To move from a nicer area to a rougher one

[user1498221998]

I currently live in a little village called Greenfield in Saddleworth. It would be some people's dream but I HATE it. It's lifeless, boring, isolating, inconvenient, I have to get a TRAIN to go to the local supermarket. The train goes every hour. I live on top of a hill. I'm miserable. Absolutely miserable and can honestly say I've never ever felt more lonely. I can't go anywhere without a big hill and feel trapped. Almost like I'm in prison here with my Son. I'm desperate to move nearer my work (South Manchester) so that I don't have such a long commute, we can travel to places by walking and bus, can feel less trapped and isolated and can make a life somewhere I don't feel like I'm suffocating.

Of course I'd love to be in a desirable area but so far I've had no interest from anyone in a nice area (council homeswap) so I've accepted I will be looking at a central but slightly rougher area.

Greenfield is boring as hell (to me, sorry to those from Greenfield) but it is safe. Very low crime rate.

The places I would be moving to would be anything but.

I have had interest from people living in Gorton, Hulme and Rusholme among others. All areas considered rough.

Most people have told me not to do it. That greenfield is nice, quiet and safe. Good schools for my Son and once I can drive I won't feel so isolated. But I honestly think I will. I live so far out from Manchester. Hate living semi-rurally and want to live in the city. If I wanted to live in the countryside I'd be back home in the hills with my Parents.

AIBU to move from a 'nice' rural area, to a rougher city location for the vibrancy, amenities and transport links?

What about Hebden Bridge? Or Holmfirth is nice.

I lived around Rusholme for a couple of years, but didn't have kids. No problems, but you do want to make sure that you're not (a) living immediately next to the Curry Mile, which has widespread hygiene issues / pest problems, and (b) wouldn't be living next door to a student house (this lot might be fine; next year's batch of residents could be awful)

What would your DC's school be like? Post 16 provision there is decent (Xaverian / Loreto College) but little idea about primary / secondary schools (though I wouldn't touch Burnage Academy with a barge pole, having visited it)

I live in Stalybridge, it's not that bad!! Transport links are excellent.

I really wouldn't move to any of those areas. Having lived in Manchester, I can confirm there is a lot of crime, your neighbours could well be students and there are a lot of rough kids hanging around who break windows and damage cars. I've now moved out to a village so that my son can go to a decent school and we don't have to put up with all that anti social behaviour. Also have you considered why others might be keen for a swap? Possibly the above problems or bad neighbours. Wait until you can drive, it won't seem so isolated when you are minutes from the supermarket by car

We are currently renting while we do work on our house. The rental is in a much more sought after area. The houses are spread out and it's far more peaceful and picturesque. I bloody hate it, we could buy a beautiful big detached house with land here and a huge garden. I literally cannot wait to get back to my house in a much more urban far less pretty environment. My standard of living is so much better when I've got shops and bustops at the end of my road and actually some semblance of life going on. Schools aren't an issue for us as mine are private but OMG, quality of life isn't the pretty quiet environment for everyone, for me it's just not being stuck in the back of beyond

Meant nicely - Why do you have to get a train to the supermarket? There's a huge Tesco in Greenfield! misses the point of the thread entirely

I lived in Didsbury and Burnage most of my life.

The Tesco is very expensive. Not suitable for a weekly shop.

Hulme is gentrifying and the perceptions here are way off. I'd go there.

Also, some of the areas people have suggested are unlikely to yield many potential swappers.

I know the area. The thing is, i would love to live there. Maybe the issue is a mobility issue. To live in places like that, which after all arent a million miles from civilisation,you have to have transport,a car, If your stuck up there and have to use public transport all the time then it is no wonder you are stir crazy. Maybe look at somewhere on the metrolink map?

PS South Reddish might not be an option. I just recently noticed terraces being rented for £750pm and they have been taken.

Look at north Manchester, there's some nice areas in bury, Radcliffe & white field all with excellent metrolink connections. Also north east side of Bolton, still only 12 miles from Manc?

Wow, what contrasts OP! So Wilmslow etc., are out (would Aldi be an option there?) but you'd be considering Gorton, Hulme as your compromises. Meanwhile you'd prefer death to living in Stalyvegas and Didsbury is also a no-go. I'd make driving your priority and see if that helps things first before leaping out of the frying pan.

God I miss stalyvegas!!

To be fair to OP I don't think it was her who described Didsbury as rough. Not that she's likely to be able to do a swap from there anyway, there is some SH there but only a very little. Same with Wilmslow. I don't know that Gorton and Hulme were her compromises, but rather the offers she's had.

Disley is nice.

Oh I feel your pain - we live in a beautiful wealthy Cheshire village very much aspired to by some and it's just really not me and I do think we will move somewhere more urban eventually difference is we are fortunate to have the funds to move to a nice part of a close by big city

Have you considered chorton borders or fallowfield or somewhere less "rough" - though not sure I am equipped to say what is or isn't rough after so many years of living in a village could you rent or spend a few weekends in your proposed places to make sure they fit you?

Being rural poor is shit. The lack of options and transport are a killer.

I'd move to a 'rougher' area.

"God I miss stalyvegas!!"

Well the Raffiffi has been closed down now due to the level of violence at chucking out time. Some of the local curry and kebab shops on the stalyvegas strp were raided for fiddling their electric..ah nostalgia,its a wonderful thing

I know the area very well, for me moving from Greenfield to Gorton would feel like I'd died and gone to hell!

Those saying that Dids isn't rough, no it's not rough in itself, but as with all parts of S mcr it's only a stones throw from the rougher parts of mcr and the scrotes and ner do wells certainly do frequent the area to partake in their nefarious activities, I certainly wouldn't feel at all safe living in Dids and having an Audi s3 parked on my drive for instance.

Are you the same OP who was going to move to Wales - ? I thought you had sorted everything out. 🤔

I'm quite offended tbh as someone who grew up in greenfield and now lives in Millbrook or stalybridge as it comes under to say it's rundown etc and you'd rather die than live there... how would you know? You didn't even use a bloody Tesco right under your nose and it's no more expensive than any other Tesco. Maybe you should do some proper research instead of throwing random comments about regarding areas!

Oh and stalybridge must have something going for it seeing as you choose to shop here!

Stalyvegas mafia has arrived! 😁😝