Anti military?

[dannyandlisainfi]

I am in the military, based overseas, and looking for a place to call my home when I have eventually served my time. To that end we have started house hunting in Atherstone, attracted by the town itself, and what friends in the local area have told us about it. My wife originates from the Birmingham area.

We recently had an offer on a house accepted at full offer price, after a bit of haggling and negotiation. However, this offer was subsequently rejected by the vendor 24 hours later on the advice of his solicitor 'not to deal with the military'!!

This worries me. I tried to get the solicitors details to allow him to substantiate his comments but unsuccesfully. I am sure that for every reason he could give 'against' dealing with the military I could give 10 reasons 'for'.

I would be interested to hear the opinion of the good members of this forum regarding this weird, but real situation.

In the meantime, I am still house hunting and we still really want to settle in Atherstone. Anybody got a house for sale?

[Madhatter]

How very strange!
Do you know if it was an Atherstone Solicitor?
Maybe this is worthy of a story in the Tamworth Herald.

[dannyandlisainfi]

I don't have any details of the solicitor unfortunately. I would imagine an Atherstone or Tamworth solicitor. The estate agent was one of the bigger agents in Atherstone. He had the property marketed by 2 agents. I would love to name and shame on here but not sure it's appropriate. I do know the agents name, and also the name and address of the vendor. I considered writing to the Tamworth Herald.

I accept that who the vendor sells to at the end of the day is his perogative, but understandably angry that we, the military, are treated in this way. They also said that they had an offer over the top of the asking price, but in my opinion that is debateable.

[Madhatter]

Up to you, and as it's factual not opinion I see no reason to remove it unless we're requested to.
What road was it on ?, maybe you've had a lucky escape.

[dannyandlisainfi]

Stratford Ave.

Thankful of any info on where to avoid, or where to look.

Hoping to look at a couple in Barnsley Close and Austin Close. Any comments on area?

Our 'local' friend lives about 3 miles away and she just said 'everywhere in Atherstone is ok'. Is she being over optimistic?

[Madhatter]

Everywhere!
Everywhere is ok but some are more ok than others. Not sure about stratford Ave, I always thought it was ok there although I imagine parking being a problem if you lived in one of the side closes which are also Stratford Ave.
Barnsley Close and Austin Close are on one of the newer estates built about ten years ago. It's a shame that the other forum has just closed because the Paul Turner is from that area, he could tell you more. I doubt he'll answer on here though.
Thats the thing you see, it's ok your friend saying the whole towns ok but I personally wouldn't live in Bank Road or St Mary's road, even though some of the houses are very nice ex council. I wouldn't live in adjacent Kings avenue because of parking problems, unless it had a drive that is.
It's ok me saying I think Barnsley close is ok but I'm sure not everyone would agree. I don't live there and people that know best are the people who live there.
I always recomend knocking on other doors in the street where you're buying and asking their opinions, access, narking, noise, neighbours etc.

[dannyandlisainfi]

Thanks for the info. 8000 miles away at the moment so relying on friends and family viewing and reporting back on the area. Also viewed in Manor Road, theough the actual house itself is probably not for us from the reports we've had back.

[tinfish]

"Everywhere is ok but some are more ok than others."
indeed. compared to a city there is really nothing to worry about, but growing up in Atherstone there were certain areas that I was more cautious of than others. primarily the estate behind the upper school at the top end of long street, saying that i was friends with and knew a lot of people from round there who were all fine.

I lived in barnsley close for about 3 years and confirm its a fairly nice quiet area. the train line runs directly in front of it so try and get a house closer to the canal that runs parallel on the other side of the estate to avoid the noise. Our house backed onto the canal with access which was nice, plenty of nice walks on the golf course, outwoods and canal behind the estate.

Westwood road, the road that leads into barnsley and austin used to have a bit of a reputation; as I understand it was the first place people were housed when removed from 'the slums' that had grown up around long street, a long time ago now. i cant remember what people used to call it now.... china town? shanty town? something like that.. MH do you remember this?

its not beverley hills, but in my opinion there is nothing to fear.

[Madhatter]

The estate behind the upper school is Kings avenue, Bank Road, St Mary's. I grew up on that estate, Queens Road, about the best road and the only one I'd buy a house on but then you get the school kids 5 times a day past the front window.

Westwood road was called China town, I think after the Pub The westwood which was there first and got knicknamed The Shangi, a name now reintroduced by the present owner as an official name of the restaurant part - The Shangi steak house. I've heard good things about that.
I've never heard anyone say anything bad about Barnsley close (not to be confused with Barsby Close, thats on the other side of the railway and isn't private anyway), John Sargeant used to live in the corner at one time and they never said anything bad either.

Manor Road is part private part industrial, part garages, part council, part Housing Association. The private houses seem ok but I have no idea if people living there have any problems with people passing through.