East Leeds, how bad is it really?

[arghhhmiddleage]

I'm thinking specifically of the York Dale development in Killingbeck. It ticks lots of boxes, but the crime stats and general reputation of that area don't look too good. I don't want to live in a middle class enclave, but I want to be able to walk around without getting mugged and wake up in the morning still in possession of the car.

Can anyone who knows Leeds better than I do come and talk to me about it?

Morley is great provided you aren't an ethnic minority. Has excellent links. We've moved to north Leeds now and it takes aaaaaaaaages to get anywhere!

I live in Gledhow Valley/Roundhay area. Killingbeck is indeed Seacroft by another name.

It takes me about 5mins to get to Seacroft by car so I don't think being in NE Leeds would be too much of a problem. Oakwood is even nearer - I used to live there and it's lovely...you'd be right by Roundhay Park, nice shops, good schools and v easy access to the city centre (and the dales if you turn around and head in the opposite direction!).

I have some friends who live in Crossgates too btw and that's also a good area. Maybe not as naice but some lovely streets/houses and good amenities.

I used to live and work in that area, in the 10 years I was there, my house, car and self were absolutely fine.

The Asda was never an issue although there were groups of teens hanging around outside from about 9pm but as I wasn't using the Asda at that time of night it didn't impact on me.

The buses were great, regular (less than 10 mins apart) and usually on time, York Road did get very backed up but the buses not really affected as they have their own lanes.

I wouldn't advise it if you had schools to consider but as that doesn't affect you.

Could you live in Wakefield? Has an East coast mainline station (westgate) so very easy and quick commute to Leeds (10/15 mins?). For heading south on a weekend it would mean you went home by train and then could get in the car and get on the M1 south of Leeds at j40/39 by which point even in rush hr the traffic is normally flowing better. I have a friend who lives within easy walking distance of wakefield Westgate and it's really quite nice. (I park my car there when I get the train to London and never had any issues.)

Hmm yeah Morley is a bit BNPtastic in parts. Batley? Some lovely houses & the girls school is good. LS10 & 11 are worth a look, it's not all rough!

How about Wakefield. There are some lovely areas a short walk from the station. The new apartments next to the station are lovely. 12 mins by train to Leeds and every 15 mins.

Sorry, crossed posts with mystery fairy.
Wakefield does have lots to offer

As others have said, it's seacroft really. I wouldn't live there given the choice. You really need to be a bit further out. Colton, Garforth, Woodlesford are all nice and easily accessible from Leeds city centre.

Lots more food for thought thank you

I hadn't seriously considered Wakefield but I can see it might work. Are there any areas to definitely avoid there?

If I were moving to Wakefield and wanted to be easy walking to Westgate Station and the M1, I'd look at the area around Thornes Park/Denby Dale Road.

Why throw Wakefield into the mix? Not sure. I think you need to have a look round the areas. Look at cars, people hanging about, rubbish on streets n get a feel for the places.
Give yourself a bit of time. Talk to the local police. It is often really helpful to drop into the local police stations and enquire about their thoughts on the area.

Garforth is nice, good links to the motorway and has 2 train stations which are 10 mins to Leeds. It's got a nice high street and lots going on.

I think Wakefield is worth having in the mix as for the getting off down South on a Friday evening it has a definite advantage and it is a shorter commute to Leeds than many of the areas of suburban Leeds mentioned. I agree there are some nice houses by thornes park and also the development right by the station mentioned earlier looks good. There are some lovely Victorian and Georgian flats and houses in the roads surrounding QEGS and Wakefield Girls High which are a very easy 5 mins walk to the station, but I have no idea what that area is known as. I also like quite like Sandal and further out New Miller Dam, but you would lose the ability to walk to the station.

That area around the schools is called St Johns. V nice, but you pay for it.

Selby and use train.

Quite fancy moving to St Johns myself then BikeRunSki! Off to look at right move now I know what to look for! Thanks

Woodlesford Selby ?

I was brought up in East Leeds (Osmondthorpe) then lived there for 14 years of my adult life (also bringing up my first child there) - and never experienced ced crime or burglary of any kind! I now live in North Seacroft (as Seacroft is a VERY large area, covering at least a 20 to 30 mins drive to get around it all) - and now only 5 minutes from Roundhay Park, the Leeds outer ring road and about 15 minutes from the motorway links (and only 12 miles from Leeds Bradford Airport). I can safely say we've never been victims of burglary or any other crime - and although crime isn't none existent, crime is everywhere. Even if you were to live in rural areas (we have villages about 10 minutes away) there would still be crime. Unfortunately people generalise areas without fully experience cing them!

*experiencing, not experience cing (typo lol)

We used to live in whinmoor. In the first year our wheelie bin and our car were stolen but after that it was fine. I would avoid near the big asda just because it's so busy there and seacroft and gipton scared me slightly. The only reason we moved from whinmoor was to be closer to family and work.

Jimblejambles - I don't really know why Seacroft scared you, as north Seacroft is very like parts of Whinmoor (and not that far from). Also, Seacroft is a big place, but many people tar the whole of Seacroft with the same brush. South Seacroft, at the back of York Road and nearer to Killingbeck and South Parkway isn't so good. North Seacroft, nearer to Easterly Road and the Ring Road are fine. I can't comment on Gipton as I haven't lived there - but it does have a bad reputation, although again Gipton covers a vast area, from York Road to Easterly Road.

Floods in Wakefield? Have lived in and around there for 17 years and only heard of Chantry Bridge going a couple of times. Just checked with DH who has lived there for 55 years (well, just outside) and he's no idea about flooding either. Where abouts?

I think Wakefield is a good bet too. I would imagine your money would go further but there are some nice areas and it's definitely good for travel as its right on the M1 / M62.

I lived in east end park when I was working in lgi, there are nice streets and not so nice streets adjacent to each other. I lived there 2 years and had no trouble at all, took the bus from York road to work or walked when I could be bothered with no problems. To be honest though although I had no problems living there it wasn't the nicest place I've lived! Also the busses I took didn't stop right outside work and the train station is easy walking distance so living somewhere nicer and taking the train is definitely an option