does anyone live in Chesterfield?

[SenoraPostrophe]

not really a meetup thread, but we're still trying to decide between moving to chesterfield and sheffield. Apparently sheffield homes cost 10% or so more than advertised usually, so on property prices chesterfield is leading.

But there does seem to be a distinct lack of civic pride in chesterfield - a few people have groaned when I've suggested it. is it that bad? are people less friendly there than in sheffield? what are the areas to avoid?

I'm in Sheffield, can't say I've ever heard a groan when chesterfield is mentioned though! i think there are some good schools in chesterfield. when I moved to Sheffield nearly 3 years ago, i really noticed the polarisation in school quality. some very good ones, but some dire ones also. And this is reflected by the house prices in the corresponding areas.

yes - the sheffield schools apartheid has put me off sheffield a lot, so other than the civic pride thing (which may be in my imagination!) chesterfield is winning!

there seem to be a lot of nice, cheap houses available in clay cross - what's that like?

bump. anyone else? we could really organise a meetup I spose for Augvust.

anyway sorry fio - missed your post. we like the position of chesterfield (edge of peaks, nearish to sheffield) and it's cheaper than the towns actually in the peaks. will check that tho. I also like the look of drongfield.

we're coming over to visit these places in april, just wanting to get clued up first really.

I was born and brought upin Chesterfield. Moved away in my teens though so my experience is a bit out of date, but I liked living there. There were some very good schools then, sounds like there still are. Not so sure about Clay Cross though. Walton is/was quite nice

My "famous" uncle used to live in Dronfield. His house and the area was really very nice (but not as nice as the house he now has in £$£$£$£ville just outside of Chesterfield - sadly I seem to have hundreds of cousins so my nose is well out )

it really depends whereabouts in chesterfield. there are some really great bits and some where they'd mug you for your bus fare!

Good - walton,

ok - brampton, some bits of newbold

crap - birdholme, grangewood estate

the new houses going up opposite the mcdonalds look like they might be nice.

lol Sobernow said what I wasn't brave enough to

oh brill - thanks all.

so what's nuneaton like?

Senora HI,

No Clay cross itself is fairly dire, Very typical old dead Mining community (sorry to anyone who lives there).

Go out slightly more towards Alfreton tho' and it gets better (probably a bit more expensive, altho I don't think Alfreton is a prime property prices spot.
To find it look at Clay Cross on a map, then follow the A61.

You know how it works, if the property is cheap, then the area is run-down, I think it's a hard-and-fast rule.

Have you been to the area at all yet? My offer to show you round still stands.

Hi clu7msymum

been meaning to email you. we've booked a cottage near alfreton for the week beginning the 21st april. it's going to be a busy week!

re property prices - to an extent i agree. vbut I'd rather be in a big house in an ok area than a small house in a nice area iyswim. also there's nice and nice. I still love the sound of Matlock but I think it's a bit too far from a big town (we need that to increase our ability to attract good employees).

you don't think those places are ready for our leading a revival then sn?

bugger. looks like we'll be renting for a while then. west of chesterfield gets expensive v quickly i think. still looking.

oh god yes, avoid bolsover like the plague! i grew up there. it's awful.

if you picture the uk as an old man, Bolsover would be the festering boil on a large hemorrhoid poking out of its arse.

Defo avoid Clay Cross! I'm in Ripley, south of Alfreton, its not too bad here, Belper is nice too, as is most of the derwent valley upto and incl Matlock! but your after Chesterfield upto Sheffield by sounds of it. Good places west/south west of Chesterfield are:

South Wingfield
Crich
Ashover
Alton
Littlemoor etc

There is a new Junction being built on the M1 soon between 29/30 so you might want to bare that in mind when house hunting!

Senora

Re your comment about Matlock. Think again.

I know you want a good pool of potential employees, but unless you need literarally thousands, remember that Matlock serves a Very wide ranging rural community of people who are desperate for work opportunities outside of tourism/hospitality

Education in the area is pretty good, and (to make a HUGE generalisation) a rural-based workforce are generally more reliable and loyal, simply because they have far fewer opportunities to swap jobs locally at the drop of a hat.

I worked for a company in Darley Dale for 7 years. We had an overwhelmingly local pool of employees, and were very successful (until the directors messed up their personal lives and bankrupted the company, very long and complicated story).

It's just a thought.

excellent point, clumsymum.

You see the thing is, one of the reasons we're moving back to the UK is that we can't find employees here (the last one I wouldn't have employed had there been much competition, and she buggered off after 4 weeks). so perhaps I'm over-emphasising that part.

It's so difficult! and we only have a week to look around (with 3 kids).