Residents in the Strelley area of Nottingham have spoken about why they 'wouldn't want to live anywhere else' despite how their community is viewed. Neighbours have said there are deprived parts but they are happy with the people who live in the area and love the community feel.
Strelley is home to the Bells Lane estate, schools such as Djanogly Strelley Academy which has been praised by Ofsted, shops and local businesses. With many young people in the area, others would like to see more things for the younger generation.
Megan James, 27 lives in Strelley with her daughter. The nursery nurse said: “I love it here, I’ve always lived in Strelley.
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“They’ll be people who think that we’re all chavs, aren’t smart, are on benefits and whatever else but that isn’t the case. There’s a lot of hard working people around here.”
Megan spoke about her favourite thing about the area. She said: “It’s just how friendly people are, I speak with my neighbours over the fence, people are always smiling, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
“The one thing I would say that Strelley needs more of is more things for the kids, there are loads of kids around here and a youth club or youth centre, something like that, would be perfect in Strelley and it would definitely get used.
"I think that the area is only deprived because it’s forgotten about and money goes to other places in the city, but there are definitely worse places to live than Strelley.”
Tony Price, 53 has lived in Strelley for 19 years. Tony spoke highly of the area and said: “I think people hear the word ‘estate’ and sometimes get the wrong end of the stick.
“I live not too far from the Bells Lane estate and I’ve never had any problems. The area isn’t as rough as people make out.
“It's like with St Ann’s, Meadows, Bestwood, people think they’re bad places to live, too.” Tony, who has lived in Nottingham all his life, grew up in The Meadows.
He added: “There are good people around here, they look out for one another. If someone knocks on my door asking for a bag of sugar, they can have one or I’ll ask my neighbour if he wants anything from the shops. It’s always the areas that have a bad rep that have normal and friendly people.”
Originally from Ireland, Marie Scanlan has lived in Strelley for around 40 years. Marie, 60, said: “It’s very friendly here, I’m up a Close off the main road and it’s quiet.
“I get on with my neighbours and I always say morning to people. They don’t all say it back but most of them do.” Speaking about things that have gone from the area, Marie said: “On Broxtowe Lane, there was a brilliant butcher, it was there for years and there used to be a Price Wise.”
Lynn James, 43 is currently unemployed. Lynn has lived in Strelley for more than 10 years.
She told Nottinghamshire Live: “I think it’s lovely here, shopping wise, we have most things and whether you know someone’s name or not, you know their face.
“I used to have problems with my old neighbour because they’d play music at all hours but that’s the only problem I’ve ever had here. People will help you out. Yesterday, I went to the shop and forgot my purse, it didn’t come too much but the man behind me, he paid, not a lot of people would do that, it’s the little things like that that make the area what it is.”
Lynn continued: “I don’t think Strelley has a bad reputation anymore, I think it use to but the area's a lot calmer now.”
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