Living near Andover

[Buzyizzy21]

I've put an offer in on a park home in East Cholderton and it's been accepted. It's the full asking price and is subject to survey.
However, there are a couple of niggles that I have in my mind that won't go away. I've spoken to both of my grown up children and one suggested I pop a post on here.
The prime reason I am leaving my flat is that the area has got so rough since lockdown, much worse than when I moved in, and I've had cause to call the police on two occasions. I am now keeping my head and car well down until I move in a few weeks.
When I was at the park home site,
I noticed that the age of the cars at the site are really quite old, the office building isn't in very good nick, the two cars that I passed whilst driving around the park wouldn't have looked out of place round here, and that includes the drivers. In addition, my daughter, who lives half an hour away, says there is a very high MOD presence there and I am now wondering if I should withdraw my offer as maybe it's not as safe and friendly as I need. Does anyone live near there? It seems a really pretty area, but I spoke to someone else who keeps their horses nearby and she spoke about the high traveller population too.
I also have a very profitable business which I have built up over the last fifteen months and managed to restore after lockdown with a lot of hard work and it would mean starting all over if I left the area. If I stay in the area in rented, it'll mean I am safe and earning well, but using some of the equity to help with the rent, so if the house prices don't fall over the next year, I am going to be stuffed, hence the thought that the best thing to do would be to move and restart now.
Sorry for the long post, but positive thoughts wanted please. :)

[SuitedandBooted]

Park home don't always retain their value, or appreciate in the way a house or flat can can. I presume you have researched all the down sides. That area does sound a bit rough TBH, - have you checked it out here?
www.streetcheck.co.uk/

Is there no way you can buy somewhere else? It seems a bit drastic, as you are using all your money - they don't have mortgages, do they ..?

[Buzyizzy21]

I’m fully aware of all of this, it is the area that I am enquiring about. If you live near or know someone that does, I’d be grateful for any info. Street check website is very inaccurate, and I can confirm this from personal knowledge of areas.

[sbplanet]

We live a distance away over in Wiltshire, but about 15 years ago considered that area. I wouldn't move there then or now. You have vague worries about the area already, why did you chose it and why not a park home site somewhere else?

[Buzyizzy21]

Thanks for the comments. As I said above, family in Salisbury and not so far from SE. I need to be somewhere I can earn a decent wodge and at the same time have pets and be within my budget. It seemed to fit the bill, but now I’m not so sure 🤷‍♀️

[sbplanet]

I'd be tempted to go the other side of Salisbury, west as opposed to east? East is nearer London and the area is quite full of 'service personnel'. We looked in lots of the smaller villages between Southampton and Andover, to me there seems a lots of 'suburban sprawl'.

[Buzyizzy21]

Further west isn’t an option. If anything I’d like to be nearer London as I am now.

[FluffyPersian]

Have you considered Basingstoke? I live there and it's 40(ish) minutes from Andover, an hour from Salisbury so perfectly drivable on the A303....

Some parts of Andover are nice, some parts are, like everywhere... less nice. Is it the side nearer to Ludgershall?

[Buzyizzy21]

There is very little available which fits all my needs, hence the move to a relatively new area. No, thankfully not Ludgershall or Tidworth 😊

[Bol87]

Some of my family live in Andover. Seems a bit dead. Some nice areas & some very avoidable ones! There are some lovely villages surrounding but flipping expensive.

I lived in Basingstoke for 8 years & rate it much more. The town centre really is quite nice for a town..

We considered Amesbury for a while. It seemed quite nice. Bought in Baso in the end. Glad we did!

[Buzyizzy21]

I’ve got to ask, has anyone actually read my original post and request? Only none of the answers actually relate to the question. As none of you live there and having done further research of my own, I’m happy to close here. It would seem you guys are exactly the same as any other forum, spout forth with your own opinions, and to hell with it if it’s not what the OP asked 🙄

[Buzyizzy21]

Oh and FYI, west of Salisbury is a VERY high military presence and having spent some months both there and near Basingstoke, thankfully work related both times, I wouldn’t go back if you paid me, Basingstoke is a shithole and west of Salisbury is full of inbred West Country peeps with webbed feet and no brain.

[RudeAF]

You sound nice 🤣

[ladybirdsarelovely33]

People are doing their best to answer and help.
However if you dont feel comfortable and have serious questions on this place, your gut seems to be telling you this is a 'no' on this area.

[turnthebiglightoff]

You're a peach, OP,

[MissBetina]

I live in Andover and if I could move I would! There isn't much to do there and the town has no character. There are a couple of roads which are lovely but Andover has become rather dodgy. There is definitely a high traveller population here and they are often seen moving all over Andover in fields, leaving them in a state. There are lovely villages nearby

[reefedsail]

Blimey, please choose somewhere as far away from the West Country as possible.

[sbplanet]

"Blimey, please choose somewhere as far away from the West Country as possible." #thumbsup for that reply.

[SuitedandBooted]

You have already decided that the area looks a bit dodgy, so why don't YOU go back and do some more research - you, know, actually talk nicely to people on the park home site and ask questions ( although I appreciate you may find that a challenge...).

You're buying a cheap property in a town that is not known for being the cultural centre of the universe - what do you seriously expect it to be like? You seem to want people to tell you it's all nice and will be fine "positive thoughts wanted please" - I don't think it will be.