Good areas in Stafford - Moving to Stafford; where to live?

I'm hoping to move to Stafford within the next year but am not familiar with the areas and I was wondering if anyone could tell me of areas to stay away from or areas that I should aim for....also if anyone knows what it's like around meadow way, queens court.
 
Anyone got any particular views specifically on Meadow Way, Queens Court, Silkmore Lane area, Parkside, Baswich and Burton Manor Lane.
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Wot no Wildwood?

Baswich is nice enough, don't know about the other places.

I believe Gadget has particular views about at least one part of the Silkmore Lane area...
 

Jade-clothing

Well-Known Forumite
I've lived in 15 different houses since I moved to Stafford 19 years ago so I think that makes me qualified to answer this question!
I've listed them in order of where I lived first to last and will mention bus routes/schools/local shops etc - dont know if that will be a consideration for you but it may be helpful for someone else if not -
Holmcroft - First Avenue - On a bus route which runs every 15 minutes and close to shops and primary and secondary schools, takeaways etc. Quite a nice area but not overly quiet if that's a concern.
Stone road - The first house I lived in on Stone Road - again - as its just around the corner from Holmcroft there are bus routes, schools etc. It is a busy main road though.
Cresswell - Lovely quiet area which although on the outskirts of Stafford has the feel of living in the countryside, the bus only runs one an hour though and there are no shops locally.
Weston road - very busy main road but lovely big houses (up the hospital end) On a bus route that runs every 15 mins and near to shops.
Hyde Lea - Lovely area, just out in the countryside but close enough after a short walk to catch a bus that runs every 15 mins and not too far from shops and schools.
The Meadows - Lovely houses, nice quiet area, close to shops and many bus routes but not very close to any schools.
Mosspit - close to schools and shops and not too far from a bus route. Quite a nice area.
Western Downs - Nice houses and area, close to shops and on a bus route that runs every 15 mins.
Stone Road (again) - As before but I'd avoid the area near the Co-op - sorry if anyone lives around that area!
Stone road (again!) - this time nearer to the town end but still close to the shops and on the bus route.
Highfields - on the outskirts of Highfileds near Newport road - Highfields has had a bad reputation in the past but I never had any problems and I think its much improved. Near to shops and on a bus route. A good secondary school but would definitely would avoid the Grove for a primary school. Castlechurch is much better.
Castletown - lovely area, friendly people, right next to town and shops but a good walk to any schools.
Sandon Road - Freemen Street- Busy road, but fairly close to town if you live up the town end of the road. Although the other end of Sandon road is a better area I think. good primary school nearby.
Trinity Fields - lovely area, nice and quiet but close to shops and on a bus route that runs every 15 mins. Schools nearby.

As Wormella says everyone will have their own opinions on this but I've never had any trouble in any of the areas I've lived in apart from the one occasion we had to call the police which surprisingly was at Hyde Lea which I would say was the best area so you never can tell. to be honest I'd live in any area in Stafford as to me a home is what you make it and once I've closed my front door I dont really mind what is outside.
to answer you questions about those specific areas - I've never actually lived in any of them but The meadows and Mosspit are at either end of Silkmore Lane to give you an idea and Trinity fields isnt too far from Parkside - I know a couple of people who live on Parkside and they love it there. burton Manor is close to hyde Lea and Mosspit and also is a nice area.
 

Gadget

Well-Known Forumite
Wot no Wildwood?

Baswich is nice enough, don't know about the other places.

I believe Gadget has particular views about at least one part of the Silkmore Lane area...

