relocating to south wales

[Butcherf1988]

Hi,
I am currently living in an affluent area in poverty and totally isolated. I am never able to afford to take my children to clubs, and have been dependent on benefits for 4 years (although im slowly starting a business). I'm living in a house i was badly abused in. It is terrible for my mental health :( My ex abusive partner is refusing to sell the home, yet he does nothing with the children either. I grew up socially in a non affluent area. In south wales i can afford a home, afford to learn to drive, and my self-employed business is getting going. All my money is tied up in this house. It's making me depressed. Ive seen that over in south wales, i can not only afford to buy a house, but can afford to learn to drive, transport is more accessible, and id be able to afford to take my children to do out-of-school clubs/activites, which theyre not accessing at all here. We do love the outdoors, and see that over in wales there is Brecon and the mountians nearby. I was wondering what other people's views are on making the move. Evidently this style of living is not doing my health any good, and im unable to take the children to any out of school activites due to lack of money and lack of mobility. We're growing up poor in an aflfuent area where friends go to all sorts of out of school aciviteis, and we do nothing. Yet, over in south wales, with my money freed up from the proerty, i'll be able to afford a home, secure financial security, remove debts, be self-employed, and learn to drive, and do activities with the girls. I was wondering what areas of south wales are best? Best wishes, Fliss

basically the.very top of most valleys.

That’s a very good point, I’ve found that to be pretty accurate too. Also the ‘less connected’ valleys like Ferndale/Maerdy.

@garlictwist

Grew up in South Wales and really couldn't wait to leave. It's very grey and bleak and not a lot going on. The towns are quite ugly and pebble dashy. Live in Yorkshire now which I love and there are some very affordable parts.

My DH left Yorkshire for uni and never went back. Moved to Cardiff, then the Midlands, London and back to Wales.

DH comes from just outside Bridgend, almost halfway between there and Porthcawl, so we know that part inside out.

I’m not going to lie, there are some problems in particular areas there. It’s not posh. And if you want to see the death of the High Street, Bridgend town centre will show you it. But please don’t let that put you off; there is so much more to the area than just the high street and everywhere is relatively close, so there are plenty of other places to go (although a trip to the Rhiw is worth it for the Welshcakes alone). I’d quite happily move around there tomorrow (if it wasn’t for my mil!). Prices are going up, but you do still get more for your money than you would in many parts of England, especially the south east, which is where we are. There is a real sense of community where DH is from. Everybody knows everyone. If they don’t know you, you’ll have mutual friends and you’ll find it a lot easier to fit in if you just embrace it. There’s always someone willing to help you if you need it and I’ve never met so many genuinely funny people.

Porthcawl has got a lot more money and that’s reflected in the town centre. It’s nice. Obviously the houses opposite the beach aren’t going to be what you’re looking for (they are definitely posh) but the further inland you go, the better bargains can be had. There’s a lot of seasonal employment from the holiday park there, but it doesn’t seem grim in the winter months like many seaside resorts can. There are some places you would probably want to avoid, but you’d get that in any town. Porthcawl doesn’t have a train station but the buses are pretty regular (although more expensive than here) and it’s only 20 odd minutes on the train from Bridgend to Cardiff. Closer to Bridgend, Kenfig Hill is nice, south Cornelly, Broadlands, parts of Pyle (which has a small, unmanned train station with trains to and from Cardiff) and some of the places in between the villages. Nottage and Cowbridge are likely to be out of your budget but have some lovely pubs and restaurants between them.

There’s no denying that the scenery is beautiful. The beaches are glorious (especially the quieter ones). There are some top class golf courses. There’s a rugby club every three streets (where there is almost always a band playing or a family event going on) and the rugby facilities and training for children are absolutely excellent. All schools teach Welsh now and it really is the most beautiful language (although I know only a handful of adults who speak it and only because they went to the local Welsh schools, so you won’t be able to help with their homework, but you won’t have any problems if you can’t speak it, unless you’re applying for certain cs jobs). It’s a very community minded area. You might get a tiny bit of gentle ribbing for being English, but there’s nothing malicious in it 😉

I love this part of Wales. It’s so central, two hours from Paddington on the train, close enough to the Gower for visits, right between two cities, near the coast, and a real social mix ranging from lottery win houses to council houses, with everyone seemingly rubbing along nicely.

Yes, thank you for all the positive comments. That's what we're looking for really, places where it is easy for me and the girls to have a more socially active life, but some countryside not too far, as we enjoy walking and cycling too.

Thank you so much. That is such useful information :) And only two hours from London - that's quick.

