Aibu to think Merstham is a bad area?

[Katamakana]

DH suggested Merstham as a top choice for us to rent. (As it’s cheap).
My cousin lives in Redhill and says it’s a bad choice (drugs, council estates etc) and says there are far better options nearby? Aibu to agree? (She used to live there and has moved on)

2 bed in Whyteleafe, these are nice flats, I wanted to buy one once but got outbid.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/90513154#/

2 bed Couldson (may be above a shop)

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/89830594#/

“Old Merstham definitely has a very different feel”

That’s been my point the whole time. Most of Merstham is Old (or older) Merstham. There’s one little bit that has a reputation and somehow the whole place is being tarnished. (For the record, I really don’t think the estate is that bad.)

Agree @P0gM0Th0in . I think part of the background is that the social housing estate was built postwar to house families bombed out of the East End, so there were inherent issues compared to those living in the more established parts. Facilities around there have improved in recent years, including a new secondary school and the community hub, it has a football club and green spaces, good train links. Have you visited the area much @Katamakana ? What are your other priorities?

Thanks guys for all the listings will look at them when dp is back! Have created a list ready for him.
Unfortunately we can’t afford the “nice” part of Merstham and don’t want to be round nutfield/radstock/malmstone way

Glad you have been persuaded that Merstham is a nice place after all. DD and family live on the Watercolour Estate and love the area. Its changed so much for the better in the years they have been there.

Nutfield Road area is fine though, nicer part and near Lime Tree school. Small parade of shops.

Not totally convinced since a police man said there’s always trouble there!

No more so than any other high street.

Sorry but so far on here the majority of views have been negative.

Have they?

The views from the posters that live here have all been positive! Only a few views from non-residents have been negative.

Of course they’d have to be positive since they can’t really post negative on an area they’ve chosen to live in.
Yes I’m sure they other part “old” part is nice but people have been suggesting other areas to be better options and a police person also said theee is trouble theee always compared to other parts of Surrey.

Seriously OP - I don't live there but DD has been more than happy living in Merstham for a number of years with both her little boys at Lime Tree School and has never (touch wood) come across any trouble! One policeman's statement doesn't necessarily mean it's worse than anywhere else.

You'll be renting so it's not like you're buying somewhere and will be stuck there forever if it doesn't work out.

Crawley which is a bit further south, has loads of flats and a couple of houses in your price range. Don’t know if it’s too far out for you though?

This is what you need to look at, I've put in Merstham but you can look up any area for yourelf for an actual comparison of areas
www.police.uk/pu/your-area/surrey-police/merstham/

yourelf obviously I mean yourself!

Lol thanks

I have never found drug paraphernalia in any of the children’s playgrounds I’ve been to in South Croydon.
The OP asked for opinions on Merstham, not Croydon. Why the need for such a spiteful post?

How is that spiteful? Under the skate ramp in Purley Park is rife for paraphernalia! Most parks you'd see it in the hedgerows, base of trees, under benches. You probably just haven't noticed.

My comment wasn't meant to be specific to Purley/S.Croydon, drug taking probably occurs in almost all parks in the country. It was just that posters were suggesting Purley as a 'naice' area. Even in 'naice' areas you get drugs.

@Autocreateusername123
Please don’t try and normalise drugs and drug taking. It does not happen in ALL parks. Only losers take drugs. Weak people who are selfish and have no concept of where they come from or how they can affect you long term!

@Inneedofaholiday
Thank you.

Wtf?

Of course taking drugs is bad, but you're incredibly naive if you think it doesn't happen everywhere.

Weak people who are selfish and have no concept of where they come from or how they can affect you long term!

I am anti-drugs myself having seen at first hand the damage they do but your comment OP is most judgemental.

But true all of it!