Eastleigh
|
|
Eastleigh is a railway town in Hampshire, England, between Southampton and Winchester, and part of the South Hampshire conurbation. It stretches from Netley on the banks of Southampton Water, the historic river villages of Hamble-le-Rice, Bursledon and Botley, the developing areas of Hedge End, West End and Fair Oak and the green residential belt of Chandler's Ford. Its MP is Chris Huhne (Liberal Democrats) who narrowly beating Conservative Conor Burns with a 2.6% swing against him. It is the main town in the Eastleigh borough.
A village called East Leah has been nearby for centuries, but the railway station was originally named Bishopstoke Junction, only becoming Eastleigh in 1923, after the town that sprung up around it.
Eastleigh today is the site of Southampton Airport, a major airport.
With a population of over 117,000 Eastleigh has seen a rapid and controlled expansion in residential, industrial and commercial development over recent years.