Lol erm yes you could say that. In my opinion do not come any where near Peach avenue, Sydney avenue or Exeter Street. Nor Plant crescent or Perrin close. It's horrible here and well at times tin hat country. Avoid like the plague!!! I'm moving out as soon as i can. I've never met such insular, narrow minded people in all my life. It's seriously Royston Vasey here.
Please note this is just my opinion based on my own personal experience. Other folk might do well here but i just can't recomend the place.
G x
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
Lol erm yes you could say that. In my opinion do not come any where near Peach avenue, Sydney avenue or Exeter Street. Nor Plant crescent or Perrin close. It's horrible here and well at times tin hat country. Avoid like the plague!!! I'm moving out as soon as i can. I've never met such insular, narrow minded people in all my life. It's seriously Royston Vasey here.
Please note this is just my opinion based on my own personal experience. Other folk might do well here but i just can't recomend the place.
G x

Just to make you aware that queens court,meadow way is very near these roads mentioned and I personally wouldn't like to live in that area either. I used to visit a friend down there and didn't feel safe walking around.The area has also suffered from flooding quite a lot in the past as well. (We went to have a nose around queens court showhouse when it was first built. Very nice inside but Hubby,who doesn't have a stafford accent, asked if the area ever flooded. Thinking we were strangers to the area the answer was " No,it's never flooded around here" .Should have seen her face when we told her that the old South End Club that the houses were built on was notorious for flooding ..... )

As previously mentioned I'd keep away from the Co-op area of the Stone Road.

Baswich/Weeping Cross area is nice , along with Wildwood where I live of course ;)
 

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
I've lived in Baswich for 24 years. Great place to live with good local amenities on Baswich Lane and Bodmin Avenue. There is also the Co-op on Wildwood close by if needed. Regular bus service if needed. Traffic can be a bit crap at times but that goes for anywhere in Stafford with is modern, up-to-date, well maintained road system *sarcasm intended*.

I've also lived in Silkmore Crescent which is a lovely road although the newer houses weren't built when I was there. I wouldn't venture any further down Silkmore Lane than there though. Lived in Rising Brook right opposite the school for five years when I was a teenager. Hated every minute of it, horrible place to live for me.

In the end you need to visit the areas and see what you think of them.
 

lornaS

Newbie
Hi

Im moving to the area in a few months to start a new job.
Can anyone recommend a nice village within 30 mins drive of stafford and with good access to the M6.
I'll be working in the centre.
I can pay upto £1,000 per month in rent for 3/4 bedroomed house.

Id like to live in a nice village that has a good feeling of community , some shops and a couple of nice pubs.
Not very isolated but not built up either.

Would appreciate any local knowledge about what you think would be the best village/s for me ...or perhaps ones to avoid please,

with thanks, Lorna
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Weston has two pubs, a Post Office/shop and reasonable communications. I've known a few people that have lived there and they've mostly thought that it was OK..
 

gilbert grape

Well-Known Forumite
Eccleshall is more of a small town than a village but is within 15 minutes of Stafford and also junctions 14 & 15 of the M6. It has a mixture of new & old houses as well as a main street and a few pubs.
Penkridge could be classed as similar I suppose but is South and closer to Junctions 13 & 12 whereas Eccleshall is North/West.
There are a number of small villages that possibly dont meet all of your criteria and some that are growing quite quickly.
 

Vicky

Well-Known Forumite
Haughton has some nice pubs, and Great or Little Haywood are lovely little villages I think, but further from the motorway.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
As previously mentioned I'd keep away from the Co-op area of the Stone Road.

I live just up the road from here, and also have to agree! Its odd, I described it to friends at work as the wrong side of the tracks. Before the bridge is fine, hit Holmcroft and its fine, but the area in between is a bit chavvy (sorry to any residents!). My sister lived in Pitt Street for a while, same thing. I'm between first and second avenue and find the area nice, yet just 300 yards away I'd expect to pay 30% less for the same house.
 

daz100

Well-Known Forumite
If you want to live in Stafford Walton on the Hill, Weeping Cross and Baswich are really nice areas. If you want a village that is close to Stafford/M6 Hyde Lea or Coppenhall. I also really like Bednall or Brocton.
 

Kingy

Well-Known Forumite
I live just up the road from here, and also have to agree! Its odd, I described it to friends at work as the wrong side of the tracks. Before the bridge is fine, hit Holmcroft and its fine, but the area in between is a bit chavvy (sorry to any residents!). My sister lived in Pitt Street for a while, same thing. I'm between first and second avenue and find the area nice, yet just 300 yards away I'd expect to pay 30% less for the same house.

Second Avenue is rough. My wife's husband lives there.
 
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