Marsh Farm

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marsh Farm
Statistics
Population:	10,000 (est.)
Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference:	TL0523
Administration
Unitary authority:	Luton
Region:	East of England
Constituent country:	England
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom
Other
Ceremonial county:	Bedfordshire
Historic county:	Bedfordshire
Services
Police force:	Bedfordshire Police
Fire and rescue:	{{{Fire}}}
Ambulance:	East of England
Post office and telephone
Post town:	LUTON
Postal district:	LU4
Dialling code:	01582
Politics
UK Parliament:	Luton North
European Parliament:	East of England

Marsh Farm is a large estate in Luton, Bedfordshire near to Leagrave and Limbury, mainly of council and social housing.

The estate was built in the late 1960s, with a mixture of flats and houses as part of the post-war expansion of Luton. The estates at Farley Hill, Hockwell Ring and Stopsley were all built at about the same time. The council owned tower blocks that dominate the estate are called Lea Bank, Penhill and Five Springs, each are of a similar design and are 15 floors each reaching a total height of 44.20m.

The estate takes its name from the farm that owned much of the land that eventually became the estate. Marsh Farm was located by Leagrave Marsh and part of the old farmland is now Leagrave Park.

There are several schools and there is a leisure centre as well as a few popular play areas.

The estate was infamous in 1995 when the social problems on the estate boiled over into three days of rioting. Local police received the help of the Metropolitan Police riot squad to bring the situation under control.

Whilst many parts of the estate still look like a typical depressing 1960s development money is pouring in. The estate has £50m of European money available for re-development and plans are being drawn up by the local council and other interested parties.

Contents 1 Purley Centre 2 Transport 3 Local schools and education 4 Politics 5 Local Attractions 6 Local newspapers 7 Marsh Farm in the media 8 External links

[edit] Purley Centre

The Purley Centre is the main focal point in Marsh Farm. The centre is a council owned shopping centre with another multi-story block of flats above. There are several newsagents, a bakers, a library and many other things in the shopping centre, with a few other shops located outside. There is a pub outside the centre, and a market is held every Thursday which brings people from across Luton to Marsh Farm.

[edit] Transport

Marsh Farm is well connected by bus with regular services to Luton Town Centre. The estate benefits from the M1 as well connections to the A6. Luton Airport is within 3 miles.

Leagrave railway station is a short walk from Marsh Farm and there are frequent trains to Luton, St Albans, Bedford, London and Brighton.

[edit] Local schools and education

• Sundon Park Junior School, Kinross Crescent
• Waulud Primary School, Wauluds Bank Drive
• Woodlands Secondary School, Northwell Drive
• Lealands High School, Sundon Park Road
• Lea Manor High School, Northwell Drive
• Lea Manor Community College, Northwell Drive
• Leagrave Library, Marsh Road
• Marsh Farm Library, Purley Centre

[edit] Politics

Marsh Farm falls into the Northwell ward is represented by Cllr Roy Davis (Labour) and Cllr Don Worlding (Labour).

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

[edit] Local Attractions

Dunstable Downs Chiltern Hills Leagrave Park Leighton Buzzard Light Railway Luton Museum & Art Gallery the hat Factory Luton Hoo Mossman Collection The Purley Centre 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

[edit] Local newspapers

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

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

[edit] Marsh Farm in the media

• [BBC News article about funding]

[edit] External links

• Luton Borough Council

Luton • Bedfordshire • England
Places within Luton Barnfield | Biscot | Bramingham | Bury Park | Bushmead | Challney | Crawley Green | Farley Hill | Dallow | High Town | Hockwell Ring | Leagrave | Lewsey | Limbury-cum-Biscot | Marsh Farm | New Town | Putteridge | Round Green | Stopsley | Sundon Park | Warden Hills | Wigmore
Ammenities Kenilworth Road | Luton Museum | Stockwood Park | Wardown Park | Waulud's Bank
Education Barnfield College | Denbigh High School | University of Bedfordshire | Luton Sixth Form College | South Luton High School