Anywhere to avoid in Hitchin or Hertford?

[Chris71]

I know this relates to the previous thread I put up, but as it's a specific question I thought I'd start a new one.

We've mostly been looking for houses in Baldock and Letchworth thus far and now have a reasonable idea of where everything is. We haven't really touched upon Hitchin or Hertford yet and I'm told both have areas you'd probably want to avoid.

So, as per the title, where would you steer clear of? Only worried about rough or anti-social areas, not really looking at other considerations at this stage.(Road names I can find on the map would help as I don't know the estates by name yet!)

[Superbad]

Avoid the Westmill estate in Hitchin, - Westmill Rd, Redhill Road and surrounding roads

[Mark83]

I live in Ware but went to school in Hertford. Sele Farm (Windsor Road, plucked off Google Maps as it runs through the middle of the estate) had a bit of a reputation for housing a few of the troublemakers. Horns Mill at the bottom of Bullocks Lane also.

[kingstondc5]

Hitchin - Purwell and the bit near the industrial estate can be a bit troublesome i believe. Post up the locations your thinking about for more info or have you checked out that crime map thing?

Oh the area by the football club is often target by the s when the fairs in town

[anonymous-user]

Chris, this might help - stats for all of the areas you are considering..

http://www.ebusinessconsultant.co.uk/police-crime-...

BTW is Stortford still a consideration?

[anonymous-user]

Somewhere like this perhaps?

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

If i recall your budget correctly?

[anonymous-user]

Or this, located in a very smart part of town...only 2 bedrooms, but lots of character..

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Happy to pull a few more together if you're interested - let me know!

[jon-]

Superbad said:

Avoid the Westmill estate in Hitchin, - Westmill Rd, Redhill Road and surrounding roads

+1

Also Sunnyside. If the house looks unusually cheap for hitchin it's usually in one of those two areas. Westmill can even look nice in parts, but avoid.

ETA: Avoid jackmans in Letchworth if it's not already been covered, and I believe the Manor Farm area.

[Chris71]

Mark83 said:

I live in Ware but went to school in Hertford. Sele Farm (Windsor Road, plucked off Google Maps as it runs through the middle of the estate) had a bit of a reputation for housing a few of the troublemakers. Horns Mill at the bottom of Bullocks Lane also.

Good to know. Most of the houses we're looking at are in the new(ish) estates on the east side of town, near the A10. Bit of a trek from the town centre and it's suburbia personified, but looks reasonably safe.

had ham said:

Chris, this might help - stats for all of the areas you are considering..

http://www.ebusinessconsultant.co.uk/police-crime-...

BTW is Stortford still a consideration?

Thanks, will take a look.

Stortford is very definitely a consideration for me. I like the look of the houses - in fact I have both the ones you linked to on my list already. But the OH has students/schools in a couple of places along the Moorgate/Kings Cross railway line. As a result she's more into Hertford, Hitchin, Letchworth etc. As long as I get a friendly neighbourhood with parking, a nice garden for a few barbeques (and preferably a garage) I'm sorted. She's the fussy one.

Hertford is probably the favoured option currently, but we're definitely still looking.

With regards Hitchin, I quite like the look of this one on Oughton Head Way/Kent place: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

ETA Most of the other houses in budget in Hitchin were clustered around one area, which didn't look brilliant on Street View. From the description above it sounds like the Westmill type area.

Edited by Chris71 on Wednesday 15th May 12:42

[Mark83]

Chris71 said:

Mark83 said:

Good to know. Most of the houses we're looking at are in the new(ish) estates on the east side of town, near the A10. Bit of a trek from the town centre and it's suburbia personified, but looks reasonably safe.

Foxholes?

[kingstondc5]

Hitchin;
Could be ok but dont know the road;
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Id rule this place out as youd be living near -jon (i believe)
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

This area isnt that bad but maybe on the small side
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

This house neighbours Sunnyside but i know a few 'respectable' people who live here and theyve had no issues;
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

[Chris71]

Mark83 said:

Chris71 said:

Good to know. Most of the houses we're looking at are in the new(ish) estates on the east side of town, near the A10. Bit of a trek from the town centre and it's suburbia personified, but looks reasonably safe.

