Street named best in country to start family
AROAD with pretty parks, top schools and beautiful countryside on the doorstep has been named the best in the country to start a family.
Shrigley Road in Bollington has come out top for starting a family in an index covering 1.8million postcodes across the country.
The survey by property research tool PropertyDetective.com factored in the quality of schools, nurseries and childcare providers, crime rates, population density and green spaces.
Young families on the quaint semi-rural street say they are happy living there – in the town known perhaps unsurprisingly as ‘Happy Valley’.
Jennifer Murray, 31, husband Richard, 35, and son Nathan, 16 months, moved to the road five months ago. Richard runs wood products firm Eyewood Designs on the road too.
Jennifer said: “It’s great that Shrigley Road has been named the best place to start a family, but we’re not really surprised. We love living here.
“It’s got fantastic facilities, parks and amenities, is close to the canal and Middlewood Way but still close to shops too.
“We’ve heard good things about the schools and Bollington has great community spirit.”
The data also produced the top ten best places to raise a family, topped by Bentley’s Farm Lane near Warrington. Poynton was named the best place to be as a compromise between the two titles.
The South East of England fares less well, with just a handful of locations within easy commuting distance of London making the top 100.
Karen Lomax, 47, who lives on Shrigley Road with husband Neil and sons Lewis, 13 and Regan 16, said her sons enjoyed the outdoor space when they were growing up.
She said: “There are parks and places to walk but you can also get to Manchester easily.
“The nurseries and schools are wonderful. It’s a great community and people look after their properties here.
“Coming out top in the survey gives a sense of pride in where we live.”
Louise Eyre, 42, has lived with husband Adam, son Tom, 14, and daughter Hollie, nine, on Shrigley Road years.
Louise said: “We lived in Bollington before and up-sized to Shrigley Road because we like it so much.
“Its amenities, schools, recreational activities and social life for adults are all fantastic. It’s quite rural and we’re close to parks and White Nancy. We’re really happy living here.”
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