Excessively stupid question on the 'Fens' coming up, apologies in advance for thickdom

[Lauriefairycake]

Do they flood?

That's the Fens in Cambridgeshire.

I'm looking at houses there as have widened search area due to skintness and wondered if the reason the houses were cheap enough for us to buy one was because it floods?

Is it nice there? Looking at Chatteris, assorted villages, Ely, anywhere north of Cambridge really. Particularly looking at house in what looks like the middle of nowhere?

So, is it the middle of nowhere - or can you just see it from there ?

It is nice (i'm the other side of cambs) but it is very remote

the Fens flood but they do try not to give planning permission on houses that are in known flood spots, so it should be ok, but would be worth looking into the history

The fens wre all once under water but are no more prone to flooding than anyt other area.

They are cheap beacause they are more isolated and people tend to have to commute to Cambridge/Peterborough for work.Although I work in the Fens quite often.

My neighbours have just moved to Chatteris and they love it, you will have to get used to the fen dirt though, the have these legendery winds that cover everything in a really fine dirt, quite extraordinary.

Good luck in your search

LOL at fen dirt (it will make a change from the chicken shit currently covering my garden)

I had never even heeard of Chatteris til i looked north of Cambridge - glad to hear someone has.

One of the houses I'm looking at is a Victorian cottage so I will have to try and look for evidence of flooding. Also looking in Chatteris town centre at another.

Thanks you two

I live on the non-Fen side of Peterborough !

I think the Environment Agency has a section on its website that tells you which areas are prone to flooding - that might help in your search. Good luck!

I live in the Lincolnshire fens. no flooding here. There are dirty great drains everywhere to make sure that doesn't happen.

Chatteris is lovely, but miles from anywhere. Everywhere in the fens is miles from anywhere

March is a bit bigger if you are looking for a town rather than a village.

Ely is definitely up and coming (and there is even a hill). If you are looking at flood risks in 50 years, with global warming, you might be worried but the drains ensure that the fens aren't flooded at the moment. Lots of car accidents though with cars going into the drains.

Can't afford Ely but can with Chatteris and March

If we sell this place we will need a second car anyway so will now be considering a cheapo 4 by 4 because of what you guys say about the drains

Anyone know what the secondary schools are like around there?

And am I being thick but is the fifteen miles from Cambridge a bad fifteen miles ie. takes an hour ? (from Chatteris)

Your local is Cromwell Community College.Last year's GCSE table
Not sure where they go after GCSEs - not in the catchment for the Cambridge 6th Form Colleges.

it's not a 'bad' 15 miles but it will take longer than you expect, there aren't too many overtaking opportunities so if you get stuck behind a lorry or tractor it takes much longer!