Anywhere to avoid in Hitchin or Hertford?

[coetzeeh]

kingstondc5 said:

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

To be fair most of the country has been earmarked. There is an ongoing consultation for a travellers site close to Fairfield Park but not Arlesey.

[Cyder]

I wouldn't go anywhere near Arlesey personally.

[coetzeeh]

Cyder said:

I wouldn't go anywhere near Arlesey personally.

Have you got personal experience or lived there recently? Just interested

[Grandad Gaz]

Cyder said:

I wouldn't go anywhere near Arlesey personally.

Depends on how much house you want for the money.

We moved to Arlesey when we married in 1976, because it was cheaper than anywhere else in the area. The brickworks and the land fill site were in full swing in those days, so the high street was not the best place to be!
Stayed around there until moving to Letchworth in 1997.

Personally I like Letchworth. It's come a long way over the last 10 years or so. The paddling pool area has been developed very well recently and is extremely popular with young families (that might be you soon!!).
The cinema has the largest screen outside London (so I am told). London is very easy to get to and the station is pretty much central to all areas of Letchworth.

Hitchin is very popular, hence the high prices. Baldock is quaint, but not all trains stop there. Ashwell is upmarket. Lots of well-to-do commuters live there, but trains stop even less here and the station is not within walking distance if you commute regularly.

The only downside is the A1 in the morning. As mentioned, it's a pain during rush hour. I travel to London in my van now and again and I have to leave by 6am to avoid the traffic.

[anonymous-user]

We used to live in Hitchin a few years back. If I had the choice between the two then I'd chose Hertford without a doubt.

[Cyder]

coetzeeh said:

Cyder said:

I wouldn't go anywhere near Arlesey personally.

Have you got personal experience or lived there recently? Just interested

Yes, we lived in Hitchin up until 15 months ago but spent some time looking there before moving house. We also have some friends who live there and my opinion (and theirs) is that it's a soulless drab place with no central feature and a high proportion of ruffians and perhaps more trouble than you'd expect in a village of that size. No redeeming features to the place that I can think of other than it's cheaper than Hitchin or Letchworth but still close enough to be able to get to either very easily.

[Chris71]

St John Smythe said:

We used to live in Hitchin a few years back. If I had the choice between the two then I'd chose Hertford without a doubt.

That's fortunate... We've just had our offer accepted on a house in Hertford. Been for a couple of nights out there this week too.

[anonymous-user]

Chris71 said:

That's fortunate... We've just had our offer accepted on a house in Hertford. Been for a couple of nights out there this week too.

Great news Chris, whereabouts in Hertford?

[Chris71]

had ham said:

Chris71 said:

That's fortunate... We've just had our offer accepted on a house in Hertford. Been for a couple of nights out there this week too.

Great news Chris, whereabouts in Hertford?

It's on the south eastern tip, near the A10/A414 junction. Bit of a trek into town, but it's a nice house, decent area (one of the reasonably smart roads south of Stanstead Rd) and it has parking and a garage.

As I say, we've ended up spending quite a lot of time in Hertford recently - OH did a gig at Elberts on Friday - and we absolutely love it. Seems to have exactly the sort of balance of 'life' and provincial charm that we were after. Far more nightlife than Letchworth and more amenities than Baldock. It's also a lot closer to work for both of us. And the B158.

[anonymous-user]

Excellent, I think I know wehere you mean - must be south of the Ware Road - one of the roads off Vixen I guess? I know a couple of people round there from when I coached youth football in Ware. As you say a decent trek into town, but close enough, and you're also a very short hop into Ware which also has a few decent pubs/restaurants. Great place for the first step on the buying ladder!

With all respect to Hitchin PHers, the Hertford area is somewhat nicer, and as you say, it has far more going on than Letchworth or Baldock, so I'm sure you've made the right choice - fingers crossed it all slots into place.

For another day perhaps, but Hertford is home to some great pubs and restaraunts, including Baan Thitaya (one of my favourite Thai places, with very authentic food, and black pepper lamb to die for ).

