House Hunting - Areas to steer clear of?

CLAWS

CLAWS

CLAWS

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West Midlands
Heya folks. We've been saving furiously since we moved to the big smoke in 2007. We have a sizeable deposit to which we're still adding generously on a monthly basis.

We probably wont start looking until July/August time but we've been looking on rightmove to get an idea of the kinds of properties which would suit us. Hunting for the property isnt too much of an issue, the main thing is the areas we've been looking at. We're looking to move to Essex since it will be closer to where my wife works which is near Liverpool St.

So far we've looked at places like Wickford, Rayleigh, Chelmsford, Witham, Braintree and Colchester. Most of the properties we've seen in these areas are quite nice but my question is what are these areas like as a whole? As I'm Indian, my main worry is racism. I suppose you can say we'll come across racism wherever we go but is it quite prominent in the areas we've been looking at? I've been on the home office website and looked at stats for racist incidents in the UK and Essex seems to be ok. What do you guys think?
 
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CLAWS said:
Heya folks. We've been saving furiously since we moved to the big smoke in 2007. We have a sizeable deposit to which we're still adding generously on a monthly basis.

We probably wont start looking until July/August time but we've been looking on rightmove to get an idea of the kinds of properties which would suit us. Hunting for the property isnt too much of an issue, the main thing is the areas we've been looking at. We're looking to move to Essex since it will be closer to where my wife works which is near Liverpool St.

So far we've looked at places like Wickford, Rayleigh, Chelmsford, Witham, Braintree and Colchester. Most of the properties we've seen in these areas are quite nice but my question is what are these areas like as a whole? As I'm Asian, my main worry is racism. I suppose you can say we'll come across racism wherever we go but is it quite prominent in the areas we've been looking at? I've been on the home office website and looked at stats for racist incidents in the UK and Essex seems to be ok. What do you guys think?
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Move to a predominantly Asian area then?

Seriously WTF!
 
chief barker said:
Move to a predominantly Asian area then?

Seriously WTF!
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I'm sorry but how is that a fair reply.

Why should he be limited to where he lives because of his skin colour/nationality?

There is nothing WTF about it. It's a fair question to ask and if you don't think it is, you need learn about the real world.
 
Having grown up in Colchester, there are a few areas to avoid if possible (just because they're not great areas):

Greenstead - around Greenstead Road, Longridge Road, roads named after trees
White City - Between Ipswich Road (A12) and Harwich Road (just west of Greenstead)
Monkwick - South East, the estate around Monkwick Avenue
Berechurch Hall Road - the new estate to the North of Berechurch Hall Road will be having a lot of social housing - overflow from various London boroughs where there is no spare housing!
Collingwood Road/Trafalgar Road
 
AshD93 said:
I'm sorry but how is that a fair reply.

Why should he be limited to where he lives because of his skin colour/nationality?

There is nothing WTF about it. It's a fair question to ask and if you don't think it is, you need learn about the real world.
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You missed my point entirely. He shouldn't be limited to where he lives!
 
I'm near Chelmsford, its fine. As for racism, I don't even know what to say. Why do you think you will be subject to racism outside London? Have you been to South Essex? Its a mix of everyone.
 
whatever your creed or colour I love you brother, :)

Essex as far as I am aware is a very white area, and can be a bit suspect on people of colour coming into the fold, a bit like Tunbridge wells,

but in saying that, they do like sunbeds there, so if you look tanned you will probably fit in like a ledge :D

as long as your not a flyboy dole scrounger, im sure you and your partner will fit in anywhere :cool:
 
I live in one of the towns you mention and it's changed considerably since I was at school some 12 years ago. We had 1 Indian guy in my year at secondary school, that would be very different today.

However, I'm not asian myself so I have no idea if people are racist. Am I racist? No. Does that help? :)
 
Thanks guys.

I dont want to move to a predominantly asian area because I like there to be a good mix of people. You don't build a community by sticking to your own all the time, I'm a nice guy and I like to get on with everyone wherever possible :)
 
chief barker said:
Move to a predominantly Asian area then?

