An area that isn’t “too rough or too quiet” has been praised by the people living there, with one claiming people even live longer because it is so good. Some have been there for many years.
In Bakersfield, where both Carlton and Sneinton are just around the corner, people have told Nottinghamshire Live the great things about their area. Reminiscing about places that are no longer in the area too, people have told us their favourite places to go.
In Bakersfield, the small area has been described as a village. With the NCT Red Line running through the suburb regularly, the area is also home to Nottingham Academy Greenwood Campus and many independent shops.
Paul Lang, 65 has lived in Bakersfield for 22 years. Paul enjoys walking to the city and is happy that his doctor's surgery in Bakersfield isn’t far from where he lives.
Now retired, Paul spoke more about the area and said: “It hasn’t changed a great deal. Now, there’s less trouble kicking off and the reason I moved here is because it was cheap now, house prices are just going up and up.
“The Tesco Express is my local but it would be nice to see more shops and less takeaways which is the same as everywhere really.” Paul remembers when the Tesco Express on Oakdale was a pub.
He continued and said: “It wasn’t the sort of pub I’d go to, they didn’t have what I liked! I like local ale and I get that down at the Brickyard in Carlton. Overall, the area is borderline, it’s not too rough and it’s not too quiet.”
Sarah Roades, 47 has lived in Bakersfield all her life. Sarah moved not too far from her family home.
The dental nurse said: “I love the area, it’s so nice. The people, the regular buses.
There’s a barbershop across from Cox’s pharmacy which used to be a hairdressers. I used to go there and get my hair done all the time.”
Speaking of the things that Bakersfield needs more of Sarah continued and said: “We need more shops like Jazz’s cornershop. It has everything - and it’s way cheaper than that Tesco Express.
“I like that Bakersfield has a lot of independent shops which I’m all for supporting as much as I can.”
Not too far from Bakersfield in Carlton is Jazz’s convenient store on 248 Oakdale Road in Carlton. On one end Oakdale Road is classed as Bakersfield, the other is classed as Carlton.
Jasveir Singh, mostly known to everybody as ‘Jazz’ is the owner of the store. He has worked there for 18 years.
Speaking about what it’s like running his cornershop, Jazz said that the best thing about it is the people. He said: “The people are lovely and friendly, it’s a mixed majority here.
“I don’t know what it is about this area but people seem to live longer, it’s like a small village where everyone knows each other.”
When Jazz first opened, he said that there used to be about five more shops like his in the area which have since closed down.
Originally from Yorkshire, Jazz continued and said: “There’s been no big changes in the area. In the shop, the papers used to sell so well but prices have gone up and everything's online, it's a new generation.”
When Jazz first opened his shop, there used to be around 7 people in the morning doing a paper round, 6 people in the evening and 8 on a Sunday.
On his way to Jazz’s cornershop, Ted Solis, 76 has lived in Bakersfield for over 30 years. In his spare time, Ted likes walking and his local is the Bakersfield on Oakdale Road.
Ted spoke about the area and said: “Whilst a lot has changed, a lot hasn’t which I quite like. That suits me just fine. I like the area, I’ve never moved so that says a lot!
“It’s just a nice quiet area. I go to The Bakersfield a lot, Jazz’s and the Tesco Express.
“The Dale isn’t far so I sometimes walk down there and back up again. There’s a bit of everything here.”
