Advice on Scotland please

[user1475552936]

I'm leaving Australia and headed to Scotland with 13 year old twins. Circumstances are not good, their dad has walked out on us so we are going back alone and with bare minimal savings. My family all live in Stonehouse / Larkhall area and want us to live there. I could afford a small rental for a couple of months until I get a job. Then savings are done. I'm just worried that the area my family lives is not a good one - have heard stories! I guess I'm looking for someone who knows that area to advise me if it's a nice place to raise my kids, who are already going through a lot of distress. Or if anyone could recommend an area close but may be better in terms of school etc. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

[KnightsOfCydonia]

Not sure about stonehouse but I would avoid larkhall. Hamilton is very close by and has quite a few nice parts, and shouldn't be too difficult to find a rental.
Best areas reasonably close are bothwell and uddingston for schools especially, but these are very small villages/towns? and in high demand so properties tend to rent quickly and are a bit more expensive than surrounding areas.

[Runningbutnotscared]

I guess you might want to consider what type of work you would be looking for when you get here?
I'm not sure larkhall or stonehouse have a great deal of job opportunities, and it's quite far to commute to Glasgow. Perhaps people from larkhall commute to Motherwell for work?

Scotland, and the U.K. In general can have good areas and bad areas right next to each other, sometimes different ends of the street can have completely a different feel to them (if it's a long street).

Have you thought about posting in the 'scotsnet' section of mn? More Scottish people hang out there then on the 'U.K.' Board I think.

[user1475552936]

Thanks I'll look up the Scottish section :)

[user1475552936]

Oh dear. Why avoid Larkhall if you don't mind me asking? My mum is looking at a rental in Larkhall this week and the Larkhall high school :( I really appreciate your honesty. My kids are very quiet and I don't want it to be a case of throwing the lambs to the wolves aaarrrr

[KnightsOfCydonia]

I've just generally never heard great things about it, purely heresay and anecdotal I suppose.
It's quite a sectarian area high presence of orange order from what I understand.
In my own general experience (I'm a letting agent) we've had a couple of properties there and have trouble with tenants (not paying rent/destroying the property/not leaving when served notice etc)
And as others have said it doesn't have great prospects for employment.

[YokoWakarimasen]

I replied on your other thread. I gather Larkhall Academy is much improved but I am reluctant to let my dd go there. That said, my dn started recently with no issues. I suspect the former reputation and my own experiences years ago cloud my judgement. Its not all bad, Chatelerault park is nearby and Calderglen in East Kilbride for kids, nearby things to do.

I commute to glasgow and it can be very wearing. would your family help you out?

[user1475552936]

Thanks for that. The last thing I need is to end up in a bad area. My kids are very quiet and am scared to put them into a highschool where they'll be eaten alive. Just don't know where to go or what to do :O