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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to move to Shropshire?

33 replies

caddywally · 30/04/2017 10:32

I currently live in Exeter, but the house prices are too high for me to buy here, and I'm a little further away from family than I'd like.

I'm thinking of moving to Shropshire. It's about equidistant from my family and my partner's family, house prices look reasonable (in some areas) and it looks like a nice place to live.

The only thing I'm slightly concerned about is employment. Can anyone who lives in the area tell me anything about the employment situation? I currently work in admin so would be looking for something similar.

OP posts:
Littlestgirlguide25 · 30/04/2017 10:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
caddywally · 30/04/2017 11:04

Thanks for the insight! :) Rates of pay don't really bother me too much because I'm not exactly earning megabucks here. It's good to know that there is work around.

OP posts:
HerBluebiro · 30/04/2017 16:44

It is a big county. Work availability varies. Tourism in the south and around the mynd. Big town in telford is a hub for employment. M54 takes some people to Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

Houses are cheaper but rates of pay can be lower.

What's your field of work?

Meekonsandwich · 30/04/2017 16:51

I think you'd definitely find a job in admin here,
Shrewsbury is a lovely historical place, good shopping and transport links.
Ironbridge is lovely and scenic but the flooding and public transport is awful and the nearest shopping centre is telford,
Which is half empty as all the shops are closing and relocating, parking is extortionate. Birmingham bull ring isn't too far away though.

I moved here from a city south from here and I miss being able to get a bus after 6 pm, and the nightlife. Getting to college or the town centre was half an hour on the bus at least. And that everybody knows each other!!!!! You see the same people in the bus, I know most of the employees in the town centre and supermarket.

But I love the scenery and the dog walking routes. The historical houses and gardens are nice :)

Bumpinthenight · 30/04/2017 16:53

North Shropshire is close enough to get to Chester to work so don't think you just have to work in Shropshire. Stoke, Crewe, Shrewsbury, Telford, Wrexham are all within commutable distances.

Original poster
caddywally · 30/04/2017 17:05

HerBluebiro, I work in financial services, but I wouldn't mind working in another sector at all. I'm not massively career-driven so as long as I can find something to pay the bills, that'll do me.

Meekonsandwich, Telford looks fairly cheap, but from your post it seems there's a reason for that! Is it an alright place to live, other than the lacklustre shopping centre? I don't mind living somewhere where everyone knows each other, so that wouldn't bother me :)

OP posts:
IrishTwin · 30/04/2017 17:06

Newport Shropshire is lovely, fantastic schools!

Original poster
caddywally · 30/04/2017 17:08

Bumpinthenight, good point! Chester looks nice, too.

OP posts:
Katkincake · 30/04/2017 17:37

We've toyed with moving there too (I grew up there and my parents are still there) I love the space and peace with less people per sq mile compared to where I am in the edge of the Yorkshire dales. The house types you can get are so varied and good prices. I could move my job there, but my husband would struggle in his industry, so we have to make do with visits. I think I'd also miss Yorkshire badly, so much going on here plus amazing scenery, though more rugged than the lovely rolling Shropshire hills.

Agree with Telford going downhill since I worked there. Was back there a month ago for work and was shocked you have to pay to park at the shopping centre now, god knows why they've done that.

Good luck with your move if you go ahead with it

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 30/04/2017 17:59

Shrewsbury bod here.

It's a great place to live, I'd highly recommend it .

MoonShapedPool · 30/04/2017 18:19

Hey, I'm a Shropshire lass! Currently in the sticks on the Shrops/Staffs border but looking at moving back to Telford as there is more for my teens to do. Telford is lovely in parts, Ironbridge, Wellington and Newport are great, Priorslee and Lawley are nice for newer houses. Avoid Woodside, Brookside and Dawley as they can be a bit ropey but they do have lovely areas too. Shrewsbury is beautiful.
I work in admin and pull in around 20k but that's because I love where I work so I'm happy to not chase a higher salary. Loads of industrial estates here so lots of admin work around. I love Shropshire Smile

MoonShapedPool · 30/04/2017 18:22

Irishtwin agreed! My three were all lucky enough to get into the grammars in Newport and have had a fantastic education.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 30/04/2017 18:24

Regarding the flooding, it has been controlled over recent years and hadn't caused the damage it used to.

