Moving to Penzance

[confused232]

What is it like as a place to live? Is it full of holiday homes or is there an actual community?

Also (and very importantly) what are schools (both primary and secondary) like? We have a two year old DS so it’s a massive consideration for us.

Re fishing: a huge proportion of the Cornish catch is sold to the EU. Leaving with no agreement or market is suicide. All the fish you can catch in uk waters but no market for them! But that’s Cornwall for you!

As for housing costs, I can assure you that teachers, doctors, nurses, civil servants, local government workers don’t get £21,000 a year. There are national pay agreements and performance related pay. There is some downward trend in wages for professionals in areas away from London but Cornish workers can earn good money if they wish. The Simon Reeve interviewees did not wish to.

Honestly op. If you want that far away you do really need to go to find out what it’s like because your needs vary from mine. I like prem league football. The Royal Opera House. London theatre. Availability of other high quality sport and culture that isn’t “local” to my area such as exhibitions. The beaches don’t make up for that. If they do for you and it’s the sort of life you want, then grab it. It won’t be a mistake for you but you simply cannot find out lots of things until you get there.

Don’t understand the attitude of some posters on this thread.

So I’m from Cornwall originally. I plan to retire there. We are buying a property to retire to in ten years time. We will rent it out as a holiday let for the next ten years.

When I retire, I’d like to volunteer my skills in local schools. I’m professionally qualified in a field with shortage skills and long waiting lists. I’d be giving my skills for free after retirement, partly to avoid going crazy, party to give to the community.

For the ten years we rent the property out, we’d like to give a set percentage of our profit to the local school towards the school fund.

And this is apparently patronising?

We are buying the place from an investor who has given nothing to the local community. We just marginally outbid another investor who had never set foot in Cornwall and had no connection to it but is gathering similar properties in the south west for his ‘portfolio.’

So what can I do to appear less patronising? Not buy it? Not give money to the local community? Wouldnt I then be accused of ‘giving nothing to the community?’

Honestly. Give your heads a wobble. I currently live in an area where local twenty somethings are out priced on the property market - it’s not unique to Cornwall.

@CountessFrog but here it's not just 20 somethings it's much wider. My DP just bought his first house (with me) and he's 40. His exW and her partner are still renting (they're both teachers) and they can't afford to buy a house in the town they teach.
A colleague at work bought his first house when he was well into his 40s.
We both work FT and we couldn't afford a big enough house, the closest one was in Cambourne which would have added 90mins to our work and school commutes.

Salaries here don't reflect how expensive the housing market is, particularly in some areas.

Saying that where you live people in their 20s can't buy a house is definitely patronising.

So what can I do to appear less patronising? Not buy it?

Errr. Yes. Or alternatively buy it and rent it to young local people at below market rate for the 10 years you aren’t planning to live there so that they can save for a house deposit.

Just don’t kid yourself that you Have some moral high ground over the investor. You are still taking a home from a local family.

DH and I are going to have a look (when we’re allowed within the coronavirus restrictions) when we can and will go from there. I’m not sure it’s the place for me to honest, but am prepared to visit with an open mind!

I moved to Cornwall 2 years ago. I absolutely love it. It is what I want at my stage of life- early 50's. I now run my own holiday business rather than on the corporate hamster wheel. No hideous commuting and where I live is breathtaking.

With a small child you will make friends because of all the clubs etc you can go to. All the women with kids in my village are very friendly with each other.

If you actively do things and be part of the community you will be accepted. There is an element of ' keep Cornwall for the locals' but it is a minority.

Why does your husband choose Penzance?

@confused232 I’d recommend checking out Falmouth too while you’re in Cornwall.

Thanks @Movinghouseatlast. He’s alighted on Penzance because it ticks most of our boxes - it’s on the coast, near to nice beaches, within our budget, looks like a pretty, historic town and there seems to be quite a lot going on culturally. Do you know the town at all? I am concerned as from what I’ve read there does seem to be a big drugs problem in the area. I know that’s the same with a lot of seaside towns though.

@Debradoyourecall Falmouth is gorgeous but a bit of a stretch for us financially!

@confused232 have you looked at the Penryn area of Falmouth? A lot of families live there as it’s a little bit cheaper.

I lived in Penryn for many years. I still have to go the for school runs. Every time I go there I'm glad I don't live there anymore. (And it isn't that cheap anyways).

@Debradoyourecall thanks - no I haven’t, I will have a look! I don’t suppose you know Penzance at all?

@Fressia123 oh! Why is that?

I'm a city person quiet Cornish life is definitely not for me.

@Fressia123 why did you end up living there out of interest - did your DH persuade you?

@confused232 I’ve visited a couple of times but only for a few hours, I don’t know it well enough to tell you what it would be like to live there sorry. There are so many beautiful places to visit here that I don’t end up going that far down very often.

It's rough... People smoking outside of the primary school. The houses look depressing, there is no community life. Everybody complains about the students (I don't mind them!) Etc... It's as grim as it gets.

Yes, my exH got promoted to head of school at the university, my job was remote so apart from not wanting to be here at all (my friends are all in London) he gave me an ultimatum.

Life in Truro is 1 million times better. Yes, it's still Cornwall but at least it has a lot of more life to it.

@Fressia123 thanks for that - I don’t suppose you know much about Penzance?

Sorry, I haven't been to Penzance!

If you like remote etc then a village nearby- so you could be close enough to get to cultural activities- would maybe be better?

I do miss culture where I am in South East Cornwall- there is nothing without having to travel around 40 minutes and mostly I can't be bothered!

I think you should look at more than just one town. We moved here because we fell in love with the village we live in, but we did look at other places.

Wadebridge is a small town within easy reach of Padstow, Port Issac etc. Might be worth a look? Others have mentioned Falmouth. Looe is another very small town but there is no culture really or townie activities.

You need to prioritise as you won't find absolutely everything in one town. I prioritised being on the coat but walking distance to shop and pub!

I live not far from Penzance and although the town is known for homelessness and drug users you only have to go a mile and you are in stunning countryside. Houses cost less than the Truro/Falmouth area. Also being on the main train line is a great benefit.

As for secondary schools, the local ones have come a long way in the last couple of decades. Humpry Davey, Mounts Bay and St Ives are all fairly close.

Also be prepared to drive everywhere. A trip to Truro can be a whole day out.

No I have only been to Penzance s couple of times. Looks picturesque but a bit sketchy after dark.

Just a thought, have you considered Hayle? It has great history, a great community, is closer to Truro, has beaches and doesn't have the problems associated with Penzance. It's a bit more expensive than Penzance but still a lot cheaper than what you would pay for Truro, St Ives, Falmouth etc.

No we haven’t @transformandriseup - thank you! Any idea what the schools are like?

Around Hayle you have Hayle School which is ok but St Ives and Camborne School have better results and are within 10 miles.

Hayle is an upcoming place. They're putting money into rejuvenating it.

Beaches are better imo more dog friendly

It has primaries and a secondary no real idea what their like though