Yahoo News Life in Grimsby's DN31 - one of the cheapest postcodes in the UK with a 'good bunch of people'
DN31 in Grimsby is the third cheapest postcode area in the UK to buy a house, so what is life like there?
The area covers Grimsby town centre, West Marsh, and parts of Freshney and East Marsh wards. Focussing on West Marsh, while it may have its issues, it has a dynamic community centre and it feels like a big family, residents said.
The average price of a house sold in DN31, Grimsby, in the 12 months to February 2024 was £75,147 - more than £200,000 below the UK average.
Read More:
Areas with the lowest prices will have their drawbacks. But as well as asking about the area's greatest challenges, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) spoke to residents about the best elements, too.
Kim Woodsford was in an enclosed area of Duke of York Gardens, where she could let her friendly 10 month old Staffy, Buster, briefly off the lead. "It's lovely when you can actually walk a dog and not have to worry," she said, appreciative of the enclosure, and green space away from traffic. "Being the age that he is, there are not a lot of places that you can take him off lead", she said.
Kim also complained other dogs were let off the lead generally in the parks, when she said according to the council, all dogs must be kept on lead in the parks. This had led to Buster being attacked.
"Everyone's like a big family," said Chloe, walking through the park, when asked about the best elements of the area. You could not get on with some of your family, though, she added.
Crime, including drugs, concerned her. Chloe, however, also praised West Marsh Community Centre, adding she had used its food bank.
'This is our 25th year, we're not doing too bad'
The community centre has about 500 people use it a week, Neil Barber, co-founder with wife Anita, said. Among the host of regular events it holds are an over 50s' social club, baby bank, food bank, a garden project for young kids on a Wednesday night, and community bingo. A football pitch outside is used regularly, including evenings.
Citizens Advice and NSPCC also advise people who need it at the centre's food bank, held on Wednesdays. "The first question you have to ask is have you got a cooker, that starts the ball rolling," said Neil on how food bank conversations can identify what other help may be useful.
"We always use the motto that we don't know all the answers, but we know somebody who does." The Beeson Street centre employs six staff and has a host of volunteers. Neil, himself, estimated he has regularly done 80 to 100 hour weeks. "This is our twenty-fifth year, we're not doing too bad."
"If the in-flavour of the month is selling onions, we'll be selling them," Neil joked, of the community centre's flexibility to respond to new desired help. The centre is self-financing.
Neil was frank about West Marsh's issues. "One negative side, we don't have a senior school." He said some schoolkids were going to John Whitgift Academy in Grimsby, and Tollbar Academy, New Waltham, and even walking to there, or a long stretch of the way.
West Marsh also lacked a post office. The ward regularly has one of the highest North East Lincolnshire crime rates. However, Neil felt the residential area suffered from being lumped in with Grimsby town centre, and wanted the areas split on this data.
"The houses are cheap but are not the standard they should be," he also said, influencing the low house price levels. "Going back to the '60s, we have so many houses that were snapped up by absentee landlords."
Neil highlighted also the community spirit. For the last three years, the centre has aided refugees settling into new accommodation, including donated furniture. "When you get to the nitty-gritty, people of West Marsh, they're a good bunch."
"We've got a brilliant community centre," said Krista Theaker-Gregersen, who also gave a shoutout to Grimsby Auditorium for its events. "We tend to go to the Auditorium, because my daughter's into all the dramas and musicals."
For an Armstrong Street resident, drivers not following the one-way system was a major concern. "It's a one way street and they're using it as a two-way street, I can see a big accident happening." Residents and the community centre petitioned for action on the road last year.
A host of measures were agreed by the council in December, after public feedback. These include a 20mph speed limit, parking restrictions, speed cushions, and Beeson Street vehicles to give way to Armstrong Street.
