“Why indeed? Depends why you want to leave Kent, and how much of a wrench it's going to be for your children. If it's just nostalgia, stay put - Plymouth is a different place now.”

“Why indeed? Depends why you want to leave Kent, and how much of a wrench it's going to be for your children. If it's just nostalgia, stay put - Plymouth is a different place now.”

“dont bother”

“IMy husband and I left Plymouth for sometime ,then illness became part of our lives we then moved to Wales for our two girls who took great care of us . My husband has since died but my yearning for Plymouth is so great ,yes it is not the city you would have left, but what city is .in these dark days of resession .People forget the beauty of the 'Hoe' an the views out to sea also the beauty of the moors and just over the bridge Cornwall ,all these things are free to enjoy .
Work wise I have no idea of the job situation but no different to the rest of the UK .I have a son there who says he would never leave Plymouth it is a beautiful place .”

“Your life is what you make it , Plymouth isn't the problem - rather a small minority of trouble makers. As I travel around the town it has changed beyond recognition,but for the better.
It has clean streets a multi cultural feel and I find the majority of people friendly.
Like any one leaving and trying to re-settle after several years it will be hard- the pace is quick in Plymouth but the over all ambiance of the city - friendly and inviting. Home is where the heart is.”

“There are lots of nice fields here, I'm sure if you ask any farmer he'll let you work in one! ;-)
(sorry, couldn't resist!)”

“shazza1357 must live on the outskirts or somethin'! Anywhere in the South Hams is well peaceful (minimal chavs and northern bandits), but alot of areas in Plymouth and Torquay are like some sort of experiment gone wrong, although thats like most major towns and cities i've lived in around England. I like it down here personally but i haven't got kids. Id choose your school wisely if you moved back, but its definately possible to have a great life. Take it easy bud”

“The biggest problem you face with making your decision is that people use the forums to vent their spleens about how bad it is, yet those that don't have an issue with the place keep quiet. I wouldn't recommend using info gleaned from a forum as any basis for determining whether to come back or not. As with all towns and cities, there are good and bad bits about it. As long as the balance is in your favour, you can then choose the options to make it right for you.

I live on the edge of the moors, have a steady job, well-educated kids with their school 5 minutes from my house, one's just completed a degree at Plymouth Uni, so I really can't complain about anything. But that's partly due to the results of careful planning on where we moved to when we became a family and school selection based on that.

If you ask me, it's a great place which is being let down by leaders at the moment who seem to miss the potential of the city each time we have a new bunch take over, and the legacies of the last lot will be felt for years to come (but that's another story).”

“I left the Navy after a 24 year career in 2010 and moved in with my partner who was born and bred in Plymouth.
Up until then, I had never spent any considerable time in this area but the 4 years prior to me moving in made me think that this wasn't such a bad place to live.

After the initial 6 month or so 'honeymoon period' from me leaving the Navy and moving in with my partner, I soon had to bite the bullet and start looking for work - a tough enough job in itself given the current economical crisis - but none the less, applications went in for positions much akin to that I had achieved within the forces - regarding position and salary.

It soon became very clear that the current job market in Plymouth isn't looking for the skills that I can bring; this coupled with the fact I have no 'network' here (social or professional) has made the matter increasingly difficult and has, on occasion, placed considerable strain on my relationship with my partner.

I would like to think that I wasn't naive to believe everything would work out first time but apparently I was definitely naive enough to believe I could find work here.

I have found employment but this took a year and a half to find and is a fraction of the position I am capable of - both in salary and ability - and I go to work feeling constantly undermined.

My son - recently qualified as a Key Stage 1/2 teacher is hoping to find work here (as well as in in Dorset). He has applied for 5 positions here in Plymouth and three in Dorset; ALL of the positions he applied for in Dorset replied to him. How many do you think responded from Devon???? Absolutely none! A fine start for the career of a 'budding' teacher - a career path apparently in demand!

I firmly believe Plymouth/Devon does not want 'outsiders' and that nepotism is the only way you'll be gainfully employed.

So I guess the answer to your question is 'YES'; come and live here by all means but don't come here expecting to - a) find work or, b) receive a salary anywhere near equal to market rates for the rest of the country for an identical position.”

“Don't come back, go North, Plymouth is a dump. Empty City Centre with cheap shops. The Hoe falling to bits and dirty with primitive thick youths tombstoning. Roads like farm tracks and rip off parking charges. Shops full of rubbish produced by child labour in the Far East. I could go on...”

“This field.... I'm worried obout you. You're not in KentMaze.co.uk are you? I also could not resist. Sorry i appreciate that they will come for me with dobermans, my white flag will be out in the field....”