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Original poster

Swindon/cricklade - advice appreciated!

113 replies

Mum2G · 28/02/2008 14:15

Moving again!

dh accepting a new job in swindon, has anyone any reccomendations for nice villages near swindon, that have good mother and baby facilities, and good primary schools?

Cricklade has been reccommended - any good or bad areas around there that people know of?

Any other nice locations with good schools in or around Swindon?

TIA!

OP posts:
muppetgirl · 01/03/2008 21:37

Yes sorry, did buy from a developer. We did not pay what rightmove say we did. We bought the last house on the road that had fallen through twice, they were desperate to sell. We got carpets and curtains (not great quality but at least it wasn't concrete floors and bare windows)

Parking is a nightmare but we seem to be okay as we have 2 garages with 2 parking spaces. Would definately go to view a house at different times of the day and week to see what the parking situation is before buying.

We lived in an old cottage in Hungerford and it was a 1 1/2 bedroomed thing that is only a little cheaper than what we have now which is 4 bedroomed detached. Yes houses aren't shifting here atm but when you can go to a developer and negotiate a deal, why would you go and pay full price for someone else's house that you would then have to re decorate. We are confident that once the main building has stopped then houses will sell more quickly.

bigwombat · 02/03/2008 09:02

Hope that you're right muppetgirl! We don't want to be in this house forever as the garden is tiny.

I would be up for a Swindon meet-up too.

PrincessPeaHead · 02/03/2008 10:48

mummyplonk before you FGS at me, tell me where on this thread it says she (a) doesn't drive and (b) has a 9 month old baby? Or am I just expected to know, miraculously? And being stuck in Priory Vale in a sea of billions of little boxes, by a ring road, with nothing but Asda in walking distance would make me top myself. I'd much rather live in Wroughton where there is lots going on on the doorstep, a bit of character, access to nice countryside, and and perfectly good buses all over the place.

I put quite a lot of thought into my posts, but you just go and "for god's sake" away if it makes you feel clever

ta ta

chonky · 02/03/2008 11:05

I'd be up for a meet-up too. Bigwombat, I haven't seen you for agggeeesss

bigwombat · 02/03/2008 11:33

Yes - how are you getting on? Could do another 12 Bells evening if you like? (she says nostalgically!)

twotimestrouble · 02/03/2008 21:16

mummyplonk you're right about not being able to drive being a prob in the villages but re socialising - I have to say I live in a biggish village with an excellent primary, buses every half an hour and the biggest social life imaginable! There are literally loads of new parents. Some of these new developments can be a bit impersonal. Towns like Ciren, Malmesbury and Marlborough are fantastic if you're carless.

Wilts · 02/03/2008 21:54

I am also in Swindon, unfortunately though i am in one of the P's!.My biggest concern as others have mentioned would have to be the over subscription of schools within the northern expansion.
Both of my boys attend primary in a village just up the road for from me, with the oldest due to start secondary in September we have the logistical nightmare of getting him to secondary quite a distance from our house to keep him from our catchment school!
I notice you mentioned west Swindon, it certainly wouldn't be my area of choice.

muppetgirl · 03/03/2008 08:02

Yes tiny garden is the reason we'd move plus secondary schools for ds.

Having been brought up in a rural village (1 bus in 1 bus out a day) village and now living in 'box land' I prefer (I can't BELIEVE I'm saying this!) 'box land' atm as I have small children. Our street is full of new people to the area who all want to go and meet people. We have easter egg hunts, street bar-b-ques, hallow'een that is organised adn christmas parties with most of the street involved. There is always someone to ring and/or have a coffee with. We have joined the new David Lloyd gym at the end of the road adn we are up there a lot and have an active social life through that.

I loved the village I was brought up in but my friedns were 4/5 miles away adn my parents had to 'car' me to them or I cycled. Town was 5/6 miles away and I walked or caught the 1 bus out a day. We were all so desperate to learn to drive so we could have mobility and independence. There was nothing to do at all aprat from a friend who had a swimming pool and one who had a tennis court. We rode our bikes everywhere and ran a lot too. I see our family ending up in a fallen down ramshackled house with a large garden but at the moment this new monstrosity suits our young family!

A couple of us were up for a Swindon meet up

-any suggestions as to where?

muppetgirl · 03/03/2008 08:04

sorry for the really bad spelling!

Heifer · 03/03/2008 08:44

PPH - when I said GOOD restaurant I really should have said decent restaurants..

There really are a few that would be perfectly adequate for a normal Saturday night out type of meal.

The Bank - in Old Town (Wood Street)
Tapas Bar (opposite The Bank)(can't remember the name)
Mexican in Devizes Road (can't remember name)
Biblob Indian (Wood Street)
Fabios (although have to admit to not actually been there for years and years)
and
Pizza Express (I like it half empty)

These restaurants are comparable to the ones you have mentioned admittidily but really are ok for a decent meal out.