Foxholes?

I'm not quite sure. I think it's the same sort of area ... Birdie Way. Daft bloody name, but looks reasonable enough on Street Map.

I prefer older houses with a bit more character, but that's not really an option in our price range - at least not for a semi/end-terrace with parking and a garage.

[E30M3SE]

If you're on a budget avoid Hitchin , try one of the villages just outside, you'll get more for your money.

kingstondc5 said:

Hitchin;
Could be ok but dont know the road;
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Cash buyers only probably mean it's unmortgagable due to non standard construction or structural defects.

Edited by E30M3SE on Wednesday 15th May 22:36

Edited by E30M3SE on Wednesday 15th May 22:37

[Chris71]

E30M3SE said:

If you're on a budget avoid Hitchin , try one of the villages just outside, you'll get more for your money.

Alas, SWMBO wants a mainline station within walking distance (personally, I'd go for the most secluded house I could find within walking distance of a good pub...)

[coetzeeh]

Chris71 said:

Alas, SWMBO wants a mainline station within walking distance (personally, I'd go for the most secluded house I could find within walking distance of a good pub...)

Have you looked in Arlesey (next door to Letch and Stotfold)? Mainline station to KX and houses are 20% cheaper than Hitchin or Letch. The villiage had a reputation a decade ago but no more riff raff today than in Letch. Some hidden gems in Arlesey.

[Chris71]

Oh dear god. Thought we were onto something with a house in Hertford. Since my fiancee saw it at about 11am it's sold. We had five possible viewings in Hertford, all surfaced in the last fortnight and all have now sold. Have I woken up in the 1980s?

coetzeeh said:

Have you looked in Arlesey (next door to Letch and Stotfold)? The villiage had a reputation a decade ago but no more riff raff today than in Letch.

You're not selling it to me...

[Tobeman]

I meant to post in your other thread but never got round to it. If it's within walking distance to a station you want, I really can't suggest Baldock enough. I've lived there all my life (bar two years, one in London, t'other in Fairfield Park, Stotfold) and in the value-for-money/distance-to-station/staggering-distance-from-pub stakes it can't be beaten.

Nothing is too far to walk in Baldock, with the exception of places around London Road if the Mrs is planning to walk to the station regularly (it can be a pain, and you get splashed by drivers going through pot-holes along London Road as your approach Tesco roundabout! Doable, a bit of a hike, but not something I'd want to do regularly.

[Chris71]

Tobeman said:

I meant to post in your other thread but never got round to it. If it's within walking distance to a station you want, I really can't suggest Baldock enough. I've lived there all my life (bar two years, one in London, t'other in Fairfield Park, Stotfold) and in the value-for-money/distance-to-station/staggering-distance-from-pub stakes it can't be beaten.

Nothing is too far to walk in Baldock, with the exception of places around London Road if the Mrs is planning to walk to the station regularly (it can be a pain, and you get splashed by drivers going through pot-holes along London Road as your approach Tesco roundabout! Doable, a bit of a hike, but not something I'd want to do regularly.

What are your thoughts on all the developments that are about to spring up?

So far, virtually every attractively-priced house we've seen in Baldock seems to be right next to an area that has planning permission for a zillion new homes. I do really like the place, but I have visions of us losing a quarter of the value of a house if the rolling fields behind it are replaced by 'a tasteful development of 367 bijou modern residences'.

[spikeyhead]

Chris71 said:

What are your thoughts on all the developments that are about to spring up?

So far, virtually every attractively-priced house we've seen in Baldock seems to be right next to an area that has planning permission for a zillion new homes. I do really like the place, but I have visions of us losing a quarter of the value of a house if the rolling fields behind it are replaced by 'a tasteful development of 367 bijou modern residences'.

At least the newcomers will help dilute the inbreeding

[kingstondc5]

Arlesey and fairfield park have been ear marked as a travellers pitch up area.