Leigh Park
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Leigh Park is a large suburb (population 27,500) of Havant, in Hampshire, England. It has four electoral wards: Battins, Bondfields, Barncroft and Warren Park (generally referred to as 'The Warren').
Staunton Country Park lies on the northern edge of Leigh Park, also within the Havant boundary.
History
Leigh Park was created as an overspill suburb for those made homeless in Portsmouth by bomb damage which occurred during World War II. The land for the estate was purchased by Portsmouth City Council from George Staunton in 1944; work started on building in 1947 and the first residents moved in in 1949. The first shops opened in 1952 and Park Parade, Greywell Shopping Centre and Greywell Road (usually referred to as just Park Parade), the main shopping area in Leigh Park, opened in 1955.The majority of homes in Leigh Park were built by Portsmouth City Council, not Havant Borough Council, despite it being located within Havant's district boundary. Most Leigh Park tenants living in Council housing pay rent to Portsmouth City Council, not to Havant Borough Council; nevertheless, residents still pay council tax to Havant as the provider of local services. New housing continued to be built until the early 1970s. Leigh Park was one of the largest council estates in Europe, although many of the properties are now privately owned.
Community
Leigh Park has a community centre located near Park Parade.
Transport
The main shopping precinct is served by Stagecoach Bus Routes 21, 23 and 37.
Sport
The suburb's main non-league football side is Havant & Waterlooville FC. The street High Lawn Way just beyond the Crown Bingo Hall also offshoots onto a Bowls club, 2 tennis courts and a Common playing fields and childrens play area.
Politics
The suburb is within the Borough of Havant and includes the Battins, Bondfields, Barncroft and Warren Park wards.
The estate is served by the Havant MP David Willetts, a Conservative.
Education
Leigh Park contains several primary schools: Front Lawn, Trosnant, Sharps Copse & Barncroft School.
There is one FE Centre, Havant College which is technically outside, but extremely close to a large chunk of Leigh Park.
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