Inside UK village with wild average age where locals 'don't want young people'

04 August 2023 , 10:13

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The average age in Coalpit Heath is 72 (Image: Tom Wren SWNS)

Residents of a village where the average age is one of the oldest in the country say they "want it to stay like that" as they enjoy it being "quiet" and close to nature.

Census data has revealed that the median age in Coalpit Heath, Gloucestershire is 72, which makes it one of the 'oldest' villages in the country but it doesn't seem to bother the people living there.

Many say Coalpit Heath, located 10 miles north of Bristol, doesn't need more young people and there is worry that new housing would destroy the beautiful nature that they have. But some do argue that it could do with fresh faces as it is mainly made up of "kids and old people".

The village boasts three pubs, a few shops and a cricket club - with a curry house topping the TripAdvisor ratings. Christine Helliker, 73, a full-time carer, has lived in Coalpit Heath for 46 years.

She said: “There were no estates or new houses – the reason we first came here is because it was a village. [Building houses] has to be done, but I don’t like the green fields going. I think it’s lovely that it’s the third oldest village – I'd like it to stay like that.

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Inside UK village with wild average age where locals 'don't want young people'

Basil Taylor said it is a "lovely" area (Tom Wren SWNS)

Aliesha Ward said there is a good mix of people (Tom Wren SWNS)

“I think there’s a good mixture [of older and younger people] here, I don’t think we need younger people, there’s enough." But primary school teacher Aliesha Ward, 24, said: “It’s alright [here]. I live with my mum as it’s too expensive to move out at the moment. It’s fine, and it’s a quiet town.

“I don’t mind living here. You have to get taxis and things as the buses into Bristol are really bad. It’s quite a quiet place to live but I don’t mind it, it’s not where I want to live forever. We always say it’s either kids or old people. There are not many people my age still living around here unless you live with your parents. It probably needs some younger people.

Theresa Lomas, 62, said the area needs more amenities (Tom Wren SWNS)

"But I wouldn’t want the fields to be built on because that’s where we walk our dogs and it’s nice to have the countryside field. There’s not very good buses, there’s no train station – if you live here you need to be able to drive otherwise you can’t get anywhere.”

Locals say their favourite thing about Coalpit Heath is the proximity to nature - and the friendly feel. Tina Thomson, 46, said: "I grew up here and it’s just a nice village with nice walks and all the amenities.

“My son has just bought a property last December in Coalpit Heath, he's 25, and my daughter is also looking to buy and would like to stay local – she doesn’t want to go too far from the village. It has got busier and more populated - when I first got married, we couldn’t afford anything around here, but I always wanted to get back."

Jon Trollope said that it is a friendly village (Tom Wren SWNS)

Basil Taylor, 79, said: “I spend most of my leisure time in Coalpit Heath and we’ve lived near for over 40 years. I’ve just come out of the ukelele club – I’m not a drinking man so we take the children and grandchildren to softball and football here.

“It’s a lovely area, most of the people know each other and lots of people have moved in since we came here. There’s still a lot of regulars around, we all know each other, every time you go out anywhere you always see someone you know.”

Coalpit Heath is a stone's throw from Frampton Cotterell - which has a significantly younger population. Jon Trollope, 34, who works in consumer research, said: “I live in Frampton, but I play cricket in Coalpit Heath so I’m here at least once a week.

Tina Thomson, 46, grew up in Coalpit Heath (Tom Wren SWNS)

“We’ve got quite a mixed group of cricketers – some are younger than me, some my age and older as well. It’s a nice place to live, everyone’s friendly, I’ve lived here my whole life and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. There's a lot more younger families here over the last few years. Everyone is really friendly and the neighbours near me are nice people, everyone just looks out for each other.”

Theresa Lomas, 62, who lives in Frampton Cotterell, said of the wider area: “It was lovely years ago but not anymore. There’s housing and developments but we don’t have the facilities. I’d like to go back years ago when it was a village and all the families stayed in the village. People that were born in the village years ago can’t afford to live in it, they’ve been priced out by people coming in recently.”