So, what's wrong with Wootton Bassett?

[Rhubarb]

We're just browsing through houses for sale. Wanted to buy in Chippenham but can't afford the prices, so we're looking instead at Calne, Corsham and someone recently mentioned Wootton Bassett.

People have said that Calne suffers from teenage gangs, but it's such a pretty town I simply can't imagine it. Wootton Bassett also seems fairly cheap considering it's location near to Swindon and the motorway. So what is wrong with these places? We need local feedback!

Sounds like a character from PG Wodehouse

Not a bad name for a kid is it? Shall we suggest it on the baby names threads?

Rhubarb, did you make a decision and find somewhere in the end? We are doing the same for the same area at the moment and looking at Chippenham or Calne or Corsham (but not Wootton Bassett). We know a bit as we're reasonably local but don't know lots. I'd be interested to know what you did and what you think of where you moved to ...

My best friend is from Swindon and Wootton Bassett was regularly the butt of many a joke that went right over my head when we were students.

Sorry, that's not very helpful is it

Calne is ok but dull, Calne and Melksham have a bit of a reputation locally for being full of chavvy teens. Devizes is much nicer in that area.

Thanks Argento, that's pretty much what I thought. Devizes just too far away for commute for DH.

Wootton Bassett is ok it is a good and useful little market town. Calne is also ok, it has long had a bad reputation for bored teenagers, there has been masses of new builds there so there is almost too much residential and the town hasn't kept up. It does have a bit of a poor reputation locally but we nearly bought there. We coudl have got a massive house for the same money it cost us to buy near Marlborough, which is LURVELLY.