So its between BRINKLEY and BALSHAM in Cambridgeshire. What do you think?

[TheGabster]

Posted earlier (and many thanks for all replies) as repatriating and looking in Cambridge Saffron Walden area. Have to decide fairly soon and have found a few things but it basically seems to be between these two villages at the moment.

I mean, Brinkley looks very "Vicar of Dibley" but Balsham has more infrastructure/looks like a more practical village to actually live in.

Which village would you choose? And why!!

Bumping for you.

don't know either, looked at a house in Balsham, but it was dark and didn't see the village at all. Can't actually place Brinkley.
Try posting on mumsnet cambridge and see if you get any local responses.

If you can afford it the nearer Saffron Walden the better. Lovely old Market Town.

Ooooo - thanks for the link CS - fab.

CMOC - good point, and well taken.

Wish me luck one and all.

G

Why Brinkley or Balsham? There are lots of nice villages in that area - Weston Colville, West Wickham, West Wratting. I believe the three I've mentioned are all in catchment for the school at Balsham which has a very good reputation and an outstanding OFSTED. You might want to check whether Brinkley is also in catchment or whether any primary school-aged children you have would go to Castle Camps primary, which is much smaller and although good, doesn't have quite the same reputation.

All the villages in the vicinity are pretty close to Saffron Walden (20 minutes or less) and about 25-30 minutes to Cambridge, so good from that pov too.

Although Balsham does have more in terms of having a couple of shops, couple of pubs, it's still fairly out in the sticks in terms of buses, supermarkets (the closest is Haverhill, about 6 miles away) etc. If you have a car I don't think you'd find it too difficult being outside of Balsham and you tend to get a bit more for your money in some of the other villages.

Personally, I would try to actually go and look at houses in a few different villages before making a decision and see how you feel.

Let me know if you have any more questions, I do have some local knowledge as you might have guessed I do know of a few houses which aren't officially on the market but the owners are thinking about it...

Thanks tonnes for your post Daisymoo. My main problem is I am still living in Germany at the moment - repatriating in March (woohoo, can't wait) so am not really in a position to look around.

Really like the sound of Brinkley but am worried as I don't think it has any facilities in the way of shops but at the mo, it is the only place we have found a have decent/affordable place that will take pets. (we had found something in Balsham too, hence the dilemma, but have since found out there is no central heating so that is out of it.)

Desperately trying to find somewhere to live but have a dog (sigh) which is making it hard. Not too worried about schools at the mo as only have one DC at present and he is nearly 1yr so more toddler groups than anything. We are only going to rent for a year or so whilst we find somewhere to buy too so its not such an issue just yet. DH is probably going to work in Cambridge and my family live in Chelmsford so that is why we chose the Saffron Walden area really. The shops and things are an issue for me as I am not a comfortable driver so any other info about the villages between Cambridge and Saffron Walden would be really greatly appreciated.

If you're not a terribly confident driver then somewhere like Balsham might be a better bet as there are definitely toddler groups and a toddler singing group and lots of families with young children.

Have you looked at Linton? It's considerably bigger than Balsham and has a number of shops, more buses, and the doctor is based there too (Brinkley and Balsham don't have doctors' surgeries) Linton also tends to be a bit less expensive than Balsham too. I'd be surprised if there was nothing for rent round there.

If you would like me to go and look at any places and let you know what they're like then I'd be very happy to!

Also meant to say that Linton is a bit closer to Cambridge and Saffron Walden.

oh I like Brinkley. Its about 10 mins from me. But if you want shops etc then Balsham would be better.
Kedington is nice too. Has a few shops (hairdresser, butcher, post office, and a really good general store).

Oh you are a love Daisy, thank you for the offer (of viewings). Yes, I have looked at Linton. Found a few places but they won't take our dog! (hmph) My brother has offered to view any places we are keen on but each time we find something we like there is either something wrong with it (parking or heating or something) or the owners don't like the sound of our dog.

Linton and Balsham seem to be the favourites at the moment.

Had not found Kedington yet though so will look into that (thanks Ecmo)

Do you know if Newport is OK by the way?

I suppose I just have to keep looking but I can't help panicking as we are trying to book a removal agents and at the moment, have no destination address to give them!!

can you come back and stay with your parents and do a hit on places available? You would get somewhere fairly quickly.
Shipping people can store aswell, ours went into storage for 6 months when we came back as we were living in rental and waiting for our purchase to go through.
Did you decide against Burwell?

The downside with Kedington (IMHO) is that it's the other side of Haverhill so commuting into Cambridge would take a fair bit longer. I don't know anything about Newport though, sorry.

Hope you find something. I'll keep my ear to the ground too in case I hear of anything to rent round here.

I would recommend you keep looking at Linton. I may even know of a 3 bed coming up to rent, I would have to ask them about dogs though.

Personally we have thought of moving to Linton (which has a good senior school) but I like the friends etc I have here

Can you stay with family when you first get back and look then? from looking in the papers there is definately rentals about, lots of people desperate to rent their buy to lets or not sell in the current market etc. Avoid Haverhill if you can, it's OK but nicer places to live imo.

All I know about Newport is that it is out in the sticks on the back road to Stansted.

Newport's not exactly the sticks - only a couple of miles outside Saffron Walden. And as for backroad, well, we lived on said backroad (the main street) and it's really quite busy. Personally I wouldn't buy a house on a road that carries that much traffic if I could help it (but I'm very fussy). It's quite a good sized village with a fair number of amenities. Haven't been for a couple of years, but it certainly had primary school, secondary school (grammer), station (direct to Cambridge and London), church, doctor's surgery, village shop, two pubs, fabric/interior decor type place, shop that sold kitchens (guess the latter two may or may not still be existence), petrol station, barber/hairdresser, local garage to fix the car, fire station (!), recreation ground, fab firework display every November (attracting a couple of thousand people every year)..... need I go on???

Thanks Arriety - will consider all of this!

Yes, do fancy Linton everyone but staying with family is absolute emergency fall back as have large do and a DS and it really will be a squeeze. Whilst realise stuff can go into storage I've been down that road before and not keen to repeat with DS under 1yrs.

On the plus side, may have found something in village called Henham, near Elsenham/Stansted so wish me luck. Looks a small village but could be do-able and looks like DH has fallen in love with the house .