Witham, Essex

Santho

Hi

I am a first time buyer with a young family and am looking to purchase my first property possibly in Witham. I have read mixed things (some not too great things) about the area and just wanted some up to date, honest feedback.

I don't class myself as a snob and understand that every earea has it's 'not so nice' parts.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks:)

rdr

i live in Witham, it is a good place to live, quiet, good shops, good public transport and road links (apart from when the A12 is choked).
The primary schools are mostly good but the secordarys were both closed down and reopened as adadamies, fortuately both were in the last batch of schools to be rebuilt before the program was stopped.

jules-2005

I live in Witham too and have done all my life. If you want to pm me with links to houses I can tell you if they are on good or bad estates. I've got school age children and there some very good schools here.

The town centre is not very good for shopping anymore but you have Chelmsford and Colchester with a good selection of stores. We have morrisons, tescos, farmfoods, iceland and a small asda for groceries.

Anything else you want to know ... please ask

hazyjo

I stayed there a year or so ago and it wasn't quite the quaint place I was expecting. Looked like the High Street is struggling...

Do you want recommendations for alternative areas, or are you considering there for a reason? Budget? Station/commute?

Jx

clarabelle41

Maldon isn't far away either and their High St is certainly better now than when I moved away 14 yrs ago,a mix of chainstores and independent shops, leisure centre, the 'prom' park - great for kids when weather good, Madison Heights has softplay area, bowling, roller rink.

hubblebubble

I would say look at other places. Kelvedon and Hatfield Peverel are either side of Witham and have better schools (both Primary, and feeders to excellent Secondary schools) and have train stations and not far from A12 too.
Witham is definitely cheaper to buy a place, but location,location,location as they say.
There is a reason why its cheaper............

phoebe1989seb

From 2007 until we sold in 2011 we lived in the Colchester area and occasionally had reason to visit Witham. Although I know nothing about schools in the area, the High Street didn't have the same *vibe* as Maldon for example which always felt like a much nicer place.....just walking around was enough to put me off and it certainly wouldn't be a place I'd choose to buy....

We moved to Essex from the South Coast and didn't have a good experience on the whole, despite buying an amazing house - we didn't research the area thoroughly enough, which was our own fault - so I would reiterate that location is key to everything......buy in the best area you can afford, even if the property itself is not the best

flea72

Tbh witham is in no mans land. It's too big to be a village, but it's not really a town either, due to the lack of shops on the highstreet (go back 20yrs and it was thriving, as soon as woollies went, so did everything else).

If you want to be in mid Essex but not big town like Chelmsford, then I would look at Braintree, Maldon, tiptree, or maybe Colchester if you don't mind going extra 20mins down A12

Santho

hazyjo wrote: »

I stayed there a year or so ago and it wasn't quite the quaint place I was expecting. Looked like the High Street is struggling...

Do you want recommendations for alternative areas, or are you considering there for a reason? Budget? Station/commute?

Jx

Budget and commute are both factors as I work in London. Alternatives would be good as am in the early stages of looking so will try a few areas before making a decision. Thanks

chickaroonee

My friend lives there (moved from London) and likes it a lot.

hazyjo

What size house do you want? What's the budget? Any other major criteria? Schools - for which age?

Would also have suggested Hatfield Peverel, but that's quite a way out too and I'd be looking further in if I had to commute.

Jx