities|url = http://www.northampton.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=309|accessdate = 2008-09-26] . Another park at the bottom of the hill near the motorway separates the housing development from The Counties Crematorium.

chools

There is a primary school in the area: Hunsbury Park Primary School. [ [http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Learning/Institutions/schoolsdir.htm?SchoolDetail=9282218|Primary Hunsbury Park Primary School, including December 2006 OFSTEAD report at Northamptonshire County Council website. Retrieved on 26 September 2008] ] cite web|title = Hunsbury Park Primary School website|url = http://www.hunsburypark.northants.sch.uk/|accessdate = 2008-09-26] . The area is in the catchment of Abbeyfield Secondary School located on the north side of Mere Way dual carriageway which is also a business and enterprise college. The school was previously Mereway Upper School and, prior to 2008, Mereway Performing Arts College.

Several village schools south of the town are popular including the primary schools at Milton Malsor, Gayton, Rothersthorpe, Blisworth and Collingtree. Many children of secondary age use Campion School in Bugbrooke and Caroline Chisholm School in nearby Wootton.

Governance

The area does not have a parish council as, unlike East Hunsbury, there was no parish council established when it was open countryside. The area is part of West Hunsbury Ward of Northampton Borough Council electing two members, currently both Liberal Democrat. However, note that the ward of includes housing estates outside of West Hunsbury proper, namely Camp Hill, Banbury Lane, Upton Way, St Crispins Hospital and the areas south of Berrywood Road such as Camelot Way.The current parliamentary seat is Northampton South, Conservative, but will become the new seat of South Northamptonshire from the next general election (2008, 9 or 10), also considered a 'safe' Conservative seat.

References

Externals links

* [http://www.northampton.gov.uk Northampton Borough Council]