Anyone from Southend/Essex?

Bungarm2001

....but most importantly of all, by moving to Southend you can come and join us Seasiders down Roots Hall and support the greatest football team there ever was!!
"Southend-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, the longest pier you'll ever see"

Seasiders??? blimey, when I lived there it was the Shrimpers! Me and my family had ties with the football club social club that go back years. My Dad and his band used to do a lot of the entertainment at the social club in the early 60's.....

In my thirties, I lived in a flat right behind Roots Hall...we could just see one of the goal ends from a top window...great for when Spurs played there one year! (my family were originally from North London and always supported Spurs)

Yeah I do miss the weather...Wakering was or maybe still is officially the driest part of England. We now live in was IS officially the wettest part :eek:

The other thing I DID love about Southend were the nightclubs. In my thirties, when I was finally free and single, it was great to go out on Saturday and choose which one to go to...at one time, there were more nightclubs there in one square mile than in the same area in the west end of London..some of the pubs are great too, but the ones along the seafront are to be avoided, particularly in the summer season...aaaah yess...happy memories!! I even remember the Kursaal before it became a huge housing estate full of chavs...:p

Good idea from another poster about renting. It will definitely give you more time to test the water (pardon the pun!)

All the best with your decision...Southend and the surrounding area? You'll either love it or hate it!

robwend

yes wakering does still get the least rain still ,lol funny, not really sure why though lol

Pauper_Princess

Thanks again for all the replies peeps!!

Been too busy since the weekend to sit down properly with OH. We're kind of flitting back and forth between this and Scotland (where OH has a fantastic family).

There seems to be a lot of people who've moved away and said they won't go back which is kind of worrying me a bit!!

We need to make a decision asap cos we need to decide what we're doing with this house. Oh, thanks to the people who've suggested renting out for a while, but :eek: Wayne and Waynetta Slob wouldn't tolerate living here right now, honestly!!!!

Thanks again all

harryhound

Seriously though, the Thames estuary has the lowest housing and living costs of any of the home counties. Over on the other side in Kent, it can be similar but the train services to London are worse. (Ebbsfleet here we come? Thurrock refused to talk to the rail link developers).

Be a bit careful of getting into Thames Gateway territory, as the Government has plans to stuff it with new building. I would try to live in a town or village that is likely to be untouched by the Gateway proposal or one just outside its boundaries. You would then get the advantages of the development but without the hassle of being in the middle of a development site.

I enjoy my standard of living with a view of Canvey (under water at high tide and rush hour problems of getting on and off the island - however if you cannot afford the Sydney Opera House you can go to the The Labworth restaurant on the sea wall at Canvey).

Is in better to reign in hell or serve in heaven ?

Here is a glossy guide book to the Thames Estuary. You could rent first (while house prices drop?) and go on serious explorations in your spare time.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/thamesgateway/pdf/152783

Essex-girl_2

I am a Essex Girl and very proud of it. Lived in Leigh on Sea since I was 7 and moved out to dengie countryside 3 years ago.

Totally love Leigh but moved because we wanted to live in a more rural area but still near the water. Leigh is fantastically dear - Southend cheaper but I didnt want my kids growing up there.

Southend Sorting Office has been under the threat of closure for years now.The sorting office at Boreham is massive - if you are serious about moving down here - I would look at Chelmsford and surrounding areas as well as Southend.

djbd1973

harryhound wrote: »

Be a bit careful of getting into Thames Gateway territory, as the Government has plans to stuff it with new building. I would try to live in a town or village that is likely to be untouched by the Gateway proposal or one just outside its boundaries. You would then get the advantages of the development but without the hassle of being in the middle of a development site.

I enjoy my standard of living with a view of Canvey (under water at high tide and rush hour problems of getting on and off the island - however if you cannot afford the Sydney Opera House you can go to the The Labworth restaurant on the sea wall at Canvey).

Here is a glossy guide book to the Thames Estuary. You could rent first (while house prices drop?) and go on serious explorations in your spare time.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/thamesgateway/pdf/152783

I agree with HarryHound - the government are building on every green piece of land they can find at the moment so if you are looking to stay in the area for a number of years then look at all the plans for development. Also, the fact that Canvey is below sea level is an indication as to why the housing is cheaper there but it does have its advantages and disadvantages just like everywhere else.

Wemie

Hi there,

Im 31, with 2 kids, 4 and 9. I grew up in Eastwood and moved to Southend (about 10 mins by car away) 10 years ago. I have never had any problems here, my house is in the ss2 area. Its a 10 min walk down the hill to the seafront. Great to take my dog out on the mud when the tide is out. We have a 3 bed house, but are putting a 4th room in the loft (big high ceilings). Our house ould sell for about 250k.

Anyway to my point!!

No one has mentioned Schools!!!

My kids went to Bournemouth Park Primary and we took them out this year!!! The are now at a Private School, because all the schools in Southend are !!!!!! quite frankly!!! There is 4 in my area and all give or take are all the same.

I would like to move to Leigh now and if i was moving here first time then thats where i would go. Houses are more exspensive, but a better area. And the schools are a lot better to, West Leigh is the best one there.:D

Thats ofcouse if you are plaining to have kids ??

TediousPhoenix

Have you thought about Chelmsford and surrounding areas in Essex? I much prefer this area to the Southend area.

You'd have a different line into London (Liverpool Street) and it'd take about 35 minutes. The area is more expensive though.

Chelmsford has a sorting office too. A big one!

You won't struggle getting a good, well paid job if you are an accountant. I used to work for Baker Tilly in Chelmsford. They simply couldn't hire good people, even for quite a fair bit (they still advertise on Chelmsford station!). Particularly in the audit department, but that's the same everywhere you go. You don't even have to work in London. Train fares are one thing to consider though. An annual All Zones season ticket is £3620. But you will earn more in London, naturally.

kcmatt79

Wemie wrote: »

Hi there,

Im 31, with 2 kids, 4 and 9. I grew up in Eastwood and moved to Southend (about 10 mins by car away) 10 years ago. I have never had any problems here, my house is in the ss2 area. Its a 10 min walk down the hill to the seafront. Great to take my dog out on the mud when the tide is out. We have a 3 bed house, but are putting a 4th room in the loft (big high ceilings). Our house ould sell for about 250k.

Anyway to my point!!

No one has mentioned Schools!!!

My kids went to Bournemouth Park Primary and we took them out this year!!! The are now at a Private School, because all the schools in Southend are !!!!!! quite frankly!!! There is 4 in my area and all give or take are all the same.

I would like to move to Leigh now and if i was moving here first time then thats where i would go. Houses are more exspensive, but a better area. And the schools are a lot better to, West Leigh is the best one there.:D

Thats ofcouse if you are plaining to have kids ??

Oh, would have to agree with you there, as my friend is a teacher there!!

Anyway, I just wanted to pick up on a point someone made earlier. I live in Chelmsford where there is the massive sorting office. My brother in law was a postie in Rochford (just outside Southend) and he was made redundant a few months back. The other poster may be right that Chelmsford would be better for postie jobs.

Personally, I think Chelmsford is nicer too. It was actually ranked 8th in the best towns to live in England just this year. And the schools are pretty good. I grew up in Basildon (quite near to Southend). Leigh is lovely, but pricey. Chelmsford can be pricey depending where you go, but if you're into rural, there are some truly beautiful villages around here. Average 3 bed semi here probably around the £210k mark. This is in the nicest areas (other than town which is riduculously expensive)

Hope this helps.