hello to all.
I've just been offered the chance of a larger house with bigger garden by my housing association, but I live in Kent, and this is in Wheatley Hill, Durham. I have absolutely no idea what this particular area is like, and wonder if any of you wise lot can advise me. I was told when I researched the area last year, that this was an area of extreme poverty/an area where a lot of development is being done to make it a good place to live. confused. please, any advice would be so appreciated. I don't have much time to make my mind up , and cannot visit the area in the time I have. Even if I could get there, I still wouldn't be able to assess the actual good points and potential just by looking!!
Thanks so much.

My parents have moved around an awful lot with my dads work and one thing that mum always did was get a copy of the local newspaper to see how may petty crimes were reported in the area - that gives you a really good idea of the local area.

Also, if you've got a postcode for the property concerned then get a quote from a contents insurance company - if it's really high it probably means there's lots of burglaries in the area - the same with car insurance, a high premium can indicate problems.

If you know the postcode then have a look at Up my street you can compare the new area with your local area and get a better view from there. Ofsted will give you info on the local schools so you judge from there what the area is likely to be like, again you really need a postcode as schools can vary greatly across a town.

Is it an internal transfer or one done through H.O.M.E.S.? If it's HOMES then have a look on their website to see how many other people are looking at moving out of that area - lots of people moving usually indicates a problem in that particular area. If it's an Internal transfer then ask the housing officer in the new area what it's like - they're obliged to tell you if there are any serious problems as they have to provide you with safe housing.

I'm also moving out of my local area and it's scary - going to a completely new place with no real idea what it's like is very intimidating, but I've done the research and all I can hope is that I get it right. It's a case of fingers crossed and hope for the best :)

Good luck,

Fiona
x x x

sorry forgot to say, good luck with your move!! where are you going??

Well Bobo I think you will find everywhere North of Watford Gap is a wasteland.
There is no food, no housing no scholls. ALL the people are illiterate and only drink warm beer.
Little boxes are all we have for homes which we have to share with our whippets and flat caps.
Noone talks proper like what demfolkinkentdoes.

Dawn

:D :D

Thanks to everyone.Will do as suggested and try to get local paper, and call my housing officer...sounds like my kind of place,Dawn :) ...

Work???Tory party???We fight over the last pieces of coal whilst queueing for our dole money. Fortunately all those southern students make our houses look posh and our manners impeccable. :D

Sorry Taffyparker ..yor speeling is farr to gud to be a troo Northurner!

:D

Melowdie

Dont forget fetching t'coal in in't pram and cloth cap and clogs :) oh and wigan kebabs six pies on a broomhandle :) :)

Are we dipping our toes in the sea of stereotype, here? :D :D

Is this the Royal *we* JG? :D

We IZ Northerners ..so we are allowed to :D :D

Melody :) :D - Not going t'pit today tho ;)

Bobo, i live just the other side of Durham from Wheatley Hill. It's not that bad an area. Most of the villages around Durham are ex pit villages, there's a lot of council housing, with both good and bad areas in all villages. Durham is a beautiful city. County Durham is a really nice county, and i'm not from here originally.
I don't know Wheatley Hill well, i've only ever driven through, but i know people who live there and they don't think it's all that bad.
Hope this helps.

Thanks Snoopy. I think I have somehow offended some of the posters on this site, and this was never my intention, or am I being too sensitive????Anyway, thanks for your help. I shall try to do some more research,the area does have lovely countryside. Is the coast near to you?

No you have definitely NOT offended us ..we are simply having a silly joke (and not at your expense ..at our own ) ..ignore us and we will shut up :D

Melody :)

PHEW! Thank goodness for that.... please don't shut up!!! And I really don't mind a joke at my expense,I'm just a bit slow some times..too many kids and pets!!! xx :)

I was born in county Durham and worked in Durham city for a few years, we moved south 17 years ago, then due to ill health moved back for 6 years, as soon as the children were old enough we moved back .that was seven years ago. I am not being nasty, but I would never go back to live up north, there are a lot of diffences in the way's of life the weather, is colder,I would say life is harder we come from a mineing family,employment is not plentifull, but the cost of living is lower, and if you show you dog's there are lot's of opens but long journey's to most championships, though Darlington is good.There are a lot of beautifull places,but it is a different way of life,I would go up have a good look and maybe see if you could have a week or two holiday in the area before you make any changes that you may not be able to reverse easily, a lot of houseing associations do not allow dogs.I like going for holiday's but I live to come back south and home

