The safest place to live in the UK is right next to Stoke-on-Trent

Crowned the safest place to live in the UK according to CheshireLive, we took a trip to this quaint area in Congleton to see what residents say in the place where only 18 crimes were committed.

Everyone we spoke to said “You must speak to Jane [Bostock] in the Post Office [Biddulph Road], she knows everything about Mossley and Hightown.” So we went to speak to Jane, who told us of a mishap that had happened to her some years ago.

Jane, who bought the 19th century Post Office in 2016, said: “In 2019 an armed robber attacked me in front of my colleagues. He had a hammer and he grabbed my hair and put me in a headlock. I managed to fight him off luckily, we were all terrified but I’m thankful to my team who’ve stuck with me through thick-and-thin. Other than that though, I can’t recall having any other problems.”

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Residents dub the Post Office mistress as a staple in the community, as she hosts different competitions that gets the whole community involved – and they even get certificates.

Even Russell Watson, the classical singer-turned-farmer who lives in the idyllic neighbourhood gets involved with Jane’s competitions and gave everyone who entered her competition a signed copy of one of his A4 posters.

Jane added: “During the lockdown the queue was down the street because people couldn’t come inside and we’re such a busy shop. We do our best to support local businesses – as [almost] all of us in the town are independent – so we sell locally grown potatoes, eggs, and other things such as my niece’s [Evie Bostock] postcards as she’s an artist.

“It’s such a nice place, everyone knows one another and helps each other out if anyone has any issues. We love the community spirit and we want everyone to join in and get involved.”

What residents think

We decided to pop into the Chappell Centre – a hotspot for older folk – where there was bound to be someone who’d tell us just how safe Hightown, Mossley and Timbersbrook really is. Jean Hampson moved to Mossley only six months ago from her home in Leigh, Lancashire.

The 90-year-old said: “Everyone’s nice and friendly. I’ve gotten to know people at church and at the hospital and just generally walking out-and-about. My neighbours are friendly and it’s a good place to live. I’m glad I came here. My husband died two months after moving and I was lost and didn’t know how I’d cope, but I’ve managed well. I’ve joined Mossley Cricket Club and had to go out and make friends and I go for walks which this area has plenty of.”

Another resident whose lived in Congleton all their life is 84-year-old Anthea Howell, who said: ”This is a lovely area, I’m not surprised that it’s been named the safest place to live. Here, older people have a great social life because there’s so much to do. There are societies and groups you can join, there’s activities to accommodate all ages such as dancing, and there’s plenty of places to go.

“We love living here, people were up in arms when the Congleton War Memorial Hospital was going to be shut down. We’re not far from Congleton town centre, and we’ve got so many amenities nearby such as Daneside Theatre which the locals built, Congleton Park, a foodbank at the New Life Community Centre, and the leisure centre is opening soon [Thursday 29 June]. We have everything we need right on our doorstep really, and what we don’t have we can easily get to.

“If we jump in a car we can get to Macclesfield and Alderley Edge quite quickly too, and we’re well endowed with beautiful houses. About 45 of us are going on holiday to Cromer together which will be lovely. My neighbours are great too, they always check up on me and see how I am.”

Lesley Hutchins volunteers at the Chappellin Centre and has lived in the neighbourhood for 35 years. She said: “We’re so lucky to live here – the police popped in a few weeks back and said ‘if anyone has any worries let them know’, but nobody did and they told us ‘there’s nothing to worry about at all here’. It made me feel like my kids have been wrapped in cotton wool compared to other places.

“The Chappell Centre really helps as people can come in alone and make friends as it’s such a warm and welcoming place where everyone feels comfortable. Mossley as a whole is such a welcoming place, we’re happy to see people we know and we like having visitors and tourists stopping by too.

“It’s a safe place for kids, my son would go out and play and make dens with his friends along canal. I feel blessed to live here, I would never move.”

Emma Meir works at The Chappell House and added: “This area is really nice, I’ve lived here for 19 years and I have no intention of ever going anywhere else. I love working at The Chappell House because people can come in for food or a drink and they can chat and meet new people. A lot of groups use the room upstairs for meetings or activities and then they come and have a bite to eat and a refreshment in the café afterwards.”

Matt and Vicky Dawson were enjoying a rest in The Wonky Pear bar after a dog walk. Vicky said: “I was born at the War Memorial hospital and lived in Mossley before moving to Leek and Biddulph, but I knew I wanted to move back to Mossley when I wanted children. It’s such a safe and good place for children to grow up in and the location is great. They can walk into town from here or hop on a bus so everything is accessible despite being so rural. We love it here. Another great thing about Mossley is that everyone’s a dog lover, so it’s a great community. One thing I think we’re missing here though is a butcher’s. But other than that it’s perfect.”

