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Help please! Relocating to Cheshire......but where?

26 replies

TiredyMcTiredFace · 15/03/2020 01:15

Hi all, DH has got a new job in Speke, just outside of Liverpool, and our house in South Wales has just SSTC, so were trying to decide where to settle. My mum lives in Norley, Cheshire, and DH doesnt want a long commute into work. Im concerned about schools as my DS is 3 and we'll need to find him one to apply to by next year. He currently has a fairly obvious speech delay, which were working on, and im pretty sure there's an underlying element of a spectrum disorder, so potentially will need an understanding/ kind school with good SEND. Ive been at home with him throughout, so sending him off anywhere alone is terrifying me. Ive been reading lots of great primary schools on their websites, but unfortunately, i dont think well be able to buy in those areas. We'd like to be somewhere around Chester, but ive read the areas we could afford - saltney, blacon etc are not good. We do plan to rent first , but id like to get DS into a nursery for a while to try and prepare for school, preferably in the same area. Does anyone have good experiences with schools in less affluent areas? (Also i dont drive yet so may need to take public transport if not close) were looking at affording maybe up to 185k for a 2/3 bed.
Im starting to panic now, so much to think about. Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks for reading x

OP posts:
user1333796 · 15/03/2020 02:45

What about the Wirral? It's in between Chester and Liverpool. Prenton off the top of my head is more affordable than the nicer areas near Chester, and has several options for schools with language units.

TiredyMcTiredFace · 15/03/2020 10:19

@user1333796 Thank you, i hadn't thought of The Wirral. I know Cheshire and Chester a bit with my mum living up there, but not really anywhere else. I'll look into that , thanks x

OP posts:
user1333796 · 15/03/2020 10:34

Wallasey/New Brighton might be another place to consider on the Wirral with you not driving as it has better public transport. Trains, regular buses and even ferry to Liverpool, plus it has its own Mersey tunnel to Liverpool. It's a seaside town and it's one of the most affordable places to buy on the Wirral.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 15/03/2020 10:44

Agree with looking on the Wirral if you don’t drive. Chester is lovely but unless you live in the centre you could end up being a bit isolated.

TiredyMcTiredFace · 15/03/2020 11:57

Thanks @user1333796, i've read a few posts on here re moving to cheshire, and some have said Wallasey isn't so great, and also the tunnel is horrible at peak times for OH.

@JiltedJohnsJulie good to know, thanks, i do have my mum and her car in Cheshire if i needed to get somewhere, but we do rely on public transport otherwise. Can anyone advise on Wirral schools at all?

OP posts:
SorryImNotCreative · 16/03/2020 13:55

I work in Speke!

We live in Warrington, Great Sankey way. The commute is really easy, about 30 mins each way on the M62 or through Widnes.

Some parts of Great Sankey and Penketh are nice (as are other parts of Warrington too) and you’d definitely be able to find a nice 3 bed within your budget.

Zhx3 · 16/03/2020 14:02

For Speke, you might be able to commute by train from the Wirral - change in Liverpool and there is a regular train to Speke Parkway, I think? I'm not very familiar with the Liverpool trains but the trains on the three Wirral lines tend to be every 15 minutes. Port Sunlight/ Bebington/ Bromborough have some nice properties on that line, then there is also the Hoylake/ West Kirby branch and the New Brighton side, which is close to the tunnel.

For SEN, have a look at Kingsmead on the Wirral, although I'm not sure if it's the right level for your ds SEN.

Thistlepicker · 16/03/2020 14:05

I wouldn’t do Wirral to Speke every day, that’s a nightmare commute. Come the other way and as the previous poster says, warrington and Widnes are well worth a look. Hale village, right next door to Speke is gorgeous but pricey. But he could cycle to work it’s so close.

Thistlepicker · 16/03/2020 14:06

What’s your budget?

Also, good SEN provision in Widnes I hear.

Thistlepicker · 16/03/2020 14:11

Ah i see £185. Don’t forget that a few of the postcodes round there are stamp-duty exempt so that will bump up your budget.

Thistlepicker · 16/03/2020 14:13

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hale,_Halton

jellybeanteaparty · 16/03/2020 14:34

Vicars cross always used to be good value for money in Chester compared to the highly desired areas around it.

TwoBlueFish · 16/03/2020 18:02

Warrington would be affordable I think and a better commute than the Wirral

Funf · 18/03/2020 18:30

Speke is on a very god fast road to the M62, Runcorn Bridge ( £2 each way) towards the M56 so you have a lot to choose from, Junction 7 St.Helens, Rainhill Widnes is cheap and about 20 minutes drive but not the best schools at the moment

MikeUniformMike · 19/03/2020 13:24

I'd look in Liverpool. You'll get a nice house for your budget.

bravotango · 19/03/2020 13:37

185k I would look in South Liverpool, around the parks (allerton, wavertree, aigburth). Very quick commute to Speke and well connected by rail to your mum. Personally I would avoid commuting using the tunnel at all costs...

CheshireSplat · 19/03/2020 13:40

I live in Chester which is fab and have many friends in Saltney and Lache. However, they drive their children to local village schools which are 3 miles away.... My neighbour works for JLR at Speke. I wouldn't recommend the commute, and the bridge tolls. I'd be looking at liverpool too. Loads going on, Sefton Park is the right side of the city.

MikeUniformMike · 19/03/2020 15:01

I'd avoid the tunnel and Runcorn Bridge.

Agree that Allerton, Wavertree and Aigburth are fine.

TiredyMcTiredFace · 19/03/2020 17:01

Hi everyone, thanks so much for your replies, really helpful. Actually dh has now said he doesnt mind a sightly longer commute, and were looking at Sandbach, or more specifically Wheelock. We'd had our eye on it a while ago, but i discounted it as too far for him. Right now at 5pm its a 45 min drive according to maps. Aside from the bail hostel, which im aware of, any down sides to that area? Experiences with Wheelock or Sandbach primary schools? We'd still rent for a few months to see if we like it or have any issues with the location. Thank you xx

OP posts:
MikeUniformMike · 19/03/2020 18:16

The commute time today won't be representative. The current crisis will mean fewer cars on the road. That isn't a 45 min commute.

MowCopCastle · 19/03/2020 18:25

Sandbach and Wheelock are lovely but there's no way that's a 45 minute commute. DP did similar for ages, that would be more like an hour or more and regularly much longer.

Funf · 19/03/2020 18:47

Personally I would have a good root around Liverpool and any other places within 20 minutes drive, look at schools first as this can often be the difficult one.
Living local we often take for granted the beach, airport, city centre or county side are all only 20 minutes from home

Thistlepicker · 19/03/2020 23:00

Ellwood Close, Hale Village, Liverpool, Cheshire, L24
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-77645056.html

This one!!! Hale is gorgeous. Beach, lighthouse, pubs, v pretty, decent bus service and dead dead close to Speke!!! This house has ace views too!

Thistlepicker · 19/03/2020 23:01

I think Sandbach etc is waaay too far. The Bridge will send you mental.

Thistlepicker · 19/03/2020 23:08

hale.haltonschools.info/

Lovely school, v small

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