I realise what you're saying. It's no better or worse than in the South,just a different way of life. I might try and spend a weekend up there if they'll extend my making my mind up time. If not, I guess we'll have to stay in good old Kent.Like you say, at least I can keep my pets here. thankyou for your advice.:)

I would say Kent has a hell of a lot going for it!Have been down there for a holiday and I can say that I would not have any objections to a home there,Beautifull scenary easy drive to the coast, near to London but far enough for peace and quite,There is good and bad where ever you go

Longdog there are no scholls oop north? How do people cope?

Seriously though people oop north are very different to southern jessies, I live near Malton with my 3 Whippets, honest its true, make yorkshire puds and a man wearing an actual authentic knotted hanky walked past my house the other day!!
Yorkshire, thats where you should try to live.

Vanya and the vermincritters.

:) :)

Dont forget Northeners are supposed to be more friendly :D
( sorry southerners - i did say supposed to be )

I have to say here ..I have lived both in the South (11 years in West London) and the North (many , many years in Lincolnshire) as well as in Germany and Singapore ..by far and away the people in Lincs are friendliest . If you walked down the street and smiled at people in West London , people would run away from you :D :D

Melody :)

Melody
You should know that Lincolnshre aint uptnorth its in the midlands.

There are no scholls uptnorth as noone lerntustospelreet so we neeverwent and anyrooad we prefer clogs as they last longer an' dunt weerout as kwik.

The Y O R K S H I R E motto is
See all. Hear all. Say nowt
Eat all. Sup all. Pay nowt.
an'ifthadusowtfornowtdoitforthisen!

It depedns where you are looking from ;) You know what these Southerners are like ..owt North of the Watford Gap is NORTH! :D

Mel :)

PS ..kidded number 2 son for AGES that The Watford Gap was a clothes shop in a break in the A1 :D :D :D
PPS ..This is the SAME son I got to change his shoelaces over as I told him he had the left shoe lace in the right shoe ;)

BAD MOTHER!

Durham City is about 15 minutes drive from the nearest beach, not too far. There are some beautiful beaches on the NE coast. County Durham is close to what i consider to be the most beautiful counties in the country. We have Cumbria close by, Northumberland, and Yorkshire. All just short drives away. Durham City is about 20 minutes drive from Newcastle and the same to Sunderland. If you drive then there are a lot of different places that you could work. Wheatley Hill is not too far from Middlesborough/Teeside and Hartlepool. So it is in quite a good location for work.
Hope this helps.

My best friend ended up down South (Hampshire) and I ended up in the North East. I thought North was by far the best....I watched Eastenders, I knew the score :D After visiting my friend loads, I'll admit I prefer the South. My southern friend absolutely hates the North. It is a different way of life. I'm biased because I'm an overprotective mother with a young daughter. Life is alot harsher here. Kids learn realities alot quicker. I wouldn't choose to raise a family in a large council housing area, nothing against council houses, more because the local authorities are free to put all manner of ex offenders in residence.
Durham is gorgeous, especially the town centre. Alot of business close down up North and with the current level of government borrowing/employment policies I don't think anyone has any job security. If you're single then do it, you have no ties if it all goes wrong, but if it involves moving a family I'd think long and hard.
I moved here at 14-15yrs old. I was completely cultured shocked for years. I didn't settle until I was in my late teens. I'm 28yrs old now and live in Northumberland. It's a nice place,I'm well known and get on with most folk, but if I thought my daughter would be raised here and grow up with the same opinions/outlooks as my nieghbours it would break my heart.
Julie
No offence to Northerners, but the NE/SR/DH/ postcodes have some terrible areas/people.