Some great roads and villages around too!

[Chris71]

had ham said:

Excellent, I think I know where you mean - must be south of the Ware Road - one of the roads off Vixen I guess?

Yep. Primrose Drive.

It was only after the viewing we realised a couple of my fiancee's mates lived just round the corner too. All falling into place.

Looks like we're going to be living in a friend's spare room in Cuffley for a few weeks (at least) prior to the move, but it's preferable to taking out a six month contract with another thieving landlord.

[Grandad Gaz]

Congratulations on getting sorted

At least you won't have the A1 congestion around stevenage to worry about now!

Hang on though, isn't the A10 worse in the mornings?

[Chris71]

Grandad Gaz said:

Congratulations on getting sorted

At least you won't have the A1 congestion around stevenage to worry about now!

Hang on though, isn't the A10 worse in the mornings?

Quite possibly. In all sincerity I'm thinking the quiet, twisty B158 will be the better option. That is the other side of Hertford, though, and I'm not sure what getting through the town centre will be like in the mornings.

I believe there's also a warrenous network of unclassified roads between Hertford and Potters Bar/Cuffley/Northaw, from where I can pick up a couple of different main roads into Whetstone.

Either way I may have to upgrade the daily driver to something I can happily spend more time in.

[decadent]

Congrats, think I've seen it on rightmove. Looks a great pad

We looked around that estate too (back in 07).

Hope all goes smoothly.

Whetstone aye, I used to work in the Waitrose when I was 18.

[Mark83]

Chris71 said:

Quite possibly. In all sincerity I'm thinking the quiet, twisty B158 will be the better option. That is the other side of Hertford, though, and I'm not sure what getting through the town centre will be like in the mornings.

I believe there's also a warrenous network of unclassified roads between Hertford and Potters Bar/Cuffley/Northaw, from where I can pick up a couple of different main roads into Whetstone.

Either way I may have to upgrade the daily driver to something I can happily spend more time in.

Driving through Hertford at peak times is not fun. I don't miss it. The B158 is more enjoyable than Gascoyne Way... unless stuck behind a tipper truck.

Congratulations on the new house BTW. I looked at Foxholes too but the walk to and from the train station every day ultimately put me off.

[Kateg28]

Welcome to Hertford Chris.

Hertford is a lovely place to live and hope you both enjoy it.

[Chris71]

Kateg28 said:

Welcome to Hertford Chris.

Hertford is a lovely place to live and hope you both enjoy it.

Cheers, will keep my eye open for a low-flying MR2.

Wish we'd started looking in Hertford earlier to be honest. We had to up the budget a little in the end to make it a reality, but it suits us absolutely down to the ground. Escaping from North London, it'll be nice to live somewhere I actually feel a bit of pride in again.

[Kateg28]

Chris71 said:

Cheers, will keep my eye open for a low-flying MR2.

Wish we'd started looking in Hertford earlier to be honest. We had to up the budget a little in the end to make it a reality, but it suits us absolutely down to the ground. Escaping from North London, it'll be nice to live somewhere I actually feel a bit of pride in again.

We are at the opposite end of town but I shall look out for you too, your yellow chim will be distinctive.

And maybe see you at the Goat sometime?

[Chris71]

Kateg28 said:

Chris71 said:

Cheers, will keep my eye open for a low-flying MR2.

Wish we'd started looking in Hertford earlier to be honest. We had to up the budget a little in the end to make it a reality, but it suits us absolutely down to the ground. Escaping from North London, it'll be nice to live somewhere I actually feel a bit of pride in again.

We are at the opposite end of town but I shall look out for you too, your yellow chim will be distinctive.

And maybe see you at the Goat sometime?

Is that the pub that Rod Leach used to organise a meet at? Will have to head over some time.

Dunno when the Chimaera will make it back up here, but fingers crossed it will be disturbing the peace of suburban Hertford before too long. Got to shift my 924 first as I only have one garage space at the new place.