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Original poster

Where to move too?

38 replies

PixiNanny · 12/01/2010 22:47

Me and my boyfriend are looking at getting our own place in Colchester later this year but I have no idea whereabouts to go.

I was thinking that being near the town and the stations wuld be brilliant, but I should have a car by then so it's not essential to live by the town.

So where abouts is nice to live and what are the pros/cons? I've not seen much advertised apart from highwoods (incredibly cheap flats to rent there which is good!) or near North station (which is where I'm leaning to at the moment).

OP posts:

pooter · 15/01/2010 11:16

Well, its a bit tricky, as there are a couple of areas where i wouldnt want to live, but if anyone else on MN lived there i wouldnt want to offend them!!

In general Greenstead and parts of Highwoods are not considered the best parts of Colchester. Myland is nice, New Town is always popular. We live near North Station, and although i like it, the traffic around the station in the morning is DREADFUL!!!

I have a friend who has recently moved to the area behind St Mary's car park really close to town - that seems like a nice area.

good luck - its really daunting isnt it!

and SORRY if i've offended anyone in my defence i used to live in Highwoods (not the nicer part) myself.

ihatethecold · 15/01/2010 12:07

i used to live between lexden and stanway, i loved living there.
my son lives in old heath which seems quiet.
new town is always popular with young people, short walk to the other train station, although not as many trains as colchester north.
near the hospital is ok.
monkwick isnt very nice.
tollgate is quite far out of town but alright, only newer houses there.
the traffic in colchester is really not good so bear that in mind and visit at diff times of the day.

PurplePixi · 15/01/2010 12:50

I'm not too concerned about traffic as I'll still be working in Clacton so happy to use trains to get to work, but I would be more worried about it should I end up in the outskirts of Colchester and needing to rely on buses to get to the stations!

How easy is it to get to town from lexden, stanway, mylands, etc? Are there regular buses? I would love to live a short distance from town but far enough away to avoid the noise on Thursdays to Saturdays!

Thank you for the helpful manner so far We can't actually afford to move out until later this year (hopefully by may/june) but I can't help but think about it now and try to start organising it in an effort to make things easier and cheaper later on!

I didn't realise that St Marys carpark was that one (having just googled it lol), does she live in the new flats on the hill? I like that area of Colchester, many fond memories of gigs at the Arts Centre and hanging out in Culver!

pooter · 15/01/2010 13:35

no - in the streets to the west of it - terraced houses. a three bed terrace rents at about 700pm, but there are two bed ones as well.

Its pretty easy to get into town from bergholt rd - regular buses, and it is walkable in 20mins too. Stanway is a bit far out for my liking.

Sawyer64 · 15/01/2010 14:23

We live in Myland,moved here from Chelmsford in 2007.
I really like Myland,as it has a "village" feel to it.Despite all the new housing.

I live off of Northern Approach,and it is easy to walk to the station.
Across the park there are Bus stops to the town,or Highwoods,although its fairly easy to walk if yo are used to walking.
The village school is quite sought after,and I have found it to be very good.

There are 2 playgroups within walking distance and 2 Private Nurseries within walking distance.

Theres a little shop,pub with restaurant,fish&Chip shop in Myland,and 2 churches.

The people that are involved with school,church and community activities such as Rainbow,Cubs etc. all know each other,and it gives you a nice close knit community feeling,if ofcourse that what you like....

Plenty of choice of accomodation around here,to suit all budgets.

PurplePixi · 15/01/2010 16:29

Ee, 700pm we'll be looking at tiny flats for less that 500pm! I wish I could afford a little house though

I've been through Myland a lot but must admit that I'm not a fan of new housing though otherwise I like the area it's in. I was thinking closing to the station though it looks relatively close on the satellite map, how long does it take to walk? I would prefer to walk as I hate buses

Good to know about the nurseries and whatnot, I haven't got kids but want to start a family in the next couple of years (to be frank, I'd like to start when I move out and am a bit more financially stable but the boyfriend wants to wait four or five years as we're both 20)

Are the local kids clubs and things open to volunteers? & is there a gym nearby? Every time I google gyms I end up with the big name gyms coming up. Is the area alright on the crime front? I'm in Clacton at the moment with my parents and they live down the road from the police station and on the back of town (in fact, on the back of that new Travel Lodge) so it's a nuisance with the noisy neighbours and drunkards stumbling in the evenings! I'd like to leave that behind!

deloola · 16/01/2010 20:51

Lots of more established housing on Mile End Road or Bergholt Road. 10 mins walk to the station and 20 mins into town. House here for £600/month.

Re: gyms - fitness first is just by asda and la fitness is just under the bridge past the train station. Alternatively Leisureworld is just round the corner on Cowdray Ave.

Pretty low crime imo - I feel safe when I'm out and about.

