I have lived in Sheffield for nearly 20 years, all that time in Crookes.

Over the past 5 years or so the area, certainly city side of Crookes, School Road and roads off, are becoming scruffy with bins left out all week, discarded fast food and beer cans, overgrown gardens and hedges. Unkept student accomodation, cars parked every which way but loose, Student accomodation notice boards uprooted and left in middle of the road. I could go on.

There have been instances of urban foxes holing up in disused cellars due to the discarded food and there is a rather worrying increase in rats in the area. The environmental health dept. have been involved on many occasions. Many residents are fearful to leave any doors open, e.g. while hanging out washing etc. in case rats enter the house. This incidently has happened in the past.

There is a residents' association but it appears to have little or no teeth.

Looking at some of the property around, the tree line roads and the still remaining metal fence inserts that were taken away for the war effort 1939/45 Crookes was once a smart residential area.

Any ideas how this could be bought back to something like it was?

That's because it is a "to Let" area and mostly I would assume the student residents don't really give a c**p what the place looks like

This is exactly what's happened in Headingley in Leeds over the last few years :(

A once beautiful place to live has become a virtual slum, mainly due to the lovely big houses there (not to mention what back-to-backs there are) being turned into 'houses of multiple occupation'. The 'buy to let' flurry since around 2000 accelerated this process, till now family owner/occupiers are in a tiny minority in Headingley.

I was hoping to move to Leeds - and hopefully Headingley - around 2001/02, but had to give up on the idea, partly due to the ridiculous prices the houses were fetching due to the buy to let phenomenon, partly because I valued my health too much!

Far too many people living in too small an area due to the multiple occupation thing - overflowing dustbins all over the place - fast food remains lying on the streets just inviting rats and vermin generally - the prospect of not knowing from year to year who was living on either side of you. And that's not mentioning the potential sanitary nightmare of the plumbing system being completely overwhelmed :shocked:

Headingley is no longer the appealing place to live it was, and I fear that Crookes is fast going the same way.

A Headingley residents action group was started up to pressure Leeds city council to limit the number of Houses of Multiple Occupation allowed in the area, but it happened too late for Headingley.

Maybe Crookes residents should learn from that?

Don't want to be depressing, but I see property trends now in Sheffield that were happening in Leeds 3/4 years ago.

StarSparkle

Maybe you should lobby the owners as opposed to the tennants and get them to write in some sort of occupancy clause to maintainthe surrounding area at the risk of loosing their bond if they fail to do so!!!!

Alot of the owners live out of Sheffield, many out of UK. I understand what you mean but it needs policing. The overseas owners, I think, would not come to Sheffield to police it for us.

I use to live on Crookes until leaving home on Pickmere Road. My Nan use to live on Crookes also and she did say it had started going down hill near her with a lot of students moving in. I left Crookes about 20 years ago and it did use to be really nice it's a shame to hear it's changed so much.

I spent many an evening wandering down to the South Seas at Broomhill and staggering home again. :P

Crookes going downhill? That'd bring it down to Broomhill. No thanks. Keep your dirty chip wrappings and speed humps up there.

Originally posted by CMaloney
Crookes going downhill? That'd bring it down to Broomhill. No thanks. Keep your dirty chip wrappings and speed humps up there.

Hehe! I used to live at Crookes during the late 80's/early 90's; and on a visit back there last year (i'm now an ex-pat living in Oz :cool: ) I noticed 2 major differences a) what appeared to be a lot more 'student properties' and b) more el-cheapo shops. I understand though that the student houses are gradually being returned back to the general populous?
Hopefully this will mean more families returning and more all-year-round life etc? But then again who wants to buy a 3-bed terrace @ £170000 :o !?

it is a lot worse in summer due tio the amount of empty properties.

I used to live on school road about 3-4 years ago and it has got about 10 times worse since then. Looks like an absolute tip and you have cars parked all the way up and down on either side of the road.

a lot of students and locals use it as a thoroughfare and tip their waste/vomit/use your imagination anywhere. Not somewhere I'd ever live again.

its still nice up off of cross lane though :thumbsup:

We moved from the crookes/crookesmoor area recently due to this very fact. I think crookes is slightly better than crookesmoor at the moment, crookesmoor has a large amount of housing assosiation propertys as well as all the student dwellings and the amount of crime and trouble just got too much for us, and incidently I am not blaming the students for this give me the odd mispaced road cone and vomit over armed police, mini bikes, house breakers and vandals anyday of the week. And this is exactly what the incresed amount of housing assosiation propertys seem to bring ( and so I dont insult anyone I know not all the tennants are to blame I did rent from the assosiation for a while myself)

Back to what I said originally, because no one actually lives near the property they own, they don't see the mess that is caused. This isn't helped by the fact that some properties front gardens / jungles are an absolute disgrace, have people forgot how to cut a hedge or weed a garaden??? It's all down to self respect and it looks like the majority of renters don't have much of this either.

