Hi I am thinking about moving to Chippenham and want to make sure we buy a house in a safe area. Are most areas of Chippenham safe? Is the town safe during the day and night? It seems very pretty but its hard to know when you dont know the town! Is there anywhere anyone would advise not living/ anywhere nice?
Thanks for any help!

Hi Sian

It depends what type of home you're after. I'd recommend one of the new build estates for a community feel. Pewsham's lovely and has it's own 'mini centre' with school, shop, pub etc. Or Cepen Park north and south are nice areas. Generally speaking the whole town's crime rate is low and it's a safe place to live, good schools, good transport links. Monkton Park is another nice town centre estate. Let me know if you want more details or have any other questions!

Hill corner road and the top end of greenaway lane were probably the worst in town. It doesn't look so bad these days though. And just along hill corner are some quite expensive properties. I don't think there is anywhere I'd consider unsafe these days.

Hi there, I'd say the Rowden Lane area is a nice area.Houses are nice and it's fairly secluded considering it's off a main road. Rowden Hill can get quite busy and is often subject to road works (it's the main route towards Bath) so that's worth bearing in mind, but as an area you won't have any problems, it's one of the nicer parts of Chippenham (anywhere off Rowden Hill really)

Without wanting to offend i'd say there are some areas around the town that are less desirable, for example, some areas off Hungerdown Lane, or Hill Rise - but they can be good value for money and are getting a better rep. However, that's speaking generally. As for schools most of Chippenham's primary schools are great. Kings Lodge, Queens Crescent, Ivy Lane and Frogwell in particular, but they all do well.

As for large gardens and older properties...try the areas around John Coles Park, Greenway Gardens, Park Lane etc. Or, Sheldon Road area. Or London Road.

Hope that helps, obviously that's all my humble opinion but if you have other Q's let me know.

Hi,
If I were you I would not buy any property in Rowden lane or nearby. There are more risks there than anywhere else in chippenham.

HEALTH RISK. During 2007 developers carried out a soil test on land and it showed the land was not safe, with toxic chemicals such as arsenic and cyanide and hig risk to occuoants of any new homes. The report said that it could not rule out the chemials getting into the drinking water system. The site Brooklands is within the river Avon flood plain and the area does flood when conditions are right.

The developer from Chipping Sodbury concealed these facts and went a head and built the development called Brooklands. People in the area have suffered serious health problems, with severla experiencing organ failures and reports in the press highlight a history of premature deaths from cancers and tumours. The developers concealed all of these facts from purchasers of the new homes and left them with what was described in the press as a toxic Time bomb.

Other land nearby is also contaminated. Now the same developer is planning to build other homes on a development called Rowden Park on more toxic land nearby and within the river Avon flood plain again !. Toxic chemicals do not observe fences. Many areas have high levels of dangerous chemicals including Westcroft, not far from Rowden lane, which the council said in the 1980s should not be built on.

INFERNO RISK. Land at the rear of the public house on the North side of Rowden lane in the gardens of 'the bungalow' which has several government oil pipes (sometimes known as GSSS) running through it which could fracture and cause an inferno. Remember the Buncefield oil pipe disaster ? Despite this there are plans approved to built new homes on this land despite the risk to anyone living there if the pipes should fracture and destroy homes and lives. They can deteriortate and fracture and catch fire at anytime. Who wants to live in a home with these pipes below or alongside your home ? Its Madness to place your family at such risk.

NO INSURANCE COVER - LOSS OF INVESTMENT RISKS. Its unlikely any insurer would insure such homes because of the obvious risks and unlikely that these homes would be able to be re-sold if purchased by the unsuspcting public, a loss of investment is on the cards.

Beware of these high risks to you and your family and children before considering buying any new property in the Rowden area of Rowden lane or at the proposed development called Rowden Park or on land above these Government oil pipes in the gardens of 'the bungalow' on the land on the North side of Rowden lane.

The developers or the council will not reveal these risks but You have been warned. I hope I will enable those thinking of buying a home to avoid the danger areas.