Mumsnet Talk

Saggy how could you?!!!

<Decides never again to stalk Saggy on her cheese stall>

I live in a village very close to the A12, Station round the corner. No shop though!! The next village along would be West Bergholt, tis lovely and has all the things you mention!!

Imo Tollesbury, though lovely, is a pig to commute from. It would probably be a bit of a culture shock from london as the nearest supermarket is quite a drive!!

notea we're in a tiny village with no real facilities, but actually a pretty good community spirit (am running a beer tasting evening on Saturday night for 70 people in the local church as we don't have a village hall!). We knew literally no one when we moved here, but people are keen to welcome you if you're prepared to make the effort.

We are 10 mins from Mersea Island which is where the prospective beach hut would be. Mersea is probably a bit far to drive to the station to commute (though some do) but is a great place to have nearby with the beach, lovely seafood and a real old-fashioned feel. Gets cut off from the mainland twice a day by the tide though...

If you're looking for a big village, how about Coggeshall (once voted Britain's loveliest village or something like that...)? 5 mins drive from Kelvedon which is 50 mins to Liverpool Street.

The problem with a lot of Essex villages is that they're all webbed fingers and very difficult to access in bad weather never mind lack of public transport.

Sorry Cock I just hate it!

I'd move to Fingringhoe, just because the name makes me snigger.
<<childish>>

I like the Dutch quarter too.

We had a very original name for it, UUG - smashing name btw.

Yes, the Dutch Quarter is fab. Also like Lexden and (parts of) Newtown too.

Don't - it is the most exciting news in Chelmsford since they built Primark. John Lewis in Chelmsford. Emits a contented sigh.

And a Waitrose on the sorting office site too

We're looking to buy our first house at the moment and since reading this thread I've had a glance at Colchester. Its amazing what you can get for your money I'm really tempted to go and view some houses there now!

Does anyone know what the schools are like nearish the centre?

I went to college there and used to love it but avoid now, too much traffic, too many people.... I live near Chelmsford and prefer it here.

Hamilton Road school is meant to be nice, the house prices reflect that!! So is Prettygate school, Stanway (not fiveways), one in New Town I forget the name.

We do have a bit of a shortage of places in primary school so if you are looking to move your child its worth checking out the availibility with the school you like.

i live in colchester and love it to bits. Im in the town centre and have 3 kids in 2 different schools and have quite good knowledge of a lot of the schools and different bits of colchester if you've got any questions x

saggy old cloth cat, that's not my experience at all. I think its really unchavvy outside of the estates. we've got a really high student population and a really good live music scene and arts scene.
I don't think the nightlife in the clubs is any worse than anywhere but that's not really my scene anyway but its never threatening. I wouldn't have a problem walking through town on my own at night if necessary and have done.

I've lived in Colchester for nearly 15 years, sure it has it's problems, but also a lot of positives too! We've recently moved to a new build on an estate near the station, and also have a great view of woods, fields and farmland (on the other side of the tracks ).

I used to live in south east London, and this is much nicer (and more affordable!)

what schools are you looking at?

NoTeaForMe I am in the final stages of buying a bungalow in Poets Corner , to be close to my Grandchildren.I hope saggys portrayal is, a little exaggerated, as it seems the half naked drunken kids are in every town & City nowadays. I am moving across from Bath,a town perceived as a"posh up Market City" but at night it transforms into the antics described by saggy. It only takes a minority of revelers to get a place a bad reputation.

We moved to Colchester from London two years ago. Got a four bedroom house 5 mins walk from town for significantly less than the price of our two bed East London flat.

Its funny about Chelmsford being souless, I have always said that and I thought it was my unique observation!

Thanks re schools but I've found an achievement chart now which I'm going through

Anyone have any thoughts about what it would be like to live in East Street or East Hill?

What are the main student house areas?

(Charles Dickens said Chelmsford was the most boring place on the planet)

I live in Colchester. It's ok

Never lived anywhere else though so not a lot to compare it to.

I personally would not choose to live there but think you would need to look, very busy part of town traffic wise and looks a bit run down tbh. The students tend to live that side of town, Greenstead, the hythe etc.

As others have said most towns at the weekend are full of drunken revellers, ours no exception. I was probably one of those revellers 15 years ago I dont thinks its changed that much.
The main problem now is the extended licences on bars, people dont just go on to clubs at closing where they are contained. Now people are milling about on the streets until 2am between bars iyswim.

But thats a whole other thread!!

I live 10mins away from colchester I was born there and go there all the time. I went to the colchester sixth form college. What would you like to know? I wouldn't live in the actual town but anywhere outside it is good.

Wow so many people live near Colchester, I always thought MN had no Colch people!

I am also one of the drunken disorderly youths revellers on a Thurs/Fri/Sat night so feel free to ask any questions

East Hill and East St are ok. But if you live on the hill be prepared for the very high level of often stationary traffic and exhaust fumes. I have pictures in my head of horrendously dirty grey net curtains in the windows I've walked past. I live in the sticks on a busy, but much less than the Hill, road and we can't open the front windows. The noise is dreadful. There are some great old houses in that area though and totally convenient for the town centre. There is a drs surgery there too, but it is VERY busy. I moved from there after 34 years. You turn up at 7.30, queue, take a number then wait..... Often until WELL after lunch. appointments are impossible too!
Sorry, I'm wittering now. I'll shut up! East Hill does appeal to me actually. Especially one of the old Tudor buildings.