The size of the hedges in some of these properties lend themselves to the crime figures as thieves can quite easily go about their business unhindered, no one can see into the property because of the foliage out front / rear. If the owners popped wound once in a while as opposed to avoiding the properties, fearing they might have to fork out a few quid in repairs / upkeep, they might actually notice this and do somthing about it.

On the upside though, places like Netheredge and Broomhill have had a stop on the amount of student rent accomadation available, the local council enforced this some years ago, it now has started to get back to somthing like and is being tidied up. (a little)

Originally posted by honeyplanet
and the amount of crime and trouble just got too much for us

I live just off Springvale and I've never noticed any trouble or crime ? Just rowdy drunk students ?

I've been here since Oct last year, am I missing something :confused:

No, we were lower down nearer to harcourt /crookesmoor road , Its getting rather nasty down there at the moment.. lots of house breaks ect... admittedly it gets better the further up crookes you get

Ahhhh, can't say I venture down that way often myself..

Shame about whats happening down there tho :(

When I posted the subject I was only considering the asthetics of the area but certainly crime is a big factor also.

As I mentioned, I have lived in Crookes nearly 20 years and have had attempted break-ins twice and actual break-ins three times. One of them was quite worrying, which I will leave for a further thread should the subject ever arise. I also had two dogs at the time, I have only the one now, and this problem was overcome very simply, again I wont explain how.

A nearby chemist is broken into quite regularly as is my local Doctors.

It is a problem. And to the question, 'Who Wants To Pay £170,000 for a house?', ask Blundells who seem to manipuate the sale prices locally.

Another question I throw into the thread. Do speculators receive grants for conversations into student accomodation? And what, if anything, are the rules they must abide by?

As you say, some student accomodation is being re-converted back to domestic housing. I know a builder who's job is just that.

I have posted before that I am from not the best area of London and I feel that, as has been mentioned, if nothing is done, and soon, I will feel that I have returned home.

I live on Harcourt Rd at the mo, with family and I am looking to buy a house in Crookes or Walkley. It is still a very desirable place to live and that is reflected in the house prices.

Apart from the many disrespectful students, and I mean messy and noisey, there hasn't been much crime - as far as I am aware anyway.

I have however, noticed recently that there has been lots of graffiti tagging - 'hot' i believe it says and its horrible.

I think that the universiy should start building some purpose built student accomodation, like a student village for example and stop converting gorgeous, traditional houses into multipul occupancy dwellings.

I know when I was a student down south, we actually took care of the houses and the areas we were in, yes we were noisey occasionally, but always tidy and had respect for other people. This doesn't seem to be the case up here, which is sad.

BruciesBabe, there is new student accomodation being built opposite Tapton Halls of Residence on the old YWA playing fields. There are also moves to build a 'villiage' out on the Manchester Road

I live near Tapton Hall of Residence - the new construction opposite it are private Townhouses and 2 bedroom 'luxury' flats. I don't think they're going to be student accommodation.

For what it's worth I live near The Old Grindstone, I have not noticed much in the way of scruffiness around my street, nor have I ever encountered a rat in the 12 years I've lived here!

As you will see from my original posting, I make sure that I exclude your side, St Thomas' Road, Mule House Lane etc. by saying the city side of Crookes.

Walk down School Road as the sun comes up, about 05.30 and tell me then there are no rats. They play in the street and the paper bins, when not emptied, but are overturned don't help.

I live that side and have seen many, and foxes, and cubs walking up School Road.

This is why so many cats go missing in February and September. The time when the cubs have to fend for themselves. I have seen a mother and two cubs stalk a cat, and this was on a main road.

Beleive me, there are many rats, and rat's nests locally. I think you would be surprised.

Originally posted by BruciesBabe

I know when I was a student down south, we actually took care of the houses and the areas we were in, yes we were noisey occasionally, but always tidy and had respect for other people. This doesn't seem to be the case up here, which is sad.

Some of us keep our houses tidy and our music down and tend our gardens you know! We're not all bad, but since you only really see/hear the bad ones, we all get tarred with the same brush.

Lots of the problem is landlords (the uni doesn't convert many houses, most of it is privately owned) cramming too many people into a house too small, and not maintaining the upkeep of the outside of the house, also not clearing away rubbish between tenants.

All cities and many large towns have rats. As do churches, scout huts and rivers. It's not really an indication of decline.
Meanwhile, Crookes remains about as comfotable a living experience as one could hope for. You might get disturbed by the fluttering of a Guardian supplement on the breeze, or the fizzing fat of a barbecue suasage, but that's really it.

The university is starting to sell some of its privately owned student accommodation to fund the building of larger halls in Ranmoore and Broomhall. The conditions of buying the property are likely to be that it can't be let out for 5 years. Also student letting regulations are getting tightened this year. This should lead to a reduction in the amounts of students living in private accommodation returning the properties to local residents.

so you could see a slow improvement over the next couple of year, as crookes returns to more family / professional area.

