The village where ‘there is a bit of everything... and people seem to live longer’
SMALL POCKET OF COUNTY WHICH IS ‘NOT TOO ROUGH AND THE PEOPLE ARE LOVELY’
AN area that isn’t “too rough or too quiet” has been praised by the people living there, with one claiming life expectancy is even longer because it is so good.
Some have been there many years. In Bakersfield, where both Carlton and Sneinton are just around the corner, people have told the Post the great things about their area. Reminiscing about places no longer in the area too, people have told us their favourite places to go.
In Bakersfield, the small area has been described as a village. With the NCT Red Line running through the suburb regularly, the area is also home to Nottingham Academy Greenwood Campus and many independent shops.
Paul Lang, 65, has lived in Bakersfield for 22 years. He enjoys walking to the city and is happy his doctor’s surgery isn’t far from where he lives.
Now retired, Paul spoke more about the area and said: “It hasn’t changed a great deal. Now, there’s less trouble kicking off and the reason I moved here is because it was cheap. Now, house prices are just going up and up.
“The Tesco Express is my local, but it would be nice to see more shops and less takeaways, which is the same as everywhere really.”
Paul remembers when the Tesco Express on Oakdale was a pub, but he added: “It wasn’t the sort of pub I’d go to, they didn’t have what I liked. I like local ale and I get that down at the Brickyard in Carlton. Overall, the area is borderline, it’s not too rough and not too quiet.”
Sarah Roades, 47, has lived in Bakersfield all her life. She moved not too far from her family home.
The dental nurse said: “I love the area, it’s so nice. The people, the regular buses.
“There’s a barbershop across from Cox’s pharmacy which used to be a hairdressers. I used to go there and get my hair done all the time.”
Speaking of the things Bakersfield needs more of, Sarah continued: “We need more shops like Jazz’s cornershop. It has everything – and it’s way cheaper than Tesco Express.
“I like that Bakersfield has a lot of independent shops, which I’m all for supporting as much as I can.”
Not too far from Bakersfield in Carlton is Jazz’s convenience store on 248 Oakdale Road. One end of Oakdale Road is classed as Bakersfield, the other is Carlton.
Jasveir Singh, mostly known to everybody as ‘Jazz,’ is the owner of the store. He has worked there for 18 years.
Speaking about what it’s like running his cornershop, Jazz said the best thing about it is the people. He said: “The people are lovely and friendly, it’s a mixed majority here.
“I don’t know what it is about this area, but people seem to live longer, it’s like a small village where everyone knows each other.”
When Jazz first opened, he said there used to be about five more shops like his in the area which have since closed down.
Originally from Yorkshire, Jazz added: “There’s been no big changes in the area. In the shop, the papers used to sell so well but prices have gone up and everything’s online, it’s a new generation.”
When Jazz first opened his shop, there used to be around seven people in the morning doing a paper round, six in the evening and eight on a Sunday.
On his way to Jazz’s cornershop, Ted Solis, 76, has lived in Bakersfield for over 30 years. In his spare time, Ted likes walking and his local is the Bakersfield on Oakdale Road.
He said: “Whilst a lot has changed, a lot hasn’t which I quite like. That suits me just fine. I like the area, I’ve never moved so that says a lot.
“It’s just a nice, quiet area. I go to The Bakersfield a lot, Jazz’s and the Tesco Express.
“The Dale isn’t far so I sometimes walk down there and back up again. There’s a bit of everything here.”