They say you can judge how long you have lived in Alsager by whether you call it a town or a village. Officially a town, many of its longer standing residents still refer to it as 'the village' and are keen to preserve this identity.
It has a Staffordshire postcode and Stoke-on-Trent appears in some of its addresses, yet it stands firmly on the Cheshire side of the county border and falls within the Congleton Borough Council remit.
In years gone by the mere was the focal point of the town but development around its edge means access to this picturesque body of water is severely limited, which is sadly lamented by those who remember the good old days.
Nowadays it can only be enjoyed via fenced public viewing areas, unless you work in one of the shops bordering its banks or can afford to own one of the sought-after mereside properties.
Now that the mere is almost hidden, the civic centre and the library are the central points of the town.
Because Alsager's layout is very linear you won't find lots of little side streets to explore; instead there are a couple of main commercial roads where shops are dotted between houses.
You'll find small independent outlets such as such as a florist and craft store, and last year Alsager was awarded Fairtrade Town status in recognition of the ethical products available from shops and cafes.
Manchester Metropolitan University has had a campus in Alsager since 1992, when it expanded into Crewe and Alsager College of Higher Education.
However, MMU has decided to focus its attention on the Crewe campus and will withdraw from Alsager within the next few years.
Quite how the withdrawal will affect the town is still uncertain but it is very likely that the campus site will be used for a mix of around 250 new homes, retail outlets, and sport, leisure and recreation facilities.
The town is divided over this prospect, with some viewing it as over-development in a small community and others relishing the opportunity for investment and regeneration.
Here is a brief run through what is on offer in the Alsager property market:
Property in Alsager
According to the last census more than 48 per cent of all properties in Alsager are semi-detached, just over 30 per cent are detached, 15 per cent are terraced and only 5.4 per cent are flats.
Seventy-seven per cent of properties are owner-occupied.
Town centre: Alsager is unusual in having some very large properties in its town centre.
These include attractive Palladian homes, both detached and semi-detached, which date from the 1800s when wealthy businessmen from the Potteries chose to live here for the cleaner air but close proximity to their workplace.
Expect to pay a premium for these, particularly if they have gardens backing onto the mere. They are highly sought-after and rarely come onto the market.
Elsewhere there is a mixture of everything from two-bed terraces to four-bedroom detached properties.
For more than a decade the town has had a thriving buy-to-let market to cater for the student population and has been popular with university staff; it remains to be seen how the uni's withdrawal will affect the local housing market.
New builds have been very scarce due to limits imposed by the council. Of those that have been allowed, the apartments at Cranberry Point, Crewe Road, were particularly popular.
A partnership between the developer and the borough council enabled the flats to be sold at 20 per cent below the market value, and priority was given to local people.
Although Alsager is within commuting distance of the Potteries and larger towns in Cheshire, estate agents say most buyers tend to be people who work in the town.
University Campus: A major development of around 250 new properties is set to be built when Manchester Metropolitan University moves from the town in the next few years.
This is expected to take up the area's new build quota, so it will be the place to buy if you want a brand new home in Alsager. The site is expected to include affordable properties as well as larger homes.
Barthomley: Three miles south-west of Alsager, this picturesque village is very desirable for those wanting semi-rural living.
Audley: Around three miles south of Alsager, Audley is becoming increasingly popular due to its currently affordable properties, and interesting mix of semis and terraces.
Living Here
Transport:
Trains: Alsager Railway station is on the Crewