Stafford - is it nice?

[PercyThrower]

We're thinking of moving to Stafford.

Would you?

Where abouts? We were told the southern suburbs were the best but is it easy to get to the train station? How about Rowley Park or anywhere more central?

Is there much to do? Are the schools okay?

Thanks very much for your brutal honesty!

I don't live in Stafford btw.

The hospital is struggling, the A&E isn't 24 hours and you end up having to go to Stoke for most things (I believe there is no dedicated children's ward there anymore).

Stoke A&E is ridiculously busy all the time too, and most outpatient clinics have consultants holding clinics at both hospitals. Mixed reviews as a hospital. Stafford A&E runs 8am-10pm IIRC, and no dedicated children's provision. There's some lovely areas around Stafford but with children especially, the A&E situ wouldn't make me comfortable. That's without being 20 miles away, in a strange area, worrying how to get home at 4am if you get transferred too.

If you read what I said at the end I said not everyone is bad, and do get some nice people 👍

If you read what I said at the end I said not everyone is bad, and do get some nice people

It was hardly a balanced post.

They asked what it's like it Stafford and what ALOT of people have experienced, I gave the truth 🤷 your not even from Stafford.

I have to say it was a nightmare when our elderly mum got admitted to Stoke hospital in the middle of the night as Stafford A&E was closed. I know it's not that far away but in terms of visiting and trying to get discharge and aftercare sorted it made everything more complicated.

Stafford is great, I grew up there and would happily go back. Like any small town it has its issues but like any other small town in the country (and I live in one on the south coast now) it is having to adapt to more people and therefore more traffic.

I find the people there friendly and much more courteous. Schools are good especially on the south side. The housing areas in that part of town are also good - Weeping Cross, Walton, Brocton, Milford etc. There is also easy access to Cannock Chase if you like the outdoors.

Commuting to Birmingham is easy on the train, my dad did it for over 40 yrs. Many other places are within an easy drive or train journey.

Healthcare at the hospital can be an issue but in my experience it's really no different to many other places where services have been centralised. (Its just that people in Stafford were used to a more local provision.)

Go and have another look!!

I went to Stafford recently and it seems like a nice town. But it's not diverse at all and very monoculture.

But it's not diverse at all and very monoculture?
What do you mean, @flirtygirl

Nelly
No, it isn't a diverse community which is a downside.
Stoke, Wolverhampton, Birmingham are more culturally diverse.

As others have said villages in the outskirts are lovely : Walton, Brocton, Stone, Hopton, Seighford, Weston, Gt/Little Haywood to name a few.
Not so nice areas: Highfields, Silkmore, Rising Brook, North end.

@WhiteDust I grew up on a council estate in rising brook - I didn't do so bad. But perhaps these areas have changed, less respectable working class

nelly
Without being too outing, I know the area very well. It has changed a lot over the years. 30 years ago I would have described RB as a perfectly good area. It still is compared to many places but also has problems nowadays.

@WhiteDust I agree. I also lived on silkmore for a while and although there were some problem families and scruffy areas it was very much a place where people looked out for each other.

No, it isn't a diverse community which is a downside.
Stoke, Wolverhampton, Birmingham are more culturally diverse. That's true but cities attract the more culturally diverse. When my mum who is Irish first came to stafford - to marry my dad who she met as a RAF man during the war and was born an bred and died in stafford, she was subjected to abuse and bigotry because she was Irish - I don't think there's anything like that attitude in stafford nowadays. It was almost an acceptable thing to do to call her an Irish Ba###rd then.

Oh I grew up on a council estate in Rising Brook too! Actually we started off in Highfields and moved to Rising Brook. Wow that brings back some memories!

@missyB1 we might know each other 😀 My aunt lived on highfields then they were one of the first families to move into what was called highfields number 2. We loved roaming around highfields and playing on Rowley park and up the castle. We had loads of places to play around RB too - we were v lucky

I live in Stafford in one of the nicer areas mentioned. Moving from London you will be able to afford something very nice in Rowley Park and there are several houses for sale atm. Walking distance of the station and you can be in Birmingham in 30 minutes, Manchester less than an hour and London within 80 minutes on the direct service.
The town is no worse than many others that have suffered with high street closures over the last few years. There are plenty of shops and a new plush cinema and lots of bars. Schools are fine and there is the option of fee paying grammar.
The major benefit to me apart from having a big network of friends around here is that when your children move away (which they inevitably will) it is an easy place to commute to and from.
I can't think of anywhere better for you that is between Manchester and Birmingham, it will tick a lot of boxes.

I'm from Stafford and wouldn't move back. I frequently still visit family there. Secondary schools aren't great, town centre is run down and there is very little to do there. The traffic can be dreadful!

@nellyitsme yes we used to cycle up to the castle, and we loved the little golf course at Rowley Park. I used to walk through the park going to and from school - I went to Blessed Bills. It supposed to be a good school but wasn’t really, well I didn’t do well there anyway but perhaps that was my fault

The South side of Stafford has some great schools and near to Cannock Chase and National Trust property, Shugborough. The traffic can be an issue due to M6 proximity. Many people now try and avoid the town centre and shop at the retail parks. In fairness, I have yet to visit a British town/city centre which didn't have an issue with drunks. I visited Bath a few years ago and the city centre was full of drunks and homeless. London is even worse. I find the experience too depressing to repeat.

Doxey is the best area in Stafford in my opinion, you can have a trampoline In the backyard and film videos from the window, you can also catch the bus into Stafford or walk if you are a good walker, Doxey is the best place in England, move there if you want to live the life, Doxey is the best, do not sh*t on it or your first visit will be your last

I love Doxey, I have a dog and wife and kids, and I wouldn't change it for the world, its the best place in the world

Milton Keynes is almost on par with Stafford, as a father of 3, Named Craigo, I love Stafford and if I could afford it id live there

Doxey is a good place to live, Stafford cOllege is a good place to study