What is Ashford like?

PatrickC

Firstly, apologies if this is the wrong section I've no idea where best to ask!

I'm looking at moving from London to Ashford in the new year and commuting in (I'm fine with the cost and time) because we want to start a family in the next fees years and what drew us to Ashford is upon visiting its a very green area, everyone seemed pretty nice and polite, more laid back life style and good transport links. Howeve, since we'veread a few disgruntled stories online and it'd a bit worrying. Does anyone live there or know it well enough? Were looking around Park Farm/Kings north. Is it a dump? Were moving from east London where there's chavs on the corners every night and noise and sirens regularly but we've never had any trouble personally. Is it only chavvy to those use to quieter places or is there a genuine problem? Would really appreciate any views or opinions. Even suggestions on where to find out more!

Hope some can help, thanks in advance

Johnnytwostep

horrible..............

martinsurrey

booksurr wrote: »

for the sake of clarification you mean Ashford Kent, not Ashford Middlesex?

or Ashford Surrey...

but Park Farm/Kingsnorth are area's of the Kent Ashford.

Personally after visiting Ashford Kent, I promised myself not to return unless under duress

PatrickC

Ashford, Kent yes. Any reason for these thoughts and opinions? When we've visited its seemed nice and quiet most people were polite it was polar opposite to London life. What areas did you visit and why the negativity?

vansboy

Isn't that town actually owned by the Buy To Let Baroness and her husband, who were making 'fortunes' years ago, re-mortgaging and re=re=mortgaging?

She was a maths teacher, or similar clever with figures woman, who in a tv doc, about them, said house prices double every seven years. They were filmed driving along, him saying 'we own that one, that one that one...and then dancing around together, in another new build, singing 'we've bought another house!!'

I didn't pay much attention to them until they decided to issue notices to quit, to all their Housing Benefit tenants during the winter.

Not sure what the outcome, but I'm sure there are many people who were then made homeless, that will not like the area.

Plus a few who feel that the benefits payments actually funded their empire, to a degree.


edit...here they are http://www.theguardian.com/money/2010/mar/06/buy-to-let-fergus-judith-wilson
VB

kirtsypoos

I lived in Ashford for a while during my time at Uni, with an Aunt and Uncle of mine.

I loved it and would happily move there if I could ever afford it.

Running_Horse

Johnnytwostep wrote: »

horrible..............

Trashford isn't that bad. Obviously the usual areas to avoid, like Stanhope. It won't be so much a case of chavs on every street corner, but there will probably be normal teenagers. The sleepy little market town has expanded beyond all recognition in recent years, and many like you many have decided to set up family there. Their cute little babies grow up into bored adolescents looking for something to do. But the same could be said about almost any nice town that attracts families. New village/town Kings Hill (near West Malling) has some of the wealthiest demographics in the country, but not much to keep young ones amused.

PatrickC

Vansboy, I'm not really sure why that's relevant? Is that just the reason for people slagging it off then.

Kirstypoos, that's good to hear. Were there any areas to avoid or were particularly nice? We're looking in the Kings north/Park Farm area specifically at the moment.

Running Horses why is it called Trashford then? I understand teens get bored but that happens up and down the country. Where I grew up in central east London teenagers were also getting bored. And robbing and stabbing each other. I keep seeing all this talk about chavs but if its just bored teens messing about (granted a nuisance in itself) it'll still be the peace and quiet we are looking for. I don't really know the areas or where Stanhope isn't too far from Kingsnorth where we were looking, are there any areas you recommend?

pmlindyloo

I live between Maidstone and Ashford.

Both towns have run down areas but also all of the big stores in various locations.

Like most big towns there are areas which are not to be recommended and others which are fine.

Ashford has seen some pretty big housing developments in the past years and if this is what you want then fine.

Depending on your budget and what kind of area you want to live in, there are some lovely villages on the outskirts of Ashford and Maidstone - some with stations - so you need to do a bit of investigation if you prefer the country life. Spend some time googling/looking at the map/rightmove and then spend a weekend somewhere in between and have a drive around.

vansboy

PatrickC wrote: »

Vansboy, I'm not really sure why that's relevant? Is that just the reason for people slagging it off then.

The article in the link showes what it has caused as far as values and availabilty of properties was like, fllowing their 'cashing in'.

VB

nic_santorini

Ashford town centre is not all that, but the two housing estates are fine. I have a few colleagues live there and it is on the high speed rail link to london. lots of nice villages surrounding it. Kennington village nice. Lots of the towns in Kent are !!!!! holes, maidstone, Dartford, Ashford, Chatham, Gillingham to name a few. There are pockets of the Garden of England, just find these to live in and don't go shopping in the crap areas as these are really full of unemployed, over eating, buggy pushing, benefit scroungers.