CrabTorso, I challenge you to walk round the 'bottom' part of Crookes this morning and return with the same comments. I am also aware that rats have been, and always will, be with us. The point I am making is that, as I have been given to understand, they are rapidly on the increase in Crookes area.

If you read my previous posting you will see that it is not uncommon to see rats in the street early morning. When did you last see one I wonder?

Ive lived in crookes and walkley for 3 years and in that time havent seen any decline, although i realise alot of the people posting have lived there alot longer . I think its a fantastic place to live and alot nicer than most places in Sheffield. Ive personally never seen a rat and always feel safe walking around alone at night. I think the students make the place alot more intresting, better than living with boring oaps like alot of areas

the worst part around there is Crookesmoor rd. With mainlt student/HA acomodation in differing states and bins and black bags everywhere.

There are so many break in round there.

I live just off school road. school road is a nightmare - there's only room for one car on the road and due to bins, cars and dog dirt (way too much of it, and I can't see students mailny being to blame for that as hardly any of them have pets) there's no room for pedestrians. Horrible. We also got burgled recently, but then most people in Crookes seem to have been broken into or attempted broken into. On the other hand the local shops are OK and it's close to Broomhill etc.

I don't know if Crookes has gone downhill in the past few years but it's certainly got a bit livelier !
Before the student , "invasion " , both Crookes and Walkley were regarded as pretty dull areas. Everything was,'average '
The house prices and the amenities were all about in the middle of the Sheffield range .
The people who lived there too , were , "in the middle " , mainly semi-skilled or skilled manual workers or the lower middle class.
It always had the Crookes [and Walkley ] shopping centres and the usual pubs but it wasn't opulent , poor or lively.Well it 's certainly livelier now.!
I , honestly don't think that we can expect students to keep the houses looking fresh , and the gardens and be responsible for maintenance. You 'd have to be an exceptional teenager to be into all that ! Aren't the landlords of properties supposed to do it ?
Hunters Bar and Broomhill/Broomall have had the student , "problem " for quite a lot longer than Crookes or Walkley but they've survived and , despite the inconvenience , look how much the house prices have risen and the spending power of the students. !

Originally posted by BoppinBruce


Walk down School Road as the sun comes up, about 05.30 and tell me then there are no rats. They play in the street and the paper bins, when not emptied, but are overturned don't help.

Beleive me, there are many rats, and rat's nests locally. I think you would be surprised.

I live on Cobden View and have done for years now and i've yet to see a rat ! I'm not saying there aren't any but i cartianly didn't notice. And im regularly out and about in the early hours .... going to keep my eyes peeled now! Theres always foxes about though .
Crookes is a pretty decent area really, pretty quiet when all the students go home etc. and have to travel to see a lot of my mates but i like it round here ... got all the basic shops , nice views , nice houses and generally pretty chilled out! Can get a wee bit boring mind but i'd much rather be bored because its quiet than complaining because its too noisy or whatever. The students are kinda good for crookes too , certainly livens it up a bit :)

Originally posted by Fareast
I don't know if Crookes has gone downhill in the past few years but it's certainly got a bit livelier !
Before the student , "invasion " , both Crookes and Walkley were regarded as pretty dull areas. Everything was,'average '
The house prices and the amenities were all about in the middle of the Sheffield range .
The people who lived there too , were , "in the middle " , mainly semi-skilled or skilled manual workers or the lower middle class.
It always had the Crookes [and Walkley ] shopping centres and the usual pubs but it wasn't opulent , poor or lively.Well it 's certainly livelier now.!
I , honestly don't think that we can expect students to keep the houses looking fresh , and the gardens and be responsible for maintenance. You 'd have to be an exceptional teenager to be into all that ! Aren't the landlords of properties supposed to do it ?
Hunters Bar and Broomhill/Broomall have had the student , "problem " for quite a lot longer than Crookes or Walkley but they've survived and , despite the inconvenience , look how much the house prices have risen and the spending power of the students. !

most contracts require the tenants to maintain the garden.

The problem with Crookes is the lack of parking as well. School rd for example will have a car parked on either side of the road all the way down. Also bins everywhere. Litter everywhere. Graffitti etc etc.

I think the problem is that a good student/local mix is pleasnat but sections of crookes seem to be almost exclusively studenty.

There appears little attempt by the council to clear the streets as well:suspect:

Originally posted by honeyplanet
We moved from the crookes/crookesmoor area recently due to this very fact. I think crookes is slightly better than crookesmoor at the moment, crookesmoor has a large amount of housing assosiation propertys as well as all the student dwellings and the amount of crime and trouble just got too much for us, and incidently I am not blaming the students for this give me the odd mispaced road cone and vomit over armed police, mini bikes, house breakers and vandals anyday of the week. And this is exactly what the incresed amount of housing assosiation propertys seem to bring ( and so I dont insult anyone I know not all the tennants are to blame I did rent from the assosiation for a while myself)

Lived in the area since 1991. There was a mini crime wave about 94/95 due to one family in a housing association property - absolutely nothing since they were evicted as far as I know.