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The main changes I have seen in Bury Park over the years is, it
has become central kind of community cohesion, it’s a biggest
cultural melting pot than it has ever been. We got huge amount
of diversity in the area. What I really love about the area is, that
it has huge amount of community spirit.

The one thing I am keen to mention is that, there’s lot more
confidence amongst the different races, group and religions.
So for example, I remember growing up my father would tell
me not to go into the Bury Park area, in case there’s football
hooligans hanging around on Saturdays. But I don’t think that’s
the experience of younger people growing up now. I think that’s
has changed and it’s a good positive change. I think Bury Park
has impacted my life, for me it’s the beating heart of Luton. I
went to Beech Hill Primary until I was 7.
Its always formed key part of my identity, one of the key
I have lived in Luton my whole life thing Bury Park had huge impact on me because it became
the only time I moved was when I the centre of attention for many national press who wrote
went to university. inaccurate headlines about Luton or Bury Park being hot bed for
extremism; which it wasn’t. We saw there’s diverse community
coming together, there’s community cohesion.

I remember the far right marches they had on the bury park community. The reason I went to media was to challenge
these narrative. So I would say it had a massive impact on my identity growing up. The main changes I have seen or
remember there never used to be 2 lane traffic; always used to be one lane; which probably was better. Think what
I have seen is, the other thing I have seen is, we have people from Europe, from South Asia, different communities
coming into Bury Park, its good things, it shows Luton diversity and its strength.

I am glad I am still considered young. One thing Bury Park offers; what I want to say is the most amazing chicken and
Chips in the country but I won’t go for that. I think what it really offers; is that its community spirit, which I think is
genuinely unrivalled. If you go around Ramadan or any normal day, to be perfectly honest, everyone knows each
other, that community spirit is Luton’s strength, and something that we should champion.

Before there were 2 lanes and traffic congestions; I remember playing cricket on the middle of Bury Park, playing
football. I love bury Park, I think it’s the centre of the community. Whenever I go to Bury Park, there’s always a friendly
face that you recognise, there’s always people that are open and talkative, and you make friendships and community
atmosphere. I think it shows rest of Britain what multi-culturalism and diversity looks like.
I am a proud Lutonian.

Video Testimony - Basit Mahmood
Journalist & Editor, LBC councillor

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