Moving to staffordshire, any advice?

kyoto49

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
littleme said:
Kyoto49 ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?

Goldilocks, you do not want to live in North End (yes, I know I live in North End), - the current average age of kids playing in the street (just round the corner) is 2 - 3 years... according to 'Current Spotted Stafford' on Facebook my street is host to a meth lab & a prostitute that looks like a man (??) also you cant leave anything outside, or in a shed as it will be stolen. Be prepared to have your car keyed, or driven into as mine was last week!

I have a feeling Kyoto49 might mean Holmcroft & Tillington are nice areas (right by North End, & just behind the Tillington Hall Hotel).
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Completely serious to be honest!! Yes, the North End, incl Holmcroft and Tillington. Where do you think the North end is? I'm an emigrant from the Wolverhampton Rd and have loved living up this end for all the reason's I mentioned.

I've never seen a 2 or 3 year old on the street, have no idea if my street hosts a meth lab (if it does it doesn't affect me) and as I don't use prostitutes they don't bother me either :). I never had my car keyed or damaged when I had one! I've also never had anything stolen from my shed or outside :S And, having said all of that, I suspect I live about 100 yards from where you call the north end.

I have a motto that has served me well: Don't come looking for trouble and it won't find you. Has worked for me so far !!!! :)
 
kyoto49

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
littleme said:
If you go here....

http://www.streetwatch.info/

....you can put in a postcode for an area you are interested in & it will tell you things like house prices & crime rates (& what crimes) have been reported in that area/postcode...
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I did that, it's really interesting. The results for my heathen north end area, mainly anti-social behaviour but a burglary and some violence, are almost identical to those for a random Baswich postcode of http://www.streetwatch.info/postcode/ST17-0BB. I also tried Barnfields Way, and guess what, they have exactly the same kind of crime as well http://www.streetwatch.info/postcode/ST17-4NB . So it seems anti social behaviour, burglery and violence exist in the south end of town - who knew!! :)

I think the result of this very unscientific study is that where there are people there will be problems, no matter how rich they are and no matter whether it is north of the town or south!
 
Goldilocks

Goldilocks

Well-Known Forumite
kyoto49 said:
I did that, it's really interesting. The results for my heathen north end area, mainly anti-social behaviour but a burglary and some violence, are almost identical to those for a random Baswich postcode of http://www.streetwatch.info/postcode/ST17-0BB. I also tried Barnfields Way, and guess what, they have exactly the same kind of crime as well http://www.streetwatch.info/postcode/ST17-4NB . So it seems anti social behaviour, burglery and violence exist in the south end of town - who knew!! :)

I think the result of this very unscientific study is that where there are people there will be problems, no matter how rich they are and no matter whether it is north of the town or south!
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Haha thanks
 
Dabbler

Dabbler

Well-Known Forumite
Well, my views, for what they're worth, is that Stafford is a great place to settle. We moved here 18 years ago, from the South and were struck by how friendly people are in Stafford. There are a decent range of places to eat out, the countryside is on your doorstep, the town isn't too bad overall and I don't really think there are any truly bad schools. Is it a perfect place to live, of course not, but frankly I've lived in much worse places and i think it would take a lot to get me out of Stafford now.

It all depends what you're looking for - if it is city lights, then it probably isnt the place for you, but if you want a friendly area, with good access to the cities, countryside and decent schools, then I think you would be hard pressed to pick a better area.
 
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littleme

littleme

250,000th poster!
kyoto49 said:
Completely serious to be honest!! Yes, the North End, incl Holmcroft and Tillington. Where do you think the North end is? I'm an emigrant from the Wolverhampton Rd and have loved living up this end for all the reason's I mentioned.

I've never seen a 2 or 3 year old on the street, have no idea if my street hosts a meth lab (if it does it doesn't affect me) and as I don't use prostitutes they don't bother me either :). I never had my car keyed or damaged when I had one! I've also never had anything stolen from my shed or outside :S And, having said all of that, I suspect I live about 100 yards from where you call the north end.

I have a motto that has served me well: Don't come looking for trouble and it won't find you. Has worked for me so far !!!! :)
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Hmmm North End as I know it is the bit from the Common upto Holmcroft Rd, but Im not a Staffordian & have only lived here 18years so Im probably wrong ;)

On the whole Ive lived here happily for that time with no problem, but since the 2 weeks before christmas there have been 3 burglarys, husbands & 4 other neighbours cars were keyed on new years eve, & my parked car was driven into only last week. There are very small children playing inbetween parked cars with not an adult in sight just round the corner - which I really dont understand as we are fortunate to have very large back gardens......my daughter is 8 & I dont let her play in the street - its too dangerous, but thats probably just me being a grumpy old cow ;)

The North Side of Stafford on the whole is nice, I just didnt think North End would be what Goldilocks was looking for. As much as I usually stick up for the North End if I could get some idiot to buy my house then I would be off like a shot to somewhere that there are less kids roaming the streets, less burglary, less arguing neighbours & where I didnt have the smell of weed wafting in my house......(not sure this place even exists)
 
Goldilocks

Goldilocks

Well-Known Forumite
Dabbler said:
Well, my views, for what they're worth, is that Stafford is a great place to settle. We moved here 18 years ago, from the South and were struck by how friendly people are in Stafford. There are a decent range of places to eat out, the countryside is on your doorstep, the town isn't too bad overall and I don't really think there are any truly bad schools. Is it a perfect place to live, of course not, but frankly I've lived in much worse places and i think it would take a lot to get me out of Stafford now.

