Hi all,

My wife and I are hoping to move to FH from Orpington in the next few months. We really like the area and think it has great links into town.

We saw a house on Saturday that we really like, but I have concerns that it is a bit far away from the 'action' as it were. It is almost out at the Sainsbury's at Bell Green, but just about sneaks into the SE23 postcode.

We would most likely be using FH station to commute for work, and this place is probably a 20 min walk from the station. I know there is a bus route up Perry Rise/Vale, but they appear to be infrequent (3 an hour). The walk to the station doesn't concern me too much (I could cycle) but I do wonder if the house is a bit too far away from the main area of FH, the cafes, pubs, and restaurants. These are the kind of things that attract us from Orpington (originally we looked at Crystal Palace, but can't afford it and the trains are not as good), and I can't help wondering by being a bit removed from them, whether we are actually any better off.

Does anyone else live out this way and have any opinions? Are there nice things to do in the immediate area?

Also, what is the latest on the proposed development of the old gas works?

Thanks!