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Original poster

warrington and thereabouts

27 replies

bonniej · 27/12/2004 09:44

my dh works in warrington and we live in blackpool. its a trek for him to get to work and costs a fortune in petrol so we've decided to move nearer. question is where? even though he works in warrington he doesn't know the area. we have decided we don't actually want to move into the centre but does anyone know of any nice areas nearby? we don't want anywhere too built up but need good schools and colleges. some places we've considered are, irlam, widnes, wilmslow, newtown-le-willows and leigh. I have never been to any of these and don't know what they're like. Can anyone give me any help?? don't want to go driving to look at places that are really not very nice. thanks

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WhizzzYouAMerryXmas · 27/12/2004 09:49

My humble opinion - Irlam & Widnes - No, Wilmslow very nice but expensive, Newton-le-Willows is nice, Leigh not too familar with.
Appleton & Stockton Heath are nice, as is Lymm. Lots of new areas are springing up as they build more new houses.

mishiclaus · 27/12/2004 09:49

hi
we live in knowsley which is quite nice and just between warrington and liverpool...we are about 20-30min drive away..my DH works in leigh and he said its ok but you have to be careful where you move to...
I will ask him when he comes hom later for some recomendations. Personally I wouldnt move to widnes but thats me, i just dont like the area...sorry if anyone is from there...hope someone else can help
good luck
mishi

mishiclaus · 27/12/2004 09:51

sorry forgot to add..not sure how far sanky is and great sanky but that seems ok...there is a lot of new housing estates popping up so it might be worth a nose around...

WhizzzYouAMerryXmas · 27/12/2004 09:54

Great Sankey is 10 mins drive from town centre & fine - I can say with conviction, as I'm sitting in one of those new houes now !
Sshhh don't tell anyone though, as it may dent my anonimity !

Original poster
bonniej · 27/12/2004 09:55

Newton-le-willows is one area we were strongly considering as it's so close to where he works. Glad to hear it's nice. we've had a look on rightmove and can afford a fairly decent property there so that'll definately be worth a look. i will avoid irlam and widnes. thanks so far any more advice would be appreciated. I told dh mumsnetters would help us out

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Original poster
bonniej · 27/12/2004 09:56

we've also seen lots of houses on great sankey that look nice so that's good to hear. another place on my list!

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WhizzzYouAMerryXmas · 27/12/2004 10:03

It also depends on where abouts your DH works in Warrington as getting across the town in rush hour is notoriously bad !

Original poster
bonniej · 27/12/2004 10:04

he works for eddie stobart at the grange i think it's called. he has to be at work at 6pm so it is quite a busy time

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Gobbledigoose · 27/12/2004 10:05

Bonniej - you've got a few areas there but all miles from each other and very different!!

Wilmslow is lovely and recommend it but it's not cheap there - about the same as here I think so a 3-bed semi would be upwards of £250K. DH works in Wilmslow and I've quite a few friends there. You are brilliantly located 5 mins from Manchester airport, not far from Trafford Centre, great big John Lewis and M&S 5 minutes away and then you are just 5-10 mins away from Alderley Edge and Prestbury.

I personally would not choose to live in Irlam, Widnes, Leigh (lived close by in Wigan as a child - OK parts but as someone else said, you'd have to be very careful about where). The only thing I know about Newton-le-Willows is that my best friend was a languages teacher at the secondary school there and it's terrible - now on special measures. I don't know anything about the actual area though.

My choice would def be Wilmslow out of those but as I say, not cheap.

There are loads of other places you could consider that are not too far from Wilmslow and actually that little bit closer to Warrington are Altrincham, Sale and Lymm. I'd recommend all of those (but then I would as I live Alt/Sale way!). Altrincham and Sale are not particularly cheap either but have brilliant schools throughout and you really can't go wrong with any of the primaries. Also have 2 or 3 of the best state Grammar schools in the country if that would be a bonus to you. Again only 10 mins from airport, M6, Trafford Centre, The Lowry. You are also on the Metrolink which takes you straight into Manchester so that is a real bonus. You are also just 10 mins away from lovely countryside and there is Tatton Park and Dunham Park close by (we go to Dunham a lot because it's a great open space for the kids). House prices vary but generally, again, a 3-bed semi will cost you over £250K and could be as high as £300K around the really good schools.

HTH, let us know if you want any more info!

Original poster
bonniej · 27/12/2004 10:10

thanks so much for all the info gobbledigoose. I think wilmslow and surrounding areas may be out of our budget. we only have about 150k for a 3 bed

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Gobbledigoose · 27/12/2004 10:13

Right, perhaps areas others have suggested might be better then. I'm not familiar with the areas around Warrington but my impression is that there are some nice areas as I know people my Mum works with in Altrincham actually live in Warrington and dh works with people in Wilmslow who come over from Warrington too.

Big bonus over there is IKEA!!!

Original poster
bonniej · 27/12/2004 10:16

that's if we manage to sell our house next year. was on the other thread as we had our house on the market since june this year but took it off about a month ago. have you had a buyer for your place yet? (i hope i've got the right person, you used to be skate didn't you?)

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Gobbledigoose · 27/12/2004 11:21

Yes, right person!

