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So, what's wrong with Wootton Bassett?

32 replies

Rhubarb · 19/04/2009 20:55

We're just browsing through houses for sale. Wanted to buy in Chippenham but can't afford the prices, so we're looking instead at Calne, Corsham and someone recently mentioned Wootton Bassett.

People have said that Calne suffers from teenage gangs, but it's such a pretty town I simply can't imagine it. Wootton Bassett also seems fairly cheap considering it's location near to Swindon and the motorway. So what is wrong with these places? We need local feedback!

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SparklingSarah · 20/04/2009 00:03

sorry - pass!

can you go by and spend a day or a few hours there?

We moved from London to Northants to a town everyone arghed at they forgot they'd not seen the epi centre of SW London in full force :O

so we came up here had a nose about saw where the amenities are spoke to people had lunch a play in the park looked at possible houses ( just from outside)

We found the house we later moved into and got a nose because there were builders in it so they said yes have a nose!

it also prepared our kids we had references to the place

CMOTdibbler · 20/04/2009 12:04

I have friends who live in Wootton Bassett - the schools are good, they don't get much trouble, and there's a reasonable selection of shops. Most of the houses are 70's, and I think the house prices are low as there are so many new builds in N Swindon

CountessDracula · 20/04/2009 12:10

maybe it's the location near to swindon that keeps it cheap (as swindon is not terribly nice is it?)

CountessDracula · 20/04/2009 12:11

it looks nice to me driving through though

littlerach · 20/04/2009 12:13

Think CD is right about Swindon.

I always htough Clane was a nic eplace ot live.
Corsham is nice, good school and i hitnk nice shops.

GracieGrace · 20/04/2009 12:13

i knew someone who had ot entertain neer do well teens in WB
was a mare to find anything to do, tbh i dont see thepoint of north wilts

Rhubarb · 20/04/2009 13:46

You don't see the point of North Wilts? What would you suggest we do then, nuke it?

I can never figure out which part of bloody Wilts I'm in!

Staff at the school again today said that Calne was not an area they'd choose to live in. We've heard that now from so many people I think we're just going to have to strike it off the list. I trust local knowledge is better than my "Oh this looks nice" evaluations!

We're booked in to see a place in Wootton Bassett on Sat. We'll probably wander around the place too, weigh up how friendly it is (people usually react to our accents one way or another) and ask for local opinions on their town.

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littlerach · 20/04/2009 14:17

Hope it goes well

ForeverOptimistic · 20/04/2009 14:20

I quite like Wootton Bassett, the secondary school is the best in the area.

Lol at "dont see the point of north wilts". North Wiltshire is not as pretty as South Wiltshire but its not that bad.

weepootle · 20/04/2009 14:23

I'd far rather be in Corsham than Chippenham, it's a fantastic place to live with great (outstanding) schools.

MrsFlittersnoop · 20/04/2009 14:56

Corsham is lovely, and very close to Bath with its lovely shops and restaurants. Great for days out with the kids as well! Chippenham is a bit of a dump TBH, and unless you need to be near a railway station I wouldn't consider it.

Rhubarb · 20/04/2009 16:20

Aha - littleRach! I should really talk to you shouldn't I?

No opinions on Calne then folks?

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littlerach · 20/04/2009 17:56

I always thought Calne was nice, but if locals say not, then take their advice.

Corsham v good school.
Think good town.
Used ot have awful nightclub, the Flamingo. was terrible

wannaBe · 20/04/2009 18:02

Basset is nice. Don't know about the house prices, although as someone said could be due to the amount of new build in n.Swindon (which is ironically where I live).

Also worth bearing in mind that wb is in close proximity to RAF Lyneham, so you will get overflying aeroplanes.

Wilts · 20/04/2009 18:08

I always though Basset was fine.

Lyneham is due to close by 2012 so you would only have the problem of planes until then

Wilts · 20/04/2009 18:09

thought

GracieGrace · 20/04/2009 18:09

hasnt it won a reprieve?

OrmIrian · 20/04/2009 18:15

Hmmm... not sure that listening to locals is always a good idea. If they've been living there forever they may well see a group of teenagers walking down a road together as a riot, the occasional rush hour hold up as a major traffic problem and a small council estate as a deprived area And whatever you do, don't ask them about the town next door - they will grudges as long as your arm because someone's auntie had her sheep stolen there before 1918 war and it's never been forgiven.

Find some incomers and ask them ! They will have a more sensible perspective.

oopsacoconut · 20/04/2009 18:30

Hiya

Calne is a bit of a non-entity it is some where you drive through to get to Marlborough. There has been a bit of a problem with a group of teenage boys causing hassle and some vandalism. Houses on the big estates are cheap. Have you thought of Devizes?

Wooten Bassett is place I have only ever driven through so can't give you any info.

Corsham is very nice and has a few new estates where houses are cheaper but I think they are still more expensive than Chippenham.

oopsacoconut · 20/04/2009 18:33

Wootton not wooten gah bad spelling moment

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 20/04/2009 18:34

Never heard of it.

Thought this thread was going to be a baby name one, am very disappointed.

Wilts · 20/04/2009 18:36

Stripey- for a boy or a girl?

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StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 20/04/2009 18:56

Definetly a boy's name!

Domesticallychallenged · 20/04/2009 19:06

I was brought up in Calne. My parents still live there. It used to have quite a rough end/side and the Marlborough side has always been more desirable. It's much better than it used to be when I was a child. We currently own a house there and if DH's job allowed would happily move back.

Rhubarb · 21/04/2009 13:19

Thanks everyone! We may well still consider Calne, though dh is swaying from one side to the other every time he speaks to someone.

We need to go for the day and speak to some locals, like you suggested. The house viewing in Wootton is off cause dh said it's too small (open plan living/dining/kitchen and tiny bedrooms on top floor).

I think the estate agents are getting pissed off with us, because we'll book a viewing for a house that looks nice in the brochure, but when we turn up to view we realise the area isn't what we want at all.

Tough shit really, they should figure out what we're looking for and tailor the crap they post out to us!

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