I'm not worried about me or the girls learning welsh. I love languages, and speak fluent French. Language is a part of a country's culture, and it is so good for stimulating usually unused parts of the brain.

My budget will be about £125k. We do like the outdoors, and walking/cycling, but also i need to have independence for my girls as they grow older. And we need to be able to get them to clubs etc. Currently, living in a remote village prevents them from going to any after school clubs!! Theyve never been to ballet, gymnastics, dance, athletics or sports stuff. Theyve been completely deprived of that. We've never been to the cinema in the early evening, or been out to a restaurant. Nothing. It's awful. Where i live is probably good for a retired couple, but not for young children ... Are there any schools which you recommend? I'm not always convinced ofsted tells the whole picture, and whilst i currently live in an affluent area, the school is "in need of improvement"! It's not been performing sufficiently over the past few years. Sometimes, in more affluent areas, the teachers can become complacent ...

@Butcherf1988

Thank you so much. That is such useful information :) And only two hours from London - that's quick.

2 hours from Cardiff. Bridgend is about half an hours drive from Cardiff.

@Butcherf1988

My budget will be about £125k. We do like the outdoors, and walking/cycling, but also i need to have independence for my girls as they grow older. And we need to be able to get them to clubs etc. Currently, living in a remote village prevents them from going to any after school clubs!! Theyve never been to ballet, gymnastics, dance, athletics or sports stuff. Theyve been completely deprived of that. We've never been to the cinema in the early evening, or been out to a restaurant. Nothing. It's awful. Where i live is probably good for a retired couple, but not for young children ... Are there any schools which you recommend? I'm not always convinced ofsted tells the whole picture, and whilst i currently live in an affluent area, the school is "in need of improvement"! It's not been performing sufficiently over the past few years. Sometimes, in more affluent areas, the teachers can become complacent ...

We have a completely different curriculum coming in in Wales and our own version of Ofsted called Estyn. Can’t really recommend specific schools when your search area is currently about 50 miles wide and 20 miles deep!

How about Abergavenny or Cwmbran. Cwmbran isn't pretty but does have good transport links. Don't know what the schools are like though. Abergavenny is much prettier, does have a train station although this isn't always fantastic but is on the route to Newport and Cardiff and Hereford and Manchester the other way.
The secondary school is okay too.

I would definitely do your research and visit the areas you are thinking of. You don’t want to end up somewhere which is more remote than you want with no cinemas or restaurants and not a lot of amenities for young people. As you can’t drive, you would need public transport to access some of those things which the valleys towns might not provide.

When you are looking at rightmove, what places are coming up within your price range?

2 hours from Cardiff. Bridgend is about half an hours drive from Cardiff.

You’re right. The quickest journey on National Rail is 2 hrs, 13 minutes from Bridgend to Paddington. Most are around the 2hours, 20 minutes mark. I usually just knock off the extra few minutes.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/108007085#/?channel=RES_BUY

A three bedroom semi detached in Sarn for 120k. Sarn is just outside Bridgend, just up the road there’s a Sainsbury’s, a cinema, a McArthur Glen Outlet and some schools (no idea if they’re any good though). Buses going to Bridgend & Porthcawl. Pretty easy for kids to get around the area.

"The quickest journey on National Rail is 2 hrs, 13 minutes from Bridgend to Paddington. "

Only rich people can take the train between Cardiff and London. Stupid prices unless you're very lucky, Us plebs take the coach so add an extra hour.
But is London relevant to OP?

OP with that budget I think going further up the valleys would be your best bet. Aberdare (only mentioning it as I know it well) has good train links, has a lovely country park and close to the beacons. St Johns comprehensive is one of the best in the county if you are ok with a church school. An example at the top of your budget:

Trevor Street, Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taff, CF44
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/113797124

@Tal45

I have a lot of family in South Wales, be careful where you buy, some of it is very deprived with a lot of social issues. It's not somewhere I'd ever consider. North Wales on the other hand I love....I've only driven through Wrexham town centre a couple of times on our way to Snowdonia so I don't know much but it looks so much nicer than S Wales and I'd move there a million times before I'd move to the valleys which I find incredibly bleak.

