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Original poster

Newbie - wondering about Motherwell/Cleland in Scotland?

83 replies

CalifornianScotland · 04/03/2018 20:21

Has anyone heard of Motherwell/Cleland in North Lanarkshire? I posted in local, but the forum seems to be inactive. Anywho, if you've heard of it, would you say it's safe and a good place to raise kids?

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2018 20:26

Cleland would seem a strange place to me for someone from abroad to relocate to (assuming your username is fairly literal..)

Motherwell is big so it's difficult to generalise.

Why that area in particular?

Original poster
CalifornianScotland · 04/03/2018 20:49

husband is British Smile

We are moving to Scotland because we are able to live anywhere in the UK but want to stay close enough to large cities, that's why I was looking around Motherwell because you can get far more house for your money than you can where we currently are in SE England. This new build is in Cleland (Bellside), and why I am choosing that new build over the others is because as an American, square footage for a house is very important to me and most of the other new builds are at least a couple hundred square feet smaller, this one is 1700+ square feet. This is a smaller builder, not national, so they have also included upgraded flooring, wardrobes, and all the appliances. The other companies want us to add these, plus the older homes for the same budget/size seem to need some work which adds to the expense. So it's strictly the house that has pulled us to Cleland, plus Edinburgh/Glasgow accessibility.

OP posts:
JeremiahBackflip · 04/03/2018 20:52

Try asking in the scotsnet bit of the forum - you will get local people there who can help.

Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2018 20:55

Right well, to put it bluntly there's a reason why houses are cheap there.

I think you need to look beyond square footage in the UK.

But... if that does matter maybe try a bit more remote and west. last time I looked, big houses were fantastically silly cheap in Helensburgh which is on the train line to Glasgow, albeit 20 odd miles away.

Cleland is an ex mining village.

I am trying not to sound like a snob.

Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2018 20:57

Your reason for moving to Glasgow area is entirely based on the square footage of one house style you have seen in a village and area you have never heard of?

Sorry : bit of a double take there!

squeaver · 04/03/2018 21:01

Honestly, if I could choose to live anywhere, absolutely anywhere, in the UK, Motherwell would be a very long way down the list.

Agree with Piggy, it's hard not to sound snobbish about this but there are good reasons why builders are building extra-large houses there i.e. the land is cheaper and you have to ask yourself why that is.

squeaver · 04/03/2018 21:03

Also, there's a big difference between having Edinburgh/Glasgow accessibility and actually having to get there relying on e.g. Scotrail or the buses or sitting in the permanent traffic jam that is the M8.

Olddear · 04/03/2018 21:05

No!!!!! Do not do it!!!!

CrazyCatMamma · 04/03/2018 21:09

I always feel a bit dirty after I've been to Motherwell, and it's definitely a place I habg on to my handbag in the town centre. 🤔

Original poster
CalifornianScotland · 04/03/2018 21:58

Thanks for the info - Has anyone heard of East Kilbride? Or does anyone know where crime statistics for Scotland can be found?

OP posts:
Loonyluna16 · 04/03/2018 22:02

Sorry as someone who grew up in motherwell it's not a bad place. Op the part of Cleland you are looking at is smashing. Right next to the train station and very close to the m8 for both ways to Edinburgh and Glasgow. East kilbride is a bit or a miss. Nice parts and then awful awful parts. But Bellside is very quiet. No troubles and very friendly x

Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2018 22:03

With the best will in the world, you are looking on the wrong side of Glasgow...

Crime stats can easily be found online but there is crime everywhere really. The big new builds are springing up around cities where the land is cheap and there is space : they aren't necessarily the nicest areas to live in.

You need to look around more and get a feel for the place.

Where is your DH from?

Why have you actually chosen Glasgow?

I love the city of Glasgow personally but it seems your motivations for moving there are a bit opaque.

TrollTheRespawnJeremy · 04/03/2018 22:04

East Kilbride is a large new town within the commuter belt for Glasgow.

It has numerous districts of varying affluence. You'd really need to specify whereabouts in East Kilbride as it is such a large place.