Matt added: “We built our house in Mossley eight years ago and we’re really happy here. Our children go to Mossley CofE Primary School and it’s a brilliant school. Everyone’s friendly and most places are dog-friendly. There’s lots of walks around here such as The Cloud so it’s stunning to look at too.”

Abi Mitchell works at The Railway Inn and said: “I moved back from London and feel much safer here, when I went to London I didn’t realise how unsafe it can be, such as how I could walk around alone at night time in Mossley, but I wouldn’t dare to do it in London. It’s quiet here and there’s not a lot going on for young people but I never feel scared.”

Phil Leese also works at The Railway Inn and added: “Everyone plods along happily even though it’s a bit boring here because there’s not a lot going on.”

Amenities

Despite having such a small population and not many properties, Hightown, Mossley and Timbersbrook is rich in amenities. All three pubs listed below are dog-friendly.

• Hightown Post Office shop, Biddulph Road, open from 7.30am until 5.15pm Monday to Friday, and from 7.30am until 1pm on Saturdays

• Bonds Bakery, Biddulph Road, open Tuesday to Friday from 8.30am until 1.30pm, and on Saturdays from 8am until 1pm

• Hightown Fish and Chip shop, Biddulph Road, open from 11am until 1.30pm and reopens from 4.30pm until 9pm from Monday to Saturday

• H J Lea Oakes Pet Care Store, Biddulph Road, from 8.30am until 5.30pm on Monday to Friday, and on Saturdays from 8.30am until 5pm

• Mossley Pharmacy, Biddulph Road, open Monday to Friday from 9am until 5.30pm, and on Saturdays from 9am until 1pm

• Go East Chinese takeaway, Biddulph Road, open Monday to Sunday from 5pm until 10.30pm

• Innovations hairdressers, Biddulph Road, open Monday to Saturday from 9am until 7pm

• Alter Ego Barber Shop. Biddulph Road, from 9am until 6pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 9am until 7pm on a Thursday, from 8.30am until 5pm on Saturdays, and from 10am until 2pm on Sundays

• Bargain Booze, Biddulph Road, open Monday to Sunday from 11am until 8pm

• The Wonky Pear bar, Cross Lane, serves a wide variety of hot and alcoholic beverages, as well as hosting gigs and events in the venue and is open from Monday to Sunday from 11am until 10pm

• Hightown Hardware shop, Cross Lane, open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am until 4.30pm, and on Saturday from 9am until 4pm

• The Railway Inn, Park Lane, offers a range of food, alcoholic, hot and soft beverages and is open from 12pm (midday) until 11pm from Monday to Sunday

• The Chappell Centre, Leek Road, has a cafe and a range of activities upstairs including dancing. It’s open Tuesday to Friday from 9.30am until 3pm

• Mossley Village Hall, Leek Road

• Mossley Old School, Leek Road, which is host to lots of activities such as pilates and Scouts

• All Saints Congleton, Holy Trinity Church, Leek Road, for Church of England worshippers

• The Coach and Horses, Under Rainow Road, serves a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and food with a picturesque beer garden. Open from Monday to Sunday, 12pm until 10pm

• Mossley Cricket Club, off Moss Road, open Thursday from 6pm until 9pm, Friday from 6pm until 8pm, and Saturday from 12.30pm until 8pm

The local school in the area is Mossley Church of England Primary School, which is rated ‘Good’ by OFSTED.

Properties

Driving into Hightown, Mossley and Timbersbrook was picturesque with fields and stunning properties all around. There was no litter and the people passing each other on the pavements were nodding at one another or stopping for a brief catch up.

Each house was different to the next – especially in Cross Lane – with each boasting their own unique styles and decor, regardless of the size. There wasn’t one property where we thought ‘that one lets the street down’.

According to Rightmove, the most expensive property in Mossley is a modern four-bedroom detached house that boasts huge windows in almost every room, making the property very bright and open.

The Congleton Edge Road house also has two bathrooms, a driveway and a huge garden that can be accessed from almost anywhere at the back of the house, as the folding patio doors allow the space to be opened up. The master room has its own en suite as well as double doors instead of windows, perfect for summer mornings.

The cheapest property listed on Rightmove is a one-bedroom apartment Henshall Hall Drive which is asking for £120,000. The studio has modern décor, with bay windows which overlook the communal gardens.

It is close to the amenities and Congleton train station which could make it perfect for single professionals or first time buyers.

Commuting

Congleton train station is situated nextdoor to Hightown which makes the area perfect for commuters. There are plenty of pot-hole free roads around Hightown, Mossley and Timbersbrook which can lead drivers to main roads and A roads.

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