Councillors' surgeries around city

Notes: Allestree might be the most northern ward of the city, but it’s still only about two miles from the centre and is home to Derby University.

It is a big, airy city suburb with its own shopping precinct at Park Farm and is virtually surrounded by farmland and open space.

Allestree was once a quiet village, steeped in history.

The church dates from the 12th century and the Red Cow pub next to it goes back to 1800.

There is a yew tree, reputed to be 1,000 years old, and the lamp in the old church yard is said to be haunted.

In the conservation area at the village centre, around Park Lane and Cornhill, there are several listed buildings, including the 17th century, wooden-framed Yew Tree Cottage and the old village pump.

Today, there is a real mix of housing, from the handful of original wood-framed properties and few streets of traditional terraces in the old village through to lots of modern chalets, semis and some big, deluxe homes.

Allestree has its own infant, junior and secondary schools, taking children from a large catchment area, as well as plenty of shops and a few pubs, making it virtually self contained.

It’s a busy place with a good community vibe. And with the city centre only a short bus ride away, it’s easy for city workers to get in and out for work and fun.

Allestree was described as a ‘socially advantaged area’ in the 2001 census, with the unemployment rate lower than the national average.

Population: Around 13,000, making it one of Derby's biggest suburbs.

Schools: Woodlands School, Blenheim Drive, Allestree, DE22 2LW, email: the.office@woodlands.derby.sch.uk, tel 01332 551921, fax number: 01332 553869, website: http://www.woodlands.derby.sch.uk/

Doctors: Park Farm Medical Centre, 3 Park Farm Centre, Allestree, tel 01332 559402.

Allestree Library: Park Farm Centre, Allestree, tel 01332 559761.

Trains: Derby mainline station is two miles away in the city centre.

Roads: Allestree sits on the busy A6 and is minutes away from the main north-south A38 to the M1 motorway. The A50 cross country road is also minutes away.

Buses: There is an excellent regular service winding through the suburb and into the city.

Shopping: There is the Park Farm precinct and a few little shopping centres; everything for day-to-day living, including doctors, opticians, chemists and banks.

Eating and Drinking: A few pubs, some serving food, plenty of takeaways but no restaurants; however, as the city centre is just a walk away, everyone heads for there.

Sports: There are lots of options - pretty much everything, including a very popular and successful cricket club.

Parks and open spaces: The area is well blessed on this front: there is Allestree Park on the north, Markeaton Park to the south, and Darley Abbey Park on the eastern side.

Allestree Park is exceptionally scenic and comprises a mixture of woodland, open parkland, a lake, a hall, a golf course and abundant wildlife. The park dates from the end of the 18th century when the present hall, a Grade 2 listed building, was built.

Markeaton Park is the most-used leisure facility in Derby with a wide variety of activities, including a boating lake, pitch and putt course, children's playground and mini golf course.

Just a short distance to the southwest of the suburb, set in beautiful parkland of its own, is Kedleston Hall.