Southway

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[edit] History

Southway is a large housing estate in north-west Plymouth. The name is believed to have derived from the route into Plymouth often used by Buckland Abbey monks, which was known as the "South Way".

Part of the city's extensive post-war housing programme, the land upon which Southway is built was previously occupied by three farms, Southway, Langley and Birdcage, as well as parts of four other farms, Clittaford, Heathfield, Hendwell and Wyvell. Some of these are commemorated in street names, and much of the original woodland and greenery remains in large pockets around the estate.

The decision to build the estate was taken as early as 1943, as extensive plans for the rebuilding of the blitzed city and its decimated housing stock were being made.

Building work began in September 1954, with the first residents taking up occupancy early in 1955. The estate was built in two main phases, the second phase being mostly completed by 1968. In the meantime, Southway Primary School was opened in 1958, followed by the secondary school in 1962. The estate's two other primary schools, Langley and Tamerton Vale, opened in the late 1960s in time for the completion of phase two.

The 1960s phase also saw a large shopping centre added to the estate, complete with banks and a public library, as well as two pubs, Anglican and Roman Catholic churches and a community centre.

Nearby is the Southway Industrial Estate, which provides a home to large companies such as BAE Systems, Invensys and the Paper Converting Machine Company.

[edit] Controversy

In June 2006, the British National Party caused a wave of controversy by standing a candidate in the by-election called after the death of the Labour party councillor for the area. Liam Birch, a 21 year old student from Plymouth University was the first candidate the party had ever stood in the area. Birch caused further controversy when it was reported in the local press that he had claimed that "...the Jews started war on the Nazis, not the other way around..."

The Plymouth branch of Unite Against Fascism caused further controversy by delivering leaflets which it was alleged by the BNP, interfered with the electoral process. The dispute continues.