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FROM A TOWN HOUSE TO A COUNTRY MOUSE!
THE NAEA
offers advice to those considering moving to the
countryside. Dreaming of living life at a more relaxed pace can lead
city dwellers to consider a new life in the country as it can seem
more appealing than enduring the wear and tear of the city. However,
those drawn by colourful scenery, less pollution and lower crime
rates should do their homework. It’s not all good news for
city-types who don’t think a move to the country through properly.
Christopher Hall, President at the NAEA, says:- “Moving is the
easy part, ensuring the decision is right for you is the difficult
part. There are host of things to take into account and research
should be carried out to ensure the move is right for you and your
significant others.”
With this in mind Christopher Hall advises:-
* Walk around the area to help you establish the atmosphere. It’s
worth having a look at village and church notice boards, chatting
with locals in a pub, village store or post office and picking up a
copy of the village magazine to gauge an understanding of the area
and events taking place.
* Investigate how far away transport links and leisure facilities
are such as bus stops, train stations, motorways and leisure
centres. This is particularly important for parents as without these
you may be drafted into being the children’s
‘taxi service’.
* Speak with the local council about the area where the house is
located. The area may be quiet and peaceful at the moment but it is
wise to check that there are no plans for future new housing builds
that will spoil your country dream.
* Shared access routes may pose a problem so you should research
public rights of way to ensure it will not reduce your
privacy.
* Think about what the area will be like to live in, in the winter
time. You may need to consider a change of vehicle if narrow country
lanes could pose a problem for you. Will you feel isolated when the
nights get darker earlier?
* Finally, just have a think about whether you will be able to adapt
to the slower way of life the country will offer? Are you more
likely to get bored and frustrated or will you become a slave to the
garden?
Christopher Hall concludes:- “As long as full research and
preparation is carried out before the move, individuals should take
to country living like a duck takes to water! A fully informed
decision is likely to be the best decision ever made. I live in the
country and I love waking up to silence every day!”
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ISITFAIR CAMPAIGN UNSURPRISED BY GOVERNMENT U-TURN ON REVALUATION
CHRISTIANE Melsom, founder of the Isitfair council tax protest
group issued the following statement:-
“The Government's announcement to postpone the property revaluation
and rebanding in England until after the next General Election comes
as no surprise to the UK-wide IsitFair Campaign. The anger and
opposition to revaluation and rebanding has been growing and reached
breaking point when its effects were seen in Wales.
The Government is well aware of the hostility towards the present
system of council tax, but how much longer are they willing to bury
their heads in the sand and do nothing about it? How many more
people have to be incarcerated in Category A prisons for 28 days for
the crime of protesting about above-inflation increases in council
tax? How many more vindictive prison sentences have to be handed out
before the Government takes some meaningful action?
Council tax
has doubled over the last 10 years and people on fixed or modest
incomes are being required to pay a disproportionate amount of tax.
Any increase in the value of their property has not magically
generated additional income with which to pay ever-increasing
council tax bills.
The Isitfair Campaign began in 2002 and has only one aim, to scrap
council tax and replace it with a fairer system that takes account
of everyone's ability to pay. It is not only an issue for
pensioners, it's about getting a fairer system for everyone. The
first essential step is to stop using property value as the basis
for the tax.
The Government has wasted an estimated £60 Million on this aborted
attempt at revaluation in England. It has been billed as a
postponement, but there would be no reason whatsoever to revalue
properties if the tax was related to people's income instead of
being based on property value.
Unlike the Government, Isitfair will stay on its course. We will
continue our campaign, we will not give in until the council tax
system is completely reformed. There will be more Rev. Ridleys and
more Sylvia Hardys and we will continue to embarrass the Government
until progress is made. Council tax must be reformed and must take
into account the ability to pay from income.
Although Isitfair does not encourage anyone to withhold their
council tax, we will vigorously support any member who decides to do
so.”
What do our readers think of the property revaluation? Are we paying
to mutch tax or not enough? Email your views to us at:-
news24@southportreporter.com
SPOOKY!!!!!!
THE
ghostly day of the 31 October is
nearly on us and over the next few issues we are going to run some
ideas of what you can do as a family to be entertained and what
events are going on on and around Merseyside.
Get ready.....!
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