Alderney | |
---|---|
Ringwood Road, Alderney | |
Location within Dorset | |
Population | 11,196 (1 Ward 11,196) |
OS grid reference | SZ 047 943 |
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | POOLE |
Postcode district | BH12 |
Dialling code | 01202 |
Police | Dorset |
Fire | Dorset and Wiltshire |
Ambulance | South Western |
UK Parliament | |
Alderney is a suburb of the town of Poole in Dorset, England with a population of 11,196, [1] increasing to 11,423 at the 2011 Census. [2] Alderney is south of Wallisdown and west of Alder Hills.
Alderney is part of the Alderney and Bourne Valley ward for council elections.
The boundaries of Alderney are roughly defined as being all areas north of Herbert Avenue, west of Alder Road (between the junction at Herbert Avenue and the Wallisdown roundabout), south of Wallisdown Road (between Wallisdown and Mountbatten roundabouts) and streets branching off both sides of Ringwood Road (between Mountbatten roundabout and the junction with Herbert Avenue) [3]
This definition is for the ward of Alderney as defined by the borough of Poole in its ward profiling, although some areas are more commonly referred to as other suburbs e.g. the area southwest of Wallisdown roundabout is often referred to as Wallisdown (historically Highmore) and the area around the junction of Herbert Avenue and Alder Road is known as Rossmore.
Up until the 1940s, most of the area between Herbert Avenue and Ringwood Road was heathland known as Alderney Heath. [4] After the Second World War there was a great need for housing due to a sharp increase in population. Poole Council built many council owned houses in Alderney in the late forties and fifties, mostly semi-detached houses and terraces of four. [5] Later, more housing was added, generally bungalows.
In 2023, 24 homes for homeless people were opened on the grounds of the former Bourne Valley Community Centre. [6]
Situated in the middle of Alderney, Bourne Valley is made up of a few different areas of land all joined together to make one large area.
Bourne Valley nature reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Situated to the north of Alderney, the area includes the protected lowland heath, Bourne Bottom. The site is approximately 80 hectares (200 acres), and consists mainly of boggy heath and trees. The area has many paths which connect to various streets. The main path starts at Ringwood Road which links to a tunnel under the busy dual carriageway, which provides access to the West part of Alderney and Canford Heath. The path lies parallel to the stream and joins Bloxworth Road at the other side.
As the name suggests, Bourne Valley is the start of one of the tributaries forming the Bourne Stream which eventually runs into Bournemouth. Three culverts which emerge from under Ringwood Road start the stream, and it is believed they come from Canford Heath, Sembcorp water works, and road run-off. [7]
To the south of Evering Avenue is Bourne Valley Park, formerly known as Alderney Recreation ground. The whole area was developed between 2003 and 2007 by the Bourne Stream partnership after the area became a problem: football pitches that were too boggy to be used, antisocial behaviour from motorcycle riders, pollution from nearby commercial ventures and rubbish.
The 6.1 hectares (15 acres) open space now consists of wooded areas, heathland, streams, a pond, much open grass land, a large adventure park and off-road bike park. [8]
Alderney Hospital was built in 1888 for the care of the elderly; it now specialises in dementia and mental health with both in and out patients.
Alderney Cottage, later Alderney Manor, was sited on the Poole to Ringwood road between Knighton Bottom and Howe Corner from the early 19th century. A housing estate now occupies the site. The politician, writer and sportsman Grantley Berkeley was the tenant there from around 1860 until 1880, just before his death. [9] The artist Augustus John established an artists' colony there in 1911. Faye Hammill relates how he lived there with "his five legitimate children, his mistress Dorelia McNeill, and his two children by her; and they remained there until 1927, in the company of numerous long-term guests". [10] One frequent visitor was fellow artist Henry Lamb. Aspects of John's life during this period were used as background by Margaret Kennedy in her novel The Constant Nymph (1924). [11]
Alderney Manor Community Centre is a social venue which holds classes and events and can be hired out by organisations and members of the public. Whilst the entrance is on Berkeley Avenue, the address is on Herbert Avenue. There is a main hall with access to toilets, a kitchen, lounge/bar area, small upstairs meeting room and carpark; the downstairs is wheelchair accessible. The venue is used as a polling station for local and general elections. [12]
It is Poole's second most densely populated area with 31 people to each hectare (2.5 acres) and suffers much higher than average levels of poverty, illiteracy and crime. [13] However, this does not reflect every part of the ward.
Alderney is part of the Alderney and Bourne Valley ward on Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. Alderney is also part of the Bournemouth West parliamentary constituency.
Streets near Alderney Avenue have been named after various places in the Channel Islands, including: [14]
St Aldhelm's Academy is a co-educational secondary school serving the Rossmore, Parkstone, Newtown, Wallisdown and Alderney areas of Poole, Dorset, England.
Mid Dorset and North Poole is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Michael Tomlinson, a Conservative.
Bournemouth West is a parliamentary constituency in Dorset represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Conor Burns, a Conservative.
St Brelade is one of the twelve parishes of Jersey in the Channel Islands. It is around 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of St Helier. Its population was 11,012 as of 2021.
Branksome is a suburb of Poole in Dorset, England. The area consists of residential properties and also a number of commercial and industrial areas.
The A338 is a major primary route in southern England, that runs from the junction with the A35 at Poole in Dorset to the junction with the A420 at Besselsleigh in Oxfordshire, a distance of 84 miles (135 km).
Bear Cross is a suburb on the north-western edge of Bournemouth, Dorset, taking its name from the crossroads made by the main road (A348) between Poole and Ringwood and the Wimborne Road/Magna Road (A341).
Bearwood is a suburb of Poole, Dorset, England.
The River Bourne is a small river in Dorset, England. It flows into the English Channel at Bournemouth, taking its name simply from Middle English bourn or burn, a small stream, and giving it to the town at its mouth.
Wallisdown is a residential and commercial area situated partly in Bournemouth and partly in Poole, in southern England. The appropriate ward is called Wallisdown and Winton West.
Parkstone is an area of Poole, Dorset. It is divided into 'Lower' and 'Upper' Parkstone. Upper Parkstone - "Up-on-'ill" as it used to be known in local parlance - is so-called because it is largely on higher ground slightly to the north of the lower-lying area of Lower Parkstone - "The Village" - which includes areas adjacent to Poole Harbour.
Dorset is a county in South West England. The county is largely rural and therefore does not have a dense transport network, and is one of the few English counties without a motorway. Owing to its position on the English Channel coast, and its natural sheltered harbours, it has a maritime history, though lack of inland transport routes have led to the decline of its ports.
Alder Hills is a suburb in Dorset that crosses the boundaries of Bournemouth and Poole. It is south of Wallisdown, east of Alderney and north of Parkstone.
Alderney and Bourne Valley is a ward in Poole, Dorset. Since 2019, the ward has elected 3 councillors to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.
Rossmore is a suburb of Poole, Dorset. Rossmore is close to Alder Hills, Newtown and Parkstone.
Media related to Alderney, Dorset at Wikimedia Commons