It all depends what you're looking for - if it is city lights, then it probably isnt the place for you, but if you want a friendly area, with good access to the cities, countryside and decent schools, then I think you would be hard pressed to pick a better area.
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It's exactly what I'm looking for, I couldn't bare a really busy city. I don't like the hustle and bustle.

What area did you first move to and why did you choose it?

Thanks
 
Goldilocks

Goldilocks

Well-Known Forumite
littleme said:
On the whole Ive lived here happily for that time with no problem, but since the 2 weeks before christmas there have been 3 burglarys, husbands & 4 other neighbours cars were keyed on new years eve, & my parked car was driven into only last week. There are very small children playing inbetween parked cars with not an adult in sight just round the corner - which I really dont understand as we are fortunate to have very large back gardens......my daughter is 8 & I dont let her play in the street - its too dangerous, but thats probably just me being a grumpy old cow ;)

The North Side of Stafford on the whole is nice, I just didnt think North End would be what Goldilocks was looking for. As much as I usually stick up for the North End if I could get some idiot to buy my house then I would be off like a shot to somewhere that there are less kids roaming the streets, less burglary, less arguing neighbours & where I didnt have the smell of weed wafting in my house......(not sure this place even exists)
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Thanks! I'm like that with my children now ha ha

I'd be happy with a Cul de sac buy doesn't mean I'll find one. I need to be cost effective to begin with, I'll either use the money from the house as a deposit and my mum but to let to me until I can afford to start paying a paying again or I'll have to private rent.

It's just basically starting off again.

What decent gyms are there nearby? That I could possibly work at or be employed by? I think Virgin and David llyod do it. But is there anywhere else?

It's just about advertising myself nearer the time. Personal trainers aren't cheap but I do need to get by with being a single parent.

I'll probably offer a free session to begin with and some fitness tests.

Any ideas are welcome with advertisement, or even word of mouth. Or any gyms you guys might be at that I could look into?

Thanks guys you are all most definitely helping and such a friendly bunch!

Around here, there's a lot of bitchyness I know you get it everywhere but here it's probably 4 out if 5! 70% of my friends are lads I've grew up with since school and others I've met along the way as I talk to everyone. There seems to be less jealously with lads and they are more laid back here than the females... Everyone seems to be trying to out do each other. Where as I 'm just anything for an easier life and I can't stand bullies.
 
db

db

#chaplife
Dabbler said:
Well, my views, for what they're worth, is that Stafford is a great place to settle. We moved here 18 years ago, from the South and were struck by how friendly people are in Stafford. There are a decent range of places to eat out, the countryside is on your doorstep, the town isn't too bad overall and I don't really think there are any truly bad schools. Is it a perfect place to live, of course not, but frankly I've lived in much worse places and i think it would take a lot to get me out of Stafford now.

It all depends what you're looking for - if it is city lights, then it probably isnt the place for you, but if you want a friendly area, with good access to the cities, countryside and decent schools, then I think you would be hard pressed to pick a better area.
Click to expand...



could not have said it better myself.. my missus is lincoln born & bred, but we met when we both lived in sheffield, and we grew close thanks to our mutual hatred of the place (not necessarily sheffield, just "big city life").. it wasn't long before i longed for home, and convinced her to move back to stafford with me..

she has only lived in stafford 7 years, and when we moved here it was all completely new to her, but now she says she has never felt more at home in her life as she does here.. the people are nicer, everywhere is within walking distance, and even the very worst areas of stafford pale in insignificance compared to the dodgy parts of sheffield (or any large city, i would imagine)..

Goldilocks said:
It's exactly what I'm looking for, I couldn't bare a really busy city. I don't like the hustle and bustle.
Click to expand...


i think you have been given some great advice so far in this thread - usually these things descend into "X is the best!", "no, Y is the best!", but it all seems fairly consistent so far.. i think that's because you haven't done the usual newbie faux pas of a "hit 'n' run" first post, never to be seen again - it's nice to see someone getting stuck in and actually striking up a conversation :)

for what it's worth, based on what you have said so far i think you should be concentrating on (in no particular order):

wildwood
walton
baswich
castlefields (this is good as it is right by town but "feels" like a quiet out-of-town, cul-de-sac estate)

there are definitely others (most of which are mentioned in this thread), but these are just the ones that immediately spring to mind based on what you've said - i.e. they are out of town, but not so far as to be inconvenient, they are quite affluent (not uber rich or high & mighty, but the sort of people who have more than 1 car, grown-up families, happy to pay for things like personal trainers, etc.), quite quiet and not as much casual crime (since they are out of town so don't get passing footfall from people exiting the main watering holes), etc..

from everything you have said, i can guarantee you will love stafford :stafford:
 
db

db

#chaplife
Goldilocks said:
Can I also ask what the follow option is with everyone without being a stalker?
Click to expand...

i think it just means, if you find a particular member interesting, you can "follow" them and the forum will notify you when they make a post, or do something that you might want to see.. i've never used it myself though, so i'm not sure!
 
