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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU Limes Avenue Chigwell

39 replies

nikki26 · 21/03/2021 19:21

My family and I currently live in central London in a small flat (tiny with two teenagers).I have been looking for somewhere affordable to buy. I have seen a small house that we can afford in Limes Avenue Chigwell. My husband is unsure of the area and said it seems a bit ‘rough’. Will this be a HUGE mistake? Does anyone know the area or alternatively made a move away from work etc and regret the hassle of the commute?

OP posts:
StoneofDestiny · 21/03/2021 19:34

Just googled the address out of interest and looked on google images - first thing that popped up was a picture with a cop car showing there was a shooting.

Original poster
nikki26 · 21/03/2021 19:37

I have seen that, it’s such a shame because it really seems to be the only area in our budget! I suppose I was secretly hoping someone would
Come on to say it’s had a huge turnaround and is fabulous now Smile

OP posts:
AlohaMolly · 21/03/2021 19:38

I grew up there OP, it was very rough Grin

jimmyhill · 21/03/2021 19:40

No local knowledge but the London Underground depot nearby a bit of a red flag. That will depress property prices / rentals in the immediate vicinity. Limes Ave looks average enough but you might be living adjacent to a rough area.

I'm not sure googling and finding a result about a shooting tells you much. There have been various shootings around our area lately but it doesn't characterise the place. And most crime of that sort is scumbag-on-scumbag so if you're not a drug dealer you'll be ok

windthatbobbin · 21/03/2021 19:41

This is a rough area. I wouldn't..

AlohaMolly · 21/03/2021 19:41

Oh the memories GrinGrin

My mum moved us there when I was a baby for precisely that reason, from Hackney. Because they could afford a three bed semi with a garden and a (detached) garage!

I was born in 1987 to give context, but there were curfews at points (I swear I remember curfews) because rival gangs would fight on the football fields. The year I moved out, there was a gang of not quite teenagers breaking and entering in broad daylight and stealing car keys for joy riding. The week my mum sold her house, there was police tape everywhere because there was a stabbing (and not the first) on her doorstep.

AlohaMolly · 21/03/2021 19:44

There’s a primary school within walking distance - separate infants and juniors. There’s just been a new head appointed to the primary and she’s really really good. I don’t know much about the juniors anymore but it was always a poorer performing school than the infants.

I would say though that there was a good sense of community. I was always very academic and quiet and didn’t fit in with the boys who lived there, but when a few of us were shipped out of catxhement for secondary, they’d look out for me.

BlackBucketOfCheese · 21/03/2021 19:45

Is this a whole area or a specific street?

Original poster
nikki26 · 21/03/2021 19:49

Well it looks like it would be better to leave it for now. Such a shame as my daughter is having a terrible time in school with bullying and I was hoping to give her a fresh start. From what I’m hearing it would be out of the frying pan and into the fire! Thanks everyone

OP posts:
Original poster
nikki26 · 21/03/2021 19:50

Blackbucketofcheese it’s hard to explain, it is a road but it’s connected to an estate, so it runs through it iyswim

OP posts:
AlohaMolly · 21/03/2021 19:52

Limes avenue is a street on limes farm estate. You can walk to Hainault station for the underground, or a bit further for Chigwell station. There used to be a doctors surgery off the estate but within walking distance and plenty of bus links, some entering the estate. There’s a church you can walk to, there was at least one playground and a football pitch, other green space. A small shop complex(?) there was a corner shop and a Londis when I lived there, as well as a laundrette, Chinese takeaway and off-licence but I think the offy closed down and I know there’s a nail bar there too.

Barkingside and ilford as well as Romford are bus rides away.

AlohaMolly · 21/03/2021 19:53

Could you not just move schools OP?

Excited101 · 21/03/2021 19:55

It’s rough round there, I wouldn’t want to live there.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 21/03/2021 19:57

I know it slightly, and I don't think it's that bad. It's definitely not the nice bit of Chigwell, but I could live there no problem. However it is far out, and I always think that area feels like 20 years ago...

Original poster
nikki26 · 21/03/2021 19:58

There is only two schools locally really and unfortunately a lot of them live in my estate. It’s heartbreaking to watch and although the school are quite supportive, once it’s started it’s extremely hard to stop. Children tend to avoid the girl who’s being bullied sadly.

OP posts:
AlohaMolly · 21/03/2021 19:58

I think what doesn’t help is it backs on to Hainault which is also rough. From memory, the ‘warring’ gangs were Hainault and limes farm.

Bythemillpond · 21/03/2021 19:58

If you are looking at places between £3-400,000 then I would look further out.

Further out can mean less of a commute.
A direct train as opposed to a tube train that stops at multiple stations
Look at where you want to get to for work and look at the train lines going out from there.

Original poster
nikki26 · 21/03/2021 19:59

Thanks everyone, I’ll keep looking. I’m sure there are lovely people who live in that area but it doesn’t sound right for us. Have a lovely evening

OP posts:
florentina1 · 21/03/2021 20:00

You are better off moving to Hainault. Limes farm does have a bad reputation locallly. Houses there are cheap for a reason.

AllTheWayFromLondonDAMN · 21/03/2021 20:03

It’s an absolutely fine area. Total normal urban Greater London, wedged between a couple of nicer suburban bits, but not terrible at all. Good enough schools, nice links to the rest of London, some countryside nearby if that’s your kind of thing.

AlohaMolly · 21/03/2021 20:06

What schools were you looking at OP? I went to Roding Valley in Loughton and it was really, really good. West Hatch is the school for limes farm catchment but wouldn’t have suited me at all as I was very academic and quiet.

Original poster
nikki26 · 21/03/2021 20:07

AllTheWayFromLondonDAMN Do you live there?

OP posts:
Original poster
nikki26 · 21/03/2021 20:08

I looked at west hatch, seemed quite a happy school with a good ofsted rating

OP posts:
Original poster
nikki26 · 21/03/2021 20:09

Ahhh well that my daughter! Quiet and academic. So perhaps not the school for her

OP posts:
udnertheradar · 21/03/2021 20:09

Try Highams Park

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