The poorer parts of south Wales are probably poorer than those in the north on average, but a part of Rhyl is one of the poorest places in Europe. On the other hand, south Wales has rich areas like nothing you'll see in the north like the Vale of Glamorgan. You're generalising way too much and using Wrexham as an example of the north being richer than the south is a bit weird. I used to live in a poor area of Cardiff, one of the poorest districts in western Europe, but I was in Cardiff so still within reach of very interesting things. I'd only avoid being in a badly connected poor area so if OP is looking at the valleys I'd urge her to check things like crime and drug problems and make sure there is a relatively quick train connection to a city.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114779384#/?channel=RES_BUY

I know North Cornelly very well. I’d live there, but I know lots of people think it’s a bit rough (south Cornelly is the posh bit) and either want to leave or wouldn’t move back. It does have some issues, but you get a lot of house for your money and it’s a nice community.

I've seen there are schools in "Newbridge", "Oakdale", "Y Pant Comprehensive" and "Hawthorn High School". They're the ones ive seen so far when looking online. Does anyone know if they are good?

What I've learnt from being in this village, is that being "affluent" doesn't mean you're friendlier ..! People here often keep themselves to themselves ... Equally, bullying has happened in the school here. I think I'd be more worried about things like crime rates ... As teenagers, will my girls be safe going out into town by themselves/with firends? We like lots of sporty, or outdoor activities. Some of the houses i see on Right Move seem to be well done up inside - better than my own current house!!

Only rich people can take the train between Cardiff and London. Stupid prices unless you're very lucky, Us plebs take the coach so add an extra hour
But is London relevant to OP?

DH is a Cornelly boy, nothing rich about him! 😄 Advance ticketing can get it down to £50 return. I’d rather hitch hike than get the coach again (although, to be fair, we were travelling to Kent) And if she’s sharing custody with a parent in England and can’t drive yet, it probably will be at some point.

@Sn0tnose

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114779384#/?channel=RES_BUY

I know North Cornelly very well. I’d live there, but I know lots of people think it’s a bit rough (south Cornelly is the posh bit) and either want to leave or wouldn’t move back. It does have some issues, but you get a lot of house for your money and it’s a nice community.

Thank you for that. It's got a nice location, with a bit of greenery nearby. And the beach isn't far, and the town looks full of facilities :)

Many of the schools are over-subscribed. Sometimes it depends on the year group your child will be going into. You are not guaranteed a place in the school you want just because you have moved into the area. It’s really important you find out about school places via the local authority before you actually move.

What’s your time scale on this op?

There is a lot of greenery round there, a local spit & sawdust pub, a community centre, quite a few local shops and the beach isn’t far at all, but it’s really mixed opinions on the area. As I said, I like it and would be happy to live there, but I’ve only ever lived on council estates. If you’re coming from an affluent area, it might not do for you. And there are several roads round there I wouldn’t buy in, so feel free to PM me if you need to.

It’s a trade off between better areas and a more house for your money I think. But all areas are like that. DH vetoed RCT and Maesteg when we were talking about moving, but others hate this area and rave about those.

After february. It's all going through court! I've applied to relocate, and my ex-abusive husband has decided to counter my request, by saying he wants 100% access because he considers me psychologically incapable of looking after the girls, and because i can't afford to look after them. It's always a big battle with him :( He's refused to sell before, making me financially dependent on him, and making me dependent on State benefits. Then he uses it against me. He's still controlling me, and it's awful :( He's self-employed, can live anywhere in the country, has no friends, never takes the girls to out of school activities despite having a car, and before i plucked up the courage to divorce him, he said he hated this house, and would move anywhere if it meant we didnt have to divorce. Womens Aid helped me loads. I ended up going to refuge for 3 months. Whilst in refuge we went to Redditch; they don't let you go to refuge in the same region as the abuse. Whilst it was more built-up, we went to the cineam, restaurants, took the frequent train up to Birmingham, and had a totally different life. I need something in-between - not too far from countryside, but within access of social activities. He's a bully, and controls me. He lives less than a mile away. My eldest daughter asked me "what is socialising" the other day!? They know no different. Life is such a mess. The only main good thing about this area is low crime and the secondary school is excellent. Other than that, we have no life, no money, i'm controlled and get depressed. I'm living poor in a rich area, and it's awful.

I'm Valleys born and bred. The Valleys up towards Pontypridd - house prices are increasing due to the Metro and DWP being located in Taffs Well so no more commuting to Cardiff. Lots of the schools are over subscribed, you would need to see if school transport is provided if not public transport to schools can be dire.

"Newbridge", "Oakdale", "Y Pant Comprehensive" and "Hawthorn High School are spread over a vast area so I think you will need to narrow down where exactly you want to live. If it's a terraced house you'll buy - most houses in the Valleys in your budget are terraced. Be prepared to not be able to park outside your house or in another street.

How old are your children?