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12 September 2003
It is widely acknowledged that people move home to be closer to schools, work and even public transport links. Although not as well recognised, it is becoming increasingly popular for people to move to be closer to parks and open spaces, which are fundamental in making towns and cities appealing places in which to live. CABE Space, a subsidiary of CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) was recently launched to assist local authorities across England in improving the management and maintenance of their parks and urban spaces. This should reverse any neglect and help to bring charm, character and wildlife into the surroundings.
Lindsay and Derek Frend had not thought about moving from their three bedroom link-detached house in Rayleigh, Essex, until the arrival of their baby daughter, Holly. High on their priority list was to find more space to accommodate their growing family and to find a home that was conveniently located close to a park and children's play area. The Frend family were the first residents at Countryside Properties' 'Pelham Gate' development in Rayleigh, Essex, when they recently moved into their new four bedroom detached house.
Lindsay explains, "We started looking for a new house just two weeks after Holly was born, when Derek realised just how much space a newborn baby needs! We knew we wanted to stay in Rayleigh but what we were really looking for was a new home close to a green space, which our previous house didn't offer. Our new house at Pelham Gate is located just down the road from Sweyne Park, providing us with the opportunity of spending time in a relaxing, more peaceful environment, especially when Holly gets older."
Lindsay continues, "Since moving we now have the option of walking down to the park and we are also fortunate enough to have a garden that is big enough for us to build a pond in it. In fact, the addition of the pond is likely to be the only change we make to our home.
"Making the decision to move house, having just had a baby, was a slightly daunting task to undertake. Countryside, however, made the entire process as simple as possible by offering to part exchange our old house for its full market value, as well as introducing us to a financial advisor. All we had to do was decide which of the house designs would best suit our needs so our move was actually very uncomplicated and much easier than we had anticipated."
The market town of Rayleigh has retained much of its traditional character and its castle is one of the very few mentioned in the Doomsday Book. The market dates back to before 1181 and still takes place on Wednesday mornings. The bustling town centre offers an attractive shopping area with numerous cafes and coffee houses. In addition, there are leisure facilities at Fair View Park, Sweyne Park and Hanover Golf Course & Country Club, as well as a nearby tennis club and a cinema.
Situated 35 miles from London (approximately) and nine miles from Chelmsford (approximately), Rayleigh's proximity to the new A130 extension, A127 and A13 makes the town highly accessible by road to most parts of the county and beyond. The local airport at Southend-on-Sea is easily accessible, while trains from Raleigh station travel directly to London Liverpool Street, with a journey time of 45 minutes (approximately).
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Information correct as at 12/09/2003