For what it's worth, i'd be happy to live in the village or East mains which is part of the original village before the town was developed. It has character, amenities, easy access to the train station as well as nice properties and some of the better school catchments.

Crime statistics tend to be held for each council. East Kilbride is in South Lanarkshire, Motherwell is in North Lanarkshire. If you google the different councils you'll get their websites.

It might be easiest for you to say what you want from your move and Scottish MNers can suggest places which fit your remit?

Loonyluna16 · 04/03/2018 22:05

I've just noticed it's the newbuiilds. My cousin lives in one. Huge houses, huge gardens very very friendly, all the kids are always out playing. Lovely family area and extremely quiet x

Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2018 22:09

loony , are there many people there who aren't local? As I said , I love Glasgow but there are some parts of it where it isn't always easy to not be born and bred, and then some areas which are maybe more 'cosmopolitan'.

My impression of Motherwell and the environs has always been that it's good solid Scottish , gregarious etc but a bit insular.

I agree with what troll says : define more what it is you want from an area.

Loonyluna16 · 04/03/2018 22:10

piggy you are coming across as a total snob. Most places on this side of Glasgow are old mining villages. Motherwell was strictly steelworks until the ravenscraig closed that doesn't make them bad places. There's actually very little bad areas on this side of town. Go into Glasgow city centre recently and your in the middle of two warring gangster family's Hmm

Loonyluna16 · 04/03/2018 22:12

Loads of people aren't local to the area still very welcome and very much part of the community

Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2018 22:14

I did say I was trying not to!

I know they are old mining villages and know what waste the Tories laid to the area. I am not sure what you said about Glasgow city centre is either accurate, not snobbish in itself, or persuasive to the OP that Glasgow is the Place To Be!

I haven't actually mentioned crime : I am just trying to get to the heart of what the OP wants other than a big house!

Scotland is the most fantastic place to live but, with the best will in the world, it can be quite hard to live in some areas with an English accent, say.

Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2018 22:14

Posted before I saw your second post : that's' all I wanted to know Smile

Loonyluna16 · 04/03/2018 22:24

Absolutely is true. I'd maybe have a look at it. One of the family's grandad died and a territory war broke out. There's been people shot over it. One of them a man who was pushing his child's pram to school at the time. There was another man shot in his car in a supermarket car park. All for territory in the city centre. It's not all roses in the centre.

Honestly for the OP the houses she is looking at are fairly large but it is equally a lovely area. A lot of people not from the immediate area moved to those houses when they were built. Don't get me wrong 5 mins drive down the road takes you into coltness. Lived there for 9 weeks and I wouldn't wish the place on my worst enemy. It's the same every where though.

@piggywaspushed I don't mean to come across as rude it's just I get very defensive of the place I grew up as it really is a wonderful place.

Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2018 22:27

Glasgow actual City Centre as in like Argyll Street and George Square?

Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2018 22:30

Everyone defends the place they grew up : I come from Knightswood, largest council estate in Europe at one point. But before that we lived in other parts of Glasgow and before that Helensburgh which is a lovely family place (if a bit tired in places) and full of non Scots to be honest. Seems to me more the kind of 'Scotland' people might imagine living in.

Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2018 22:34

OK, I just looked up the gang thing : those families have been active for years. The violence occurred in Maryhill, Possil, Barlanark and so on. That's not the city centre!

If OP mentioned those areas we'd all say 'God, no!!'

Loonyluna16 · 04/03/2018 22:34

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/16/police-confirm-shooting-st-georges-primary-school-glasgow

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-38002266/murder-investigation-under-way-after-fatal-shooting-in-glasgow

There was one just last week in cambuslang also. All connected through the same family's over drugs ECT. So maybe not in the middle of George square but close enough. Google shootings in Glasgow and have a little look.

Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2018 22:43

You're not exactly working for the Tourist Board here!

Tradeston has always been tough, as has Penilee.

Glasgow City Centre is far removed from this.

One of the shootings was in Bishopbriggs which is rather fancy so it just goes to show!

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