Goldilocks

Goldilocks

Well-Known Forumite
db said:
could not have said it better myself.. my missus is lincoln born & bred, but we met when we both lived in sheffield, and we grew close thanks to our mutual hatred of the place (not necessarily sheffield, just "big city life").. it wasn't long before i longed for home, and convinced her to move back to stafford with me..

she has only lived in stafford 7 years, and when we moved here it was all completely new to her, but now she says she has never felt more at home in her life as she does here.. the people are nicer, everywhere is within walking distance, and even the very worst areas of stafford pale in insignificance compared to the dodgy parts of sheffield (or any large city, i would imagine)..




i think you have been given some great advice so far in this thread - usually these things descend into "X is the best!", "no, Y is the best!", but it all seems fairly consistent so far.. i think that's because you haven't done the usual newbie faux pas of a "hit 'n' run" first post, never to be seen again - it's nice to see someone getting stuck in and actually striking up a conversation :)

for what it's worth, based on what you have said so far i think you should be concentrating on (in no particular order):

wildwood
walton
baswich
castlefields (this is good as it is right by town but "feels" like a quiet out-of-town, cul-de-sac estate)

there are definitely others (most of which are mentioned in this thread), but these are just the ones that immediately spring to mind based on what you've said - i.e. they are out of town, but not so far as to be inconvenient, they are quite affluent (not uber rich or high & mighty, but the sort of people who have more than 1 car, grown-up families, happy to pay for things like personal trainers, etc.), quite quiet and not as much casual crime (since they are out of town so don't get passing footfall from people exiting the main watering holes), etc..

from everything you have said, i can guarantee you will love stafford :stafford:
Click to expand...


Thanks DB!

Sounds like my type of place, change at the ready!!

I'm a little scared of castlefields, Runcorn has one of those and it's like the Bronx...
 

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db

#chaplife
Goldilocks said:
I'm a little scared of castlefields, Runcorn has one of those and it's like the Bronx...
Click to expand...

you really needn't be scared of castlefields.. i lived there for about 3 years, and it is lovely.. 10 minutes walk to town, but it feels like you live in a nice out-of-town estate because they're all nice big houses, with a decent amount of space, cul-de-sacs, no kids milling about, no trouble (that i was aware of).. we have good friends who still live there, and they love it.. from everything you've said, i would definitely not write it off, as it sounds right up your street (pun not intended)!

and there are defo no ugly monolith housing blocks, like the picture you posted! as an example, here are some houses on castlefields that i just looked up on rightmove:

(when i saw this first one, i actually thought it was my old house, it looks so similar! turns out it's a bit further down the road):

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-44739742.html

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-30435159.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-44474153.html?premiumA=true
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43456888.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-45010250.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-30832893.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-30630558.html
 
Goldilocks

Goldilocks

Well-Known Forumite
Also do they have breakfast clubs and after school clubs?

Around here it's 8am, after school club is until 3.45pm/4pm
 
Goldilocks

Goldilocks

Well-Known Forumite
db said:
you really needn't be scared of castlefields.. i lived there for about 3 years, and it is lovely.. 10 minutes walk to town, but it feels like you live in a nice out-of-town estate because they're all nice big houses, with a decent amount of space, cul-de-sacs, no kids milling about, no trouble (that i was aware of).. we have good friends who still live there, and they love it.. from everything you've said, i would definitely not write it off, as it sounds right up your street (pun not intended)!

and there are defo no ugly monolith housing blocks, like the picture you posted! as an example, here are some houses on castlefields that i just looked up on rightmove:

(when i saw this first one, i actually thought it was my old house, it looks so similar! turns out it's a bit further down the road):

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-44739742.html

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-30435159.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-44474153.html?premiumA=true
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43456888.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-45010250.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-30832893.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-30630558.html
Click to expand...

Thanks I'll have a look when I get back
 
Wormella

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
Goldilocks said:
What decent gyms are there nearby? That I could possibly work at or be employed by? I think Virgin and David llyod do it. But is there anywhere else?

It's just about advertising myself nearer the time. Personal trainers aren't cheap but I do need to get by with being a single parent.

I'll probably offer a free session to begin with and some fitness tests.

Any ideas are welcome with advertisement, or even word of mouth. Or any gyms you guys might be at that I could look into?
Click to expand...


There's a branch of LS fitness, and a branch of Virgin Health and a few independents (Gym & Tonic, Beaconside Sports Centre) and the Council run one at Riverside.
 
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