Witchend · 30/04/2017 18:25

I want to live in a house on the Long Mynd down a track from Ingles Farm.
The house is called Witchend.
Dh laughs at me, but ds is definitely on board as long as he can have a small black Scotty dog called Macbeth.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 30/04/2017 18:26

I used to live in Shrewsbury and LOVED it. Had to move for work and still miss Shrewsbury.

bigbluebus · 30/04/2017 19:06

Shropshire is a lovely place to live - I've been here 25 years. Employment prospects depend on where you live and how far you are prepared to travel - and of course if you have access to a car.

PlummyBrummy · 30/04/2017 19:57

Shropshire is definitely rugged and not rolling! Look at Caer Caradoc and the Long Mynd for starters, let alone the Clees. Lots to love about Shropshire, OP. Further south, like Bridgnorth, and you can get to Telford, Wolverhampton, Stourbridge and Kidderminster within 20 mins. Shrewsbury, Worcester and Birmingham are all a bit further at about 40+ mins away but still more than commutable - especially when you're coming home to somewhere so beautiful. There's a large UKIP/Tory voting contingent but there are those of us who don't!

randomsabreuse · 30/04/2017 20:08

I love living in Shropshire. As well as local towns you can get to Worcester, Kidderminster, Wolverhampton, Stafford and Chester from the right bits of the county (big county).and plenty of people commute into Birmingham as well.

Rolling moors and rugged hills plus big river valley - very varied terrain - quite similar to Devon in some ways but generally more affluent but cheaper property as less well known as a holiday area.

Major lack vs Devon is the sea - very landlocked, nearest beaches probably Wales/the Wirral!

SockQueen · 30/04/2017 20:33

I grew up in Shropshire and am actually back here at the moment visiting my parents for the weekend. It was a lovely place to grow up, but the prospects in my career (medicine) weren't great hence moving away. Still love coming for visits and hope that DS will learn to love the place too.

Property prices seem cheap to me but I live in the Home Counties now. Public transport is pretty crap, everyone drives, but the main roads between the major towns are generally pretty good.

Original poster
caddywally · 30/04/2017 20:35

I've noticed a couple of people have mentioned transport - is public transport not great? We'd probably be living in a town rather than in the middle of nowhere. I can drive but I'd much rather use public transport if at all possible!

Thanks to everyone who's replied so far! Smile You all sound very positive about Shropshire and it seems fairly well-connected for jobs.

OP posts:
MoonShapedPool · 30/04/2017 20:37

Telford is fine for buses and trains, Shrewsbury is well served too. South Shropshire probably not so much but it's very beautiful Smile

MoonShapedPool · 30/04/2017 20:38

Monthly bus ticket for the whole region is £70 so it's not too pricey either!

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 30/04/2017 20:39

Shrewsbury's fine for buses and trains.

GinnyBaker · 30/04/2017 20:51

I've just moved to Shropshire. I love it but it was a culture shock after London. Once you are out of the main towns, it gets very rural very quickly. (It is statistically the most rural county in England).

We have moved to a place 4 miles out of a town. There is one bus a WEEK on a Monday (market day in the big town). It picks up at 10ish in the morning and there is a return service about 3 in the afternoon....after that you are buggered. Basically we have to have two cars running.

On the other hand, there are 8 other houses down our lane. The first weekend we moved in, every single one of them came to say hello, bought us eggs, cakes, chutney and lots of other goodies, offered to show us round, invited us to a picnic, a treasure hunt etc was so lovely.

PinguForPresident · 30/04/2017 20:51

Newport Shropshire is lovely, fantastic schools!

My folks live in Newport. The grammar schools are indeed excellent and property is mind-bogglingly cheap (I live in the SE: could buy a palace back home for the pric of my 3 bed semi here!). Salaries aren't great, though. I used to commute into Birmingham for work when I lived there. Dear god, the HOURS of my life I spent on that bloody motorway! Public transport not up to much either.

I'd avoid Telford like the plague. Shrewsbury is bloody lovely.

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