I prefer the South any day :)
Think carefully about your reasons for relocating such a long distance. You can feel very isolated when your friends and family are hours and hours away. It would be a pretty serious mistake if you felt you made the wrong choice. Do try and make every effort to try to get to Durham and check out this house you have been offered and the surrounding area/facilities etc....
There seems to be good areas and bad areas in all the villages etc... Housing associations don't usually tend to corner the market in the very best areas but that's not necessarily meaning you'll end up in the rough end. In my opinion it's just more likely. Durham seems to have a program of redeveloping really rough areas - improving the properties which are taken over by housing associations with what seems to be great success - but I would have my presonal reservations about recommending someone to live there.
Lara

I was born and bred in the North-east; South Shields. In my early teens we moved to Durham and I absolutely hated it. :( Durham City is lovely, but gets rather seedy at night;). and most of the surrounding villages are (as already mentioned) ex pit villages, there wasn't much work and I found the people could be rather insular and friendly at the same time.

I've lived in Sussex for 18yrs and never been happier, were I to move back North, it certainly wouldn' be to Durham. This is just my personal experience and opinion and I don't wish to offend anyone at all.

I hope all goes well, whatever your descision.

Liberty

Thank you all of you who replied. I suppose as I have a family to move, it might not be such a good idea. I think it's just me thinking we need a bigger house/garden, when in reality that won't make up for being so far from family, friends, familiar surroundings,etc. I think the kids won't even notice more space, but will notice missing people. Thanks so much, and I'm sure there's so much good stuff about living up north, but maybe not if you're used to the south. xx

It's just as well a lot of you don't like it up here, we would be swamped with southerners:D Only kidding, everyone has their own opinion about a place, personally I love it here in Co. Durham. 1 hour from the coast, 1 hour from the moors, 1.5 hours from lake district, beautiful, and at the end of my back garden acres and acres of rolling countryside. But like everywhere, yes even down south, it has it's bad parts and rough areas, no different to anywhere else, which you should avoidif at all possible. Unfortunately a lot of the ex pit villages are a little grubby and poor, it stands to reason, doesn't mean the whole area is not worth a look. We have plenty of things going for us up here. My parents moved up from Rickmansworth years ago, and would never go back, so each to their own, I think it's fair to say.

I could not agree more Long Dog! North of the Watford Gap and East of the Denham roundabout! These mark the limits of civilisation.

Remember the lost Roman Legion!

Regards, John

Hi Bobo

I've lived and worked in both London and the north of England, and have recently just moved to Darlington (which is in Country Durham). You'd have to pay me to live in London again! Sure, there are bad areas everywhere, but in Yorkshire and the north east the air is cleaner, public transport isn't dangerously overcrowded (anyone travelled on London underground recently?), you can still buy a house for under £200,000, and it's safe to go out for a jog in your local park. There is a great vibe up north - Newcastle, York and Durham are beautiful cities, and in Newcastle and York there's a lot going on. There's also a lot of work here in the public related sector - the Government is throwing huge amounts of money at us at the moment.

Plus - NewcastleGateshead is going to be the Capital of Culture 2008!!!! :D

Saying that, I personally wouldn't move to Durham - though it is a very attractive city it's also very small - and mainly populated by all the students who didn't make it to Cambridge or Oxford. Not everyone would agree with me though - I've a friend works works for a Housing Association and she says that there's a three year waiting list for properties in Durham city.

Good way to suss out the local area - have a look at house prices/prices of houses to let. Dead giveaway!

Jo (born in the south, married to a Yorkshireman)

If bobo is moveing to an area that he has no idea of the surroundings I come from Darlington, and to think the chap might be placed somewhere like Firthmoor of Skerne Park although these area's are being regenerated do not seem to get better,I would say know where you are going spend some time knowing the surrounding area, and think if you can manage without backup in the case of illness etc. friends and family are hard to leave all my children have moved down since we have but my elderly parents are up north still, it is not always easy to arrange trips back exept in work holidays,

Thanks to everyone who's replied. I'm still researching the area. Will have to spend some time there, and check out local papers,etc. The countryside looks so lovely, but I would probably go ga.ga without family help,etc. Will keep looking for info. I'm running out of time, but the longer I have to decide to do anything, the worse I'd get!!
Thanks again,
Beth

Sometimes you can move 5 miles up the road and find a completely different area... when me and tony accepted this house (council house) we were 'warned' by some people about how rough it is here - in fact most of my neighbours are elderly ladies or small families, and up to now we're really happy here. the 'up my street' tip is a good one, we did that, and we also asked in the nearest shops. The shopkeepers were happy to gossip about the area and we got a fair idea of what to expect - especially shops open late-ish, who will no about gangs of kids that may hang around.
I agree with the point about moving a long way, though north beats south anyday ;) Not really - kent is beautiful but so very expensive - with kids as well you will really feel the difference on your purse... but is this worth uprooting for? up to you
Best of luck
Lynz and Tilly x

