Newton Lays - Willow Lake Area
Posted by doniseferi@reddit | miltonkeynes | View on Reddit | 26 comments
I think I'll be moving to Newton Lays beside Willow Lake with my wife and 2 primary school aged kids. Obviously worried because I've always lived in London. What is Newton Lays and the area near Willow Lake like? I'll be commuting to London 6 days a month. Any tips, tricks and etc. the remoteness is kind of worrying being a Londoner but then again London is SUFFOCATING.
ZucchiniDesigner@reddit
Used to live on Newton Leys, first rented an apartment, then bought a house. Lovely area. Fit far out from central MK.
Only issue I ever had living there was the traffic in the morning, due to school rush and the A4146 being a main arterial road.
Lakes Estate residents often enjoy bleeding their general lack of civility into the area.
The land fill created a unique issue with A LOT of flies in the summer. We used to buy fly traps and hang them in the garden. They’d need daily emptying during the summer.
The first phase of homes built had subsidence issues, the ground shifted after 3+ years. So I recommend a thorough inspection.
Final phases of homes had the ground really compacted before laying concrete slabs for the foundation. This stopped the subsidence issues, but created horrendous garden drainage issues.
I pounced on the inflated house prices immediately after Covid. Sold up and got out of there, as soon as the opportunity presented itself.
There’s also the occasional issue with travellers pitching up in the immediate area too.
doniseferi@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the reply. I decided against it. If I’m moving to Milton Keynes I want to be a minimum of 2.5. Miles away from the landfill. You can’t buy peace of mind. Where did you end up moving to?
ZucchiniDesigner@reddit
I’ve grown up in MK so know the city very well. I bought a new build in Wavendon. Has its own unique challenges, but at least there’s no landfill, and it’s closer to central Milton Keynes
doniseferi@reddit (OP)
What is it like living there and in mk?
ZucchiniDesigner@reddit
MK is a good place to live.
A lot of green spaces.
Grid road system is the best way to get around a large town/small city, in comparison to anywhere else in the UK. Every time I travel across the UK I find the road systems small, slow and archaic.
Lots of good schools.
Now the not so great stuff.
Council hasn’t invested into infrastructure for the city in a very long time. I moved as a kid in the last 90s and have seen very little change in the centre, with respect to public infrastructure. The main buildings are in need to a refresh, the paving slabs are broken and need relaying etc.
Any new build areas are forced to allocate units to low income/affordable housing or council housing. This is fine, but the smashing together of those who need state assistance, and those who can actually afford the very high house prices in MK leaves you scratching your head. I find I am constantly surrounded by people who either want to take care of their home and surroundings vs those who simply do not care. There is far more to say about this particular issue, but I’ll leave it at that.
Halfcelestialelf@reddit
The thing about Newton Leys is that it's easier/quicker to get into Leighton Buzzard, then center MK as its not at all connected to the grid roads.
That being said, the people are generally fairly friendly, and it is a young estate with lots of families in it.
Additionally, it is worth joining the main Facebook groups for the estate. There are three I'm a part of, Newton Leys community, things for free in Newton Leys and surrounding areas, and Newton Leys Classified Ads.
The landfill can occasionally be an issue, but I live near the lake and I've only noticed it a small handful of winter mornings in the two years I've lived here. The bigger problem is the fact that the estate is not yet adopted, which means that the roads in parts of it, are atrocious.
Also, part of it in in MK, and part of it is not. Make sure you know which side of the line you are.
doniseferi@reddit (OP)
How often do you smell it? Does it get bad? What about during summer?
winterproject@reddit
It tends not to be the actual landfill that smells but the hydrogen sulfide let offs by the turbines. That can be quite egg-like whiffy.
It’s been particularly noticeable of late. Could be something to do with the weather but happens at any point in the year.
doniseferi@reddit (OP)
My concern is how often will it happen especially considering the landfill will be operating until 2036.
winterproject@reddit
I’ve lived nearby for 12 years and the past couple it’s been its worse. Before that we never smelled it before.
It’s not regular by any stretch of the imagination but it’s certainly noticeable when it does.
doniseferi@reddit (OP)
Thank you, I’ve decided against it. How far from the site do you live if you doing mind me asking?
winterproject@reddit
I live about a mile or so from the site
doniseferi@reddit (OP)
The house was 0.9 miles away. On Angelsea view so I’m glad I opted against it.
Halfcelestialelf@reddit
As I said, I've smelled it maybe 3 or 4 times over the last two years, and only during very cold winter mornings. Apparently they had minor issues the winter before last where one of the has capturing systems froze and broke. But they had it fixed within 2 or 3 days. Your milage may vary if you are much closer to the landfill, but it's not an issue on the whole as they have excellent infrastructure to capture gas and prevent smells leaking.
doniseferi@reddit (OP)
Thank you very much
BohemianGamer@reddit
It will be better then London.
Ok-Kitchen2768@reddit
Stay away from the lakes estates and you're good.
You'll get stabbed
Otherwise it's a nice area! Congratulations on the house!
Dangerous-Interview8@reddit
Unfortunately was so many crimes in Newton Leys what makes you believe if go on Lakes you get stubb?Dont you remember the guy stubbing 2 girls on Christmas Day in newton leys next to the park?🤣🤣🤣
SerendipitousCrow@reddit
Willow Lake is nice. There's a little bench on a small hill by the lake which is a really nice place to sit in the evening.
Newton Leys itself is nice. Never had any trouble here. Biggest issue I've had is kids ringing the doorbell and running.
Do you have a car? It doesn't feel remote when you have Milton Keynes on your doorstep. If not there's a really good bike route through a nature reserve up to Bletchley town
Happy for you to pm me any questions
doniseferi@reddit (OP)
Thank you so much and yes I drive and cycle :)
SerendipitousCrow@reddit
You'll be fine then! There's an Asda on the estate but expensive if you have to rely on it. Bletchley has a big Tesco, an Aldi and a Lidl not far away.
Google blue lagoon, that's right nearby and the cycle path passes through it. It used to be brickpits but it flooded and they just let it become a nature reserve with a big lake. It's pretty clean because it's clay bedded so people swim there on hot days
MK also has more green spaces than you'd expect if you're into that
Can't comment if it's good because I don't have kids but there is a primary school on the estate too. For secondary I see people ok Facebook talking about how for secondary schools there are two sides to the estate for catchment and that makes a difference apparently.
axhmr_me@reddit
Landfill - depends on the direction of the wind.
And sometimes depending on the wind, you could see rubbish if some got free.
Charming_Persimmon52@reddit
I have some friends who live there with their two young daughters. It's a bit isolated from the rest of MK but has a good community of parents with younger children who often get together.
TanMor27@reddit
My sisters live there and it's really lovely. There is a nice little pub right near it and a little Asda for groceries. The area is pretty and the walks are lovely. Lots of little play areas for the kids. I lived in London for nearly 6 years before moving to MK so I know how remote it can feel, but I would say it's a really lovely place to live for a little family.
LiE85@reddit
London from Bletchley train station is a breeze, just a touch busy. 38 minutes into Euston. Plenty of parking at the station - £7 per day.
I don't know Newton Leys very well, but my friend has lived there for 10 years and doesn't have anything bad to say. I'm round the corner in Newton Longville - very close to lots of nature!
kararmightbehere@reddit
Really nice place. Its scenic and theres alot of green spaces for you to walk by.