Challney
| Challney | |
  Challney |
|
| 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 |
|
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Coordinates: 51°53′38″N 0°27′54″W / 51.894°N 0.465°W
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 1990s. 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
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 |
 .svg.png){kind=icon} | Museum (free/not free) |
 | National Trust |
 | Theatre |
 | Zoo |
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
- ↑ Luton Borough Council, Population Estimates and Forecasts, estimate for Challney ward in 2007. The count in the 2001 Census was 11,819.
- ↑ 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).