I personally would never have lived in either North or West Swindon. Lawns, Old Town and Old Walcot areas are the best in my book - you can walk into either Old Town or New Town for any of these areas.

None of the secondary schools in Swindon are particulary good, but it all depends on where you are currently living and what your expectations are. I would say the best are Commonweal, Highworth, and Bradon Forest.

I am really pleased that Swindon will be getting a new town centre - as currently it is the pits... (and my nearest town centre now is Birkenhead so I know what I am talking about)....

Is private secondary school and option for you? If so then I would always pick Dauntseys School in Devizes..

Good luck with your move, and yes there are lots of nice places in and within Swindon.....

mufti · 03/03/2008 09:27

i would add connies, parasol, and rendezvous to that list, all very good chinese/thai restaurants

Heifer · 03/03/2008 09:36

Oh and talking of Thai - Pom Poms (or similar, in Old Town (above - excellent for any occassion.

Original poster
Mum2G · 03/03/2008 10:00

Thanks ladies! Just about to start ringing round now to do some viewings as we are going next weekend to have a look round. Are definately going to look for a new build, then can spend more time with ds and less on heating bills!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mum2G · 03/03/2008 10:01

btw, hope all had a lovely mothers day!

OP posts:
wannaBe · 03/03/2008 10:13

bigwombat the new school is def going ahead. also Katherine waite (sp?)/abbey meads are going to both become two form intake schools to accomodate the over subscription issues.

north swindon definitely had infrastructure. I live in abbey meads and there is a tesco/vet/hair dressers/doctors/dentist/primary school a 10 minute walk from my house. A further 5 minutes away is an asda/jjb sports/boots/homebase/comet/next and they are currently putting in a m&s (opening in august ).

Also public transport is good compared to west Swindon for eg, we get 4 busses an hour although if you're up in st andrew's ridge that is set to change in May.

Muppetgirl a friend of dh's also got a 40k "discount" off the purchase price of his house, but when he came to sell it it was valued at 20k below what he actually paid for it . houses in n Swindon are struggling to sell, initially I think that priory vale had a lot to do with that, re offers etc, but now even a lot of the building work there has been stopped because the new houses aren't selling either. Think the economy is just slow atm.

Look out for me if you come up to abbey meads school - I'm easy to spot - just look for the guide dog .

muppetgirl · 04/03/2008 10:33

Have just got back from my visit to Abbeymeads and I have to say the ofsted report does not do it justice. The children were polite, on task and happy in theri environment. The Head is focussed and determined but seems to care very much for her charges.

I was wrong about my first impressions

...is that a first? A mnetter admitting she was wrong???

McDreamy · 04/03/2008 10:34

lol glad it went well muppetgirl

DH and I are very interested in the house in Purton....my mum and dad are off to see it for us at the weekend I hope!!

Swindon (area) here we come!!!

mufti · 04/03/2008 13:30

i have lived in purton too McDreamy, back in the day, don't ask how long, but it was green fields between swindon and purton, believe it's all houses now.

chonky · 04/03/2008 20:27

Forgot to say, according to The Sunday Times in Feb, Swindon is ranked (#17) in the top 20 recession proof towns in the UK. Not bad eh?

Times survey

wannaBe · 04/03/2008 20:33

glad you had a good experience muppetgirl was this with a view of your child starting there?

Original poster
Mum2G · 04/03/2008 22:07

Interesting survey Chonky, good to hear about the school muppetgirl, got lots of viewings booked up for the weekend thanks again for your help!

OP posts:
muppetgirl · 05/03/2008 21:23

Hi Wannebe yes it was, we didn't get our 1st or 2nd choice schools and we worried by the ofsted of this wone as we hadn't cosidered it -nothing bad, just picked the first 2 schools that were nearest as naively thought we would get in.

He's still going to the private school as dh has put his foot down (deosn't that often which is why I let him when he does!)

But I was wrong in my intial impressions about abbemeads.

muppetgirl · 05/03/2008 21:23

WannaBe -sorry!

Martha200 · 26/03/2008 20:37

Just thought I'd add have started a thread on meet ups, seems to be quite a few of us in the area, apparently the last one was 2 yrs ago with 3 Mnetters!

PanicPants · 26/03/2008 20:49

PP whispers I love Swindon actually

I was born here so am probably biased. I spent 5 years living in Devizes and although I enjoyed my time there I would have to agree with the 'odd' comment further down

Do avoid the 'P' areas, but lots of lovely country pubs within 10 minutes drive, some good schools all over Swindon, you just need to look at OFSTED reports to judge.

I did prefer Swindon before the huge developments of Abbymeads, Priory Vale etc which are hideous imo, just boxes with NO gardens at all. It really is amazing at how many properties they can squeeze into a tiny space.