We've taken ours off the market now and are putting it back on next week! I think the new year will be better as interest rates have stayed stable a while now (and there was even talk of reducing them again at one point!) and new year/spring is supposed to be the best time to sell anyway.

Using a new agent with a higher commission but I've been impressed with them so far and most of the houses they've had on the market they have managed to sell, so fingers crossed!

Moving out to our new house next Wednesday anyway as we need the space! Luckily, it's my parents house so no rush to move every tiny thing - can do it in stages.

Feeling confident about getting a buyer in the new year - hope I'm right!!!

chatee · 27/12/2004 11:38

hi,
i know warrington very well CAT me and i'll do my best to help you.

DissLocated · 27/12/2004 11:50

Hi - I'm from Warrington (now living in Norfolk), and my family still live in Warrington and Newton Le Willows, we're up there all the time. NLW is good if you stick to the village itself, around the High Street. Earlestown is very rough so be careful not to get out into that area.

Have a look in Winwick, Croft and Culcheth. All north Warrington and quite upmarket.

If your dh is working on the grange, Woolston, Fearnhead, Cinnamon Brown and Padgate are all nearby (mid market) and can be nice if you get the right spots. My parents live in Fearnhead so it can't be too bad!

Oh, avoid Widnes like the plague. I worked there for a summer and it stinks, honestly! I think there's a cattle rendering plant in the area. Leigh is also dodgy area, my Dad works there and hasn't got much good to say about it.

If you need any local info on specific streets or areas, please CAT me. I'd be happy to help

chatee · 27/12/2004 14:28

hi DissLocated,i'm originally from warrington too but now live much further north.Did you go to North Cheshire College?most of warrington either went there or Priestley....
hope to chat soon

PolgaraInAPearTree · 27/12/2004 17:27

Hmmm I live near Warrington (not going to say where coz I wouldn't recommend it to anyone if they hadn't been born and bred here iykwim ). Widnes - as said avoid - yes very smelly amongst other things. Irlam and Leigh - probably not. Appleton or Lymm are very, very nice but quite expensive - although not on same scale as Wilmslow. Don't know the others mentioned I'm afraid. Go and look on the knowhere website for very very frank opinions on the towns .

DissLocated · 28/12/2004 16:08

Yes, I did go to North Cheshire College! I think you went there if you were a bit rebellious and Priestly if you had matching stationary and Daddy bought you a car on your 17th!

Where do you live now?

Donbean · 28/12/2004 16:37

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo Bonnie, you cant leave me, i caant let you....what about soft play, what about your DD and my DS possible wedding plans (if Baily finds a new love???)
Please dont go........ x

BadHair · 28/12/2004 16:41

Gobbledigoose - my friend's dp works at Eddie Stobart. Used to be a driver but I think he does the scheduling now. Called Chris - don't know him but his missus is lovely.
Anyway, from an outsider's pov I'd say that Stockton Heath is really nice, Lymm is lovely but has the prices to go with it, and I've heard that Callands is nice if you like big modern houses.
I work in Warrington (at the college in Padgate) on a Saturday, and if I was moving over there I'd want to live in Stockton Heath. The area round Padgate seems really nice but I've heard Longbarn isn't too great. All those are close to the Eddie Stobbart yard, I believe.

chatee · 28/12/2004 16:58

i'm in cumbria now but going back down to warrington for new year with my parents and to return dd's faulty xmas present to toys r us ( aaaahhhhh-try explaining that one to a very curious 4.5 year old)
what year were you at NCC?
i was there 1986-1988-cor does that give away my age?

prufRockingAroundtheXmasTree · 28/12/2004 17:32

Widnes is a shithole. Sorry, but it is. I was born there (On Midland Street) and still have lots of family there. The smell is from the largest chemical plant in Europe. My Dad had to have a lung removed years ago and the doctors said the rare condition he had was linked to having breathed in the crap in the air for so long. (He used to teach at Newton-le-Willows GdG)

doggiewalker · 28/12/2004 18:29

Sorry. Just found this thread and have to say, the best place to live around Warrington has to be Stockton Heath which is where I live, and unfortunately am probably having to move from. There may be a house for sale here very soon. Truly, lovely area, great schools, near the countryside or Warrington is a good decent sized town, Manchester or Liverpool nearby for cities and airports . .. what more could one ask for?

doggiewalker · 28/12/2004 18:32

Do be careful though as there are some grotty areas round here. Try to avoid the "new" town style estates. Stockton Heath/Appleton/Lymm are very well established, nice areas as I said before, and with good motorway links. Only an hour up to Blackpool too to see any relatives.

Original poster
bonniej · 28/12/2004 19:16

Just got back to this thread, thanks so much for the fantastic response. Badhair, I'll ask dh if he knows Chris he probably does if he works at the same yard. Donbean, it'll probably be ages before we actually go anywhere as ds has got his gcse's in the summer and definately not uprooting before he takes those. Lots more softplay to be had! We're looking forward to going up there next Thursday, hope to see you there Anyway thanks again for everybody's help, I've got much more to go on now and will avoid stinky Widnes like the plague. That's terrible about your dad prufrock Here's hoping I manage to sell my house this time. good luck with yours gobbledigoose!

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