Seriously WTF!
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I really hate these kind of replies. Unfortunately it's getting more and more common on here.

Can you grow up a little please and actually add something meaningful to the thread. If you don't have anything to add, just don't bother.

Really important question to ask. There's a village not a million miles away from where I used to live. If you were black, your house would be vandalised.
 
I've never noticed any racism in Colchester (Saying that, wherever you go there is always going to be some nob heads with an IQ under 10).

And from working all across Essex, I think Colchester is one of the nicer towns in the area. Being 21 i'm bored of it now, but it is a great places to grow up in, or settle down in.

However, they seem to be putting houses on any tiny bit of green land they can find at the moment, and I think the North Essex area as a whole is going to go to the way of South Essex. Terrible traffic and all the usual problems that come with overpopulation.

Great zoo though! :p

Efour said:
Dont come to Romford, we dont want anymore of your type.


(controversial)
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Don't go to Romford whatever type you are, disgusting place :p
 
Asian? Broad term.

If you are Chinese/Japanese/Korean etc, you are unlikely to experience much racism... strangely they are never seen as a 'threat'. If you are Pakistani/Indian etc, then there it is more likely. (These are my personal observations of living/working and uni in Birmingham/Coventry.)

I think the guy has a perfectly acceptable question of areas to steer clear of.

One thing I would say is that the demographic of such naff area's has probably changed a fair bit in the past few years due to people with 'better' area's only being able to afford places in naff areas. (I see it all the time).

Good luck and I hope you find a great place to buy, in a good area. (Sadly I know nothing of London areas)
 
Megahurtz400 said:
Don't go to Romford whatever type you are, disgusting place :p
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:p

To be fair Ive lived here in Le Rom, Oxford and Abroad and ive got no idea what racial hatred is bubbling below the surface.

Personally i have no idea what the racialist situation is here as we all are poverty ridden, rat infested scum. I dont think the Diseases are too picky on their next hosts skin colour or dinner preferences. :p
 
Confused said:
Having grown up in Colchester, there are a few areas to avoid if possible (just because they're not great areas):

Greenstead - around Greenstead Road, Longridge Road, roads named after trees
White City - Between Ipswich Road (A12) and Harwich Road (just west of Greenstead)
Monkwick - South East, the estate around Monkwick Avenue
Berechurch Hall Road - the new estate to the North of Berechurch Hall Road will be having a lot of social housing - overflow from various London boroughs where there is no spare housing!
Collingwood Road/Trafalgar Road
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Having worked in Colchester 2 days a week for the last 12 years, I would agree these areas are less than desirable places to live. That & the fact the Council have banned cars from the High street between 11am & 6pm. :mad:

To the OP, the towns you have mentioned are all OK places to live but all are commuter towns & property prices will reflect that. If you are willing to drive into any one of these towns I'd look at villages close to these towns or even villages along the southminster line.

wiki link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crouch_Valley_Line
 
When you say Asian do you mean east Asian like Chinese because that is what I consider Asian, Indians and people from the middle east I don't consider Asian. either way it won't matter this is England there are no racist areas towards a non whites. now if you were white British and asked the question firstly it would be considered racist to even ask the question. can you imagine if I said, I am looking to buy a house in east London but I am concerned about racism. I woukd be tenp banned right a way. I would recommend moving to ilford or barking as you won't need to worry about racism then.
 
Scougar said:
Asian? Broad term.

If you are Chinese/Japanese/Korean etc, you are unlikely to experience much racism... strangely they are never seen as a 'threat'. If you are Pakistani/Indian etc, then there it is more likely. (These are my personal observations of living/working and uni in Birmingham/Coventry.)
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So basically you're generalising and don't know what you're talking about? The demographic in Birmingham/Coventry is drastically different and bears no resemblance. :confused:

To the op, avoid Colchester if only as everyone I know who commutes to Liverpool Street hates the journey time on the train.
 
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