This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful.
This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful.
Black Mumsnetters
Areas in Hertfordshire to avoid
Sunshine08 · 30/10/2021 09:56
Morning all.
We are a black family looking to move to Hertfordshire. We have narrowed it down to Welwyn garden City, St Albans and harpenden.
I have be advised to avoid the cotton mill area and batch wood in St Albans and the Southdown area in harpenden. Do any of you have experience of these areas?
Thanks
Orchidflower1 · 30/10/2021 12:31
No idea of the area but here’s a little bump in the hopes someone does. 😀
tootiredtobother · 30/10/2021 13:09
Hi
ex resident of Harpenden here.
30 years ago it was very white, typical stockbroker town, most worked in London.
Now I would imagine many have moved out of London, with their fat
London paychecks and are able to buy in Harpenden,( thus pushing prices up) but it has lost the lovely large village feel I remember, we even had a cinema, which is now gone, endless housing estates ring the town. outlying villages may well be a touch cheaper, but be careful of being near Luton. St Albans being down the train line nearer to London will be more expensive.
There is a mixture of state schools and private. traffic through the town will be fierce.
I miss the old Harpenden, not the new
Sunshine08 · 30/10/2021 13:31
Thank you.
As it has changed so much, are there any specific areas in Harpenden you would avoid now?
TreborBore · 30/10/2021 13:41
Bumping for you. Places do change, but Southdown used to be ok 15 years ago when family members lived there. The neighbourhood was not very diverse but the neighbours were in the main friendly and the kids were happy at school there. The problem is affording a decent place as those areas are so expensive. Family members moved further north as they needed more space. Hopefully someone has more up to date knowledge for you.
billysboy · 30/10/2021 13:46
Bishops Stortford best avoided , used to be a really nice old Market town, it has so any new estates etc on now and high st and north st are a shadow of their former self
Sunshine08 · 30/10/2021 14:54
@billysboy
Thank you
Sunshine08 · 30/10/2021 14:55
@TreborBore
Thank you.
Delectable · 02/11/2021 00:58
Also looking in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Harpenden gives muchesd space than St Albans. Redbourn is a bit better value.
Sunshine08 · 02/11/2021 06:53
@Delectable
Thank you.
I have also been told Redbourn can be a little strange.
Riverlee · 02/11/2021 07:33
@tootiredtobother
ex resident of Harpenden here.
30 years ago it was very white, typical stockbroker town, most worked in London.
Now I would imagine many have moved out of London, with their fat
London paychecks and are able to buy in Harpenden,( thus pushing prices up) but it has lost the lovely large village feel I remember, we even had a cinema, which is now gone, endless housing estates ring the town. outlying villages may well be a touch cheaper, but be careful of being near Luton. St Albans being down the train line nearer to London will be more expensive.
There is a mixture of state schools and private. traffic through the town will be fierce.
I miss the old Harpenden, not the new
Waves to @tootiredtobother - Also an ex- Harpenden resident from 30 years ago and remember the cinema.
St Albans has a more cosmopolitan population, but Harpenden is defiantly more diverse than it used to be. Both are pricey areas with very popular schools.
Southdown is okay in Harpenden.
Seaweedhair · 02/11/2021 07:43
Hi @Sunshine08 I'm only familiar enough with St Albans. I'm not sure about Batchwood but there has been some quite serious crime in Cottonmill recently. The fleetville/camp area is I would say the most diverse area of St Albans and has more of a 'London' feel along Hatfield Rd. It's also got some of the best primary schools and secondary in the area (if that's something you're interested in) so rather than telling you where to avoid, I'd suggest targeting that area if your budget permits.
Harpenden has fantastic schools too but you need to be very careful buying inside the tiny catchment areas for some of these. I may be wrong and Harpenders will correct me if I am but it doesn't seem the most diverse place from my visits there, at least superficially.
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