Choose Chesterfield. (Chesterfield in General)

Member Name: sahmraw

Product:	Chesterfield in General
Date:	27/12/01 (120 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Clean, Friendly, Attractive

Disadvantages: High unemployment, cobbeld streets no good for mobility scooter, expensive to park

One of England's hidden glories is the Market town of Chesterfield. Situated just a few miles south of Sheffield, Chesterfield sits on the borders of Derbyshire, South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. With the M1 running alongside, Chesterfield could be your first choice of home if you commute to nearby cities.

I moved to Chesterfield in April 2001 from the dump city of Coventry. Whay a difference. Despite being only one of the 500 ethnic families in this town, I was instantly accepted. There's no racism! It's true! People up here accept you at face value; colour, religion or any "difference" is irrelevant.

I used to live on a council estate in Grangewood Farm. Unlike Coventry, council estates are clean, happy and friendly. You don't find the same problems with drugs, prostitution and vandalism as much here. You can raise a family very happily.

Chesterfield is right on the doorway to the Peak District. Just 15 miles to the West is Matlock. This is the home of Gulliver's Kingdom: an amusement park for tinies.

The range of shops and services in Chesterfield competes very favourably with any major city. However, there are a lot of good value shops which allow you to live cheaply in this town.

The whole town is clean. Even the council estates! The old-fashioned market square has retained its charm, and the horse-drawn cart that collects the market day rubbish is both environmentally friendly and authentic. On a Thursday there is a flea market where you can find hidden treasures galore.

Chesterfield is most famous for its crooked spire on top of Saint Mary's Church. It's a landmark and very attractive to look at. The Chesterfield Canal is also a gem, running boat trips every Sunday.

Chesterfield has only one disadvantage. There is a shortage of employment. This means that a large proportion of the population is unemployed. Yet despite this there is very
little
crime. Unlike Coventry, where there are plenty of jobs, Chesterfield is safe to walk in at any time.

The traffic wardens are lovely. They will chat with you and are fairly reasonable about parking if you are polite to them. There is quite a lot of parking, but even the retail parks are within walking distance of the city centre. The bus and train service is excellent and the air is not overly polluted.

There are a lot of eateries in Chesterfield, and several night clubs. You can walk around at night without feeling threatened, as most people have very good restraint, even when intoxicated.

The health services are exemplary. My daughter was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at her first paediatric appointment in Chesterfield. She was 13 months old. Coventry had never made any diagnosis of her condition although she was very ill from birth. Now my daughter is 3 and a half years old and attends Stubbin Wood Special School. The support networks are great. Prior to this she attended the Child Development Cntre, where they held special nursery groups for child with Special Needs.


People are so friendly. I have made so many friends since I have moved here. In 4 years I made about 2 friends in Coventry.

I would heartily recommend Chesterfield as both a place to visit and a place to move to.

I know live in the charming town of Bolsover, just 6 miles from Chesterfield. But that's another review!

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