Hope that helps.

purpleflower · 17/01/2010 21:00

I think 1 of the areas Pooter was talking about is where I live

I live on white city, between Harwich Road and Ipswich Road. It's not too bad, I've lived here 2 years now and have had problems but that's with 1 stupid neighbour and I think you could get that anywhere. That being said, it's not somewhere I ideally want to stay but at the moment it's cheap and the Primary school is good.

Myland is nice and walking distance to North Station. New Town isn't too bad either but parking is terrible (thats the only reason I wont move there at all lol) I don't think highwoods is too bad but from when my SIL looked at flats there she said they were small.

The estate next to mine seems quite nice, St Johns. I don't know about prices or anything though.

purpleflower · 17/01/2010 21:10

this is Bergholt Road which has been suggested.

this doesn't look too bad either.

SparklyPrincess · 19/01/2010 14:57

When I was in my early twenties (god, I sound old!) I lived in Victoria Chase (off North Station Road). There's a lot more flats in that area now and it's a fab place to live when you're 20-ish! 10 mins to town (in heels!) and 10 mins to North Station. If I were you, I'd look at transport first. We used to live out at the end of Harwich Road. Nice place, but an absolute nuisance to get to the station for work as the buses took ages and weren't particularly regular.

Some of Highwoods is fine but a bit of a trek to the station, particularly when it's not summer and you can't walk through the country park!

About gyms - in addition to those already mentioned, Top Notch is on the Severalls Industrial Estate. The only other one I can think of is Bannatynes down on the Hythe.

Mung · 19/01/2010 17:30

Purpleflower...you should become an estate agent...you always seem to like finding places for people to live.

PorphyrophillicPixie · 21/01/2010 15:34

Sorry I haven't replied! Forgot about this thread

My friend has her two sisters living in highwoods in the 'nicer areas' as she put it, but for me it is just that bit too far away from anything and too difficult to come home for work.

That Bergholt road flat looks brilliant (oh I wish I had the money now! lol)

SparklyPrincess: Why do you think I want to live in that area! I'm not much of a going out person but I would like to live close enough to stumble home on those rare nights out!

Transport is my primary concern really, I don't think I'd be able to afford a car for a while and I end up having panic attacks on buses if I'm on them for more than ten minutes so I really want to be walking distance to the stations but for me that has to be pretty close as I have bad knees too.

EffiePerine · 21/01/2010 16:16

I'm on Bergholt Road and it's really easy for the station (I commute) and only 20 min ish into town. We moved last year and I really like this end of town. The only pain is a long walk to the doctor's and any playgroups, though a new one has opened recently

EffiePerine · 21/01/2010 16:17

oh and we don't have a car and have 2 children! In some ways it's easier without a car becasue the traffic is so vile. I can get to most places on foot, even with a double buggy.

PorphyrophillicPixie · 21/01/2010 16:26

Hows Bergholt Road with the traffic? Looks like a busy road and I can't picture that one in my head atm...

EffiePerine · 22/01/2010 08:18

It's fairly busy at the front, but our garden backs onto a park and then the railway, so we aren't overlooked at all. Feels quiet to me, but we moved from inner London so it depends what your idea of 'quiet' is!

PorphyrophillicPixie · 22/01/2010 09:31

Oh, well I don't think where I live now is anythign like inner London so it may be a bit noisy for me! Nah, as long as my bedroom is at the back of the property I wouldn't be too bothered by the road, I live on a busy road in Clacton and don't hear a thing

deloola · 22/01/2010 09:37

Effie - you must live round the corner from me!

EffiePerine · 22/01/2010 10:05

Probably - we're the ones trekking out in all weathers with the buggy!

deloola · 22/01/2010 12:08

Effie - have you seen the plans to redevelop the park area here?

EffiePerine · 22/01/2010 13:19

Ooh - looks good! The play area is about 10 secs away from our back garden, so we spent a fair amount of time there in the summer (we may even have spoken if you frequent it as well)

pooter · 22/01/2010 14:53

thanks deloola - just did the online form for ideas - even though the complete date was in december.

We live about 15mins walk away from the playground, up near the golf club. It would be great if they would redevelop it to something like the one near Myland School.

deloola · 22/01/2010 16:01

they are still drawing up plans and looking at funding bids so it could be a long way off before anything happens - I'll start another thread about it

PorphyrophillicPixie · 22/01/2010 16:59

Okay, we're also considering places like Marks Tey and Copford [apparently!] so does anybody know much about them, what amenities are near, how long it realistically takes to walk from the furthest point of tow to the train station (not just google maps terrible interpretations) and whatnot?

As soon as I have some spare cash for train travel I'll definately be walking around each of the reas for an idea but until then you guys seem to be my eyes and ears!

Sawyer64 · 22/01/2010 21:51

Think someone might be along soon to explain the advantages of living in Copford .........

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