Thanks for the advice. so pleased it worked out for you. X

I'm a County Durham'er born and bred. I love Co Durham, I love the North East of England especially the people and I wouldn't have any hesitation in moving back. Yes there are some not so nice areas/people but then that's the same wherever you go. There are many respectful areas in the North East of England and in my experience you can't beat the friendliness of a Geordie :-)

I live 20 miles south of Edinburgh and whilst it probably is a better life up here we have our fair share of troubled areas/people and quite a few snobs too ;-)

A naff example but if I go into Asda in my home town the people there are soooooooooo friendly compared to Asda in Edinburgh :-(

Hi Claire B

Just thought I'd add that I agree with you that Geordies are the friendliest people in Britain - I'm new to County Durham but work in Newcastle - I've never met a nicer bunch of people ... the Geordies are naturally optimistic and always willing to see the funny side. So different from the south!

Jo

Thanks for the advice, I've heard that so often, that the people are great.That's what tempted me in the first place. still researching.Thanks again, Beth x

The problem is, within the Durham catchment area, you have extrmely upmarket areas, and large, rundown council and housing association estates, desperateley in need on revamps. Looking at the local papers, you will see houses for sale in excess of £500,000 in and around Durham. Tony Blair has his constituency house in Trimdon (not too far from Wheatley Hill, and another ex pit Village) lovely, big detatched house from early part of 1900s. Just up the road - run down estates and typical terraces of "Pit" houses (many now beautifully done up, of course). Highish incidence of vandalism and petty crime in the area, but does not compare with inner city problems. You would be within easy reach of some of the most beautiful countryside, together with the theatres, shopping, etc. etc. of Durham City, Newcastle, Sunderland, Darlington (and of course the Metro Centre, one of the biggest shopping malls in the UK). Excellent open show scene up here, but as said by another poster only Darlington (we consider the 2 hour drive to Border Union and Driffield close:)). People are friendly, by and large, very approachable and talkative.
I will talk to a coupl of friends who live within a few miles of Wheatley Hill and get back to the list, if that would be ehlpful.
bye
Gwen (born, bred and always lived in the North East)

Thankyou so much, Gwen. Very helpful summary of the area, and I would be very grateful if you could ask your friends. The actual road is Jack Lawson Terrace. I've only got until Friday!!! Thanks so much.

Hi Bobo,
talked to friends, neither actually know the street, but both had roughly the same thing to say - unless you have a very good , specific reason for moving to Wheatley Hill, they cant think why you would want to :(. Sorry if this is a bit negative, but apparently the village, while being a bit revamped, still does not have a lot going for it. Wish I could have got more specific info for you.
Bye Gwen

Gwen,
Thanks so much for bothering to ask. I have already had the same sort of feedback from one of my brothers, who as a trainee solicitor, worked in the area a few years ago, and said it was very deprived area. Oh well, back to the drawing board,I shall just have to appreciate living in Kent. Thankyou to all who tried to help. Beth xx

Beth
why do you want to move from Kent ?

Lel,
I guess I don't really, but was just seduced by the idea of a big house, with bigger garden, and hopefully less suburban way of life for the kids.My brother moved up North a few months ago from London, and loved it and the different way of life.He could afford to buy property in the area he wanted.The housing association I belong to were offering people like myself, who has a smallish house, with smallish garden, to move to bigger property. I got fed up a while back, had problems with neighbours making too much noise,etc and thought, sod it, I'll start again. But what these schemes fail to tell you is that the places they offer you are not usually in so-called good areas, and are only available because the local residents don't want them.Which is fair enough really. I don't see why I should be able to go to the really good areas and deprive local people of them. So, anyway, have now got new neighbours,and things are better, but when this offer came through the post, I thought I should at least investigate. I'm trying to be more grateful for what I have, and stop thinking bigger house, bigger garden,etc solves all problems.What's it like in Cheshire? Do you like living there? Beth x

Beth
like everywhere there are the nice areas and the not so nice areas
If I had my wish I would be in Australia
Lel

Lel,
can you access Cd in Austrailia?????? :(

:D :D :D Rofl