Streetlife

I don't know anyone who lives in Newtown but I do know that a few of the houses down there are used for holiday lets in the summer and maybe longer lets throughout the winter months. With tourists/holidaymakers you sometimes get excited children and you definitely get cars that need to be parked as near as possible to where they are staying. A couple of points worth remembering. Good luck with your research.

Hi Serene, my sister has the last house before the bollard with the drive, she comes down in the summer, it seems quiet apart from the occasional drunk taking a short cut from the pub. There are often contractor vans parked in that narrow road into Newtown and delivery lorries for the Chinese blocking vehicular access to and from Newtown but if you’re not one of the few that have a drive there this probably wouldn't be an issue. She likes Newtown as it's very handy for the shops.

Many years ago we were walking up the Byes a lady asked could she join us, she lived in Newtown the part which is pedestrian - she said it was just nice to just have a talk to somebody because she is surrounded by holiday homes.  Which was so sad.

Sidmouth Seagull, it's rather like that where we live and undoubtedly kills some of the community spirit, I would like to see a special tax levy on second, third etc holiday homes to help protect local communities. 

How would taxing the holiday home owners protect local communities exactly?

Sidmouth Seagull, looks like you are right, according to the DM Cornwall has started scrapping the 10% council tax discount on second holiday homes.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/bills/article-2236318/Second-home-council-tax-discount-scrapped-Cor...  "Second home owners have been criticised across Britain for driving up the cost of property beyond the reach of low-earning local workers. A fortnight ago, union the GMB said under-used holiday homes should be compulsorily purchased by councils in areas with an acute shortage of properties."

Serene

Most places in Sidmouth are friendly and welcoming - if you do decide to come here there are plenty of clubs, activities you can get involved in.  You will get to know people that way.

Don't let this site put you off Sidmouth because it is a lovely, friendly place to live - we tend to only mention the negative things on here.  The things we moan/comment about are trivial.  Perhaps try renting and you can assess an area?

You are very lucky if you get a job in Sidmouth - most people travel to Exeter - which is a plus - because it makes you appreciate "home".  Who am I kidding?

Just thinking, if you are considering Newtown - if you have a car - not the easiest place to find parking.

Good luck

Serene

I have just noticed that you have posted before on this site - I thought you were new to the area, so ignore the above.

I was looking to see what Henry H has been up to and noticed a previous post of yours.

There have been holiday lets in Newtown for quite a few years - I remember renting one for a month in the late 80s.

I can't really see how increasing taxes on 2nd homes - holiday lets - call them what you will can help protect the community. In the case of holiday lets, the owner would simply pass on the increase to the holidaymaker who may then spend less in the shops during their holiday. Shock - horror I hear some of you say.

Some people buy up properties for the permanent rental market which allows locals on low wages to be able to stay in the town. Even if property prices dropped a fair way the average wage here would suffer a similar fate or stand still at best - still not enough for some locals to be able to afford to buy. The take-up of 2nd or 3rd properties is simply not enough to manipulate the market in this area - people want to buy here because it is near the sea - simples.

I wouldn't believe all you read in the Daily Mail.

The rental market in the private sector is quite high - so it is unlikely that locals on low wages would be able to stay in the town.

You often see new terraced homes, flats or semi's on letting agents books at quite a high monthly rental - the housing association accommodation rentals must be lower.  My best beloved stated ,it is to do with interest rates v rental income.

Reading the Daily Mail article - I can't see how targeting second homes will work.  

I have a Doll's House does that count?

This one's for you, Barnacle Bill!

http://youtu.be/5eBT6OSr1TI

Back to the topic:  Wasn't it in Newtown that someone was murdered with a Samurai sword, a few years ago?  Such a quiet-looking neighbourhood...

Anne yes a tragic and pointless murder in Newtown of a peace loving young man, may he rest in peace.

Lol Anne V - just about sums that paper up.

There was another murder near to the Fortfield Hotel many years ago (approx 12 ish), from what I can remember it it was within the family/extended family unit.

Daily Mail ............ pah! Indeed there have been murders in the town ......... the one I believe you are referring to Sidmouth Seagull was very gruesome indeed and really shocked people at the time. Take those with the regular  drugs raids that are carried out ........ the drunken violence in the town centre at weekends ..........feral kids on the streets at night ........... the thefts, shoplifting and burglaries that we are currently experiencing ............... inconsiderate parking by old people, some with blue badges then we're just your normal seaside town. No different from anywhere else along the coast really ............ although I don't think Exmouth or Seaton have had as many murders?

LOL TIAII, I think Serene lives in Sidmouth already, otherwise you'd be doing a pretty good job of scaring her off!
Seriously, I think you have to take any comment/judgment/take on any particular neighbourhood with a pinch of salt; everyone has different expectations of their area and neighbours, so no-one can accurately make any recommendation.

Many people squeal with delight when they visit me; such a lovely house, stylish and well-positioned, tucked away yet close to everything...  The sad reality is that it has recently shifted from a quiet residential area, with lovely retired people getting along the old-fashioned way to a semi-chavvy, let-your-nosy-kids-run wild outside everybody else's houses type of neighbourhood.  

I think unless you really live there all year round, you simply cannot give an accurate picture of what it's like.

Yes there are many different views ........ hopefully my first post was helpful to Serene insofar as it commented on the Newtown area. My last post was based on facts ...... what has happened and what is happening. I hope that it helps other forum readers get a more accurate view of Sidmouth ......... it is not all peaceful seafront strolls and cream teas as others would have you think. I do very much understand why some can only look through rose tinted specs but it does not reflect the whole picture .......... as you seem to be experiencing now.

Sidmouth as a whole - not just Newtown - is not the sleepy quintisentially (?spelling) - seaside town it was when I was growing up (but then we could digress back to the penny sweets thread!). Anyway it has changed as times have changed - some are good some are bad. more people will mean more crime of any sort - but we are lucky that the horrid instances or murder and assault are pretty rare compared to blue badge abuse.
I like living in sidmouth. sidford and sidbury have not really got much to offer unless you have a car and don't mind driving a lot. I've never live in Newtown so don't know what it's like. does it ever get flooded?

Gosh TIAII, with your focus on the occasional bad bits you are sounding like the Daily Mail ;-)

Not at all PL ......... I tend to appreciate the bigger picture and can then take a more informed view rather than a simplistic one.

Well, from talking to my friends and relatives who live in various parts of the country, but no inner cities, our woes still seem very few. And the 'kids' are not feral compared with those who go round in gangs mugging old ladies and others who knife each other.

Yes, some of our younger residents could have more manners and consideration, but so could people of all age groups.

I've got to the age where I don't like people shouting in the street but I can vaguely remember a time when people were always telling me to talk more quietly because the more excited or involved I got the louder I became :-) 

The DM bashers do make me smile as its the most popular on line news site. Me thinks some does protest too loudly. It reminds me a little bit of ABBA, at one stage not many seemed to admit to listening to their music, but most seemed to have a secret album in their collecion  :-) I wonder how many on line DM readers there are on here, I suspect quite a few.

Robin F

It is a bit like the "News of the World" it was the best selling Sunday paper, but how many people do you know admit reading it?

I prefer the I because it is only 20 pence and the news is concise, but I read the Mail too, Telegraph (if it is  political news I want to read about) and I get the Sun on Sunday... the football news/reports are in a middle section and easy to read, together with reality stars whom I have never heard of!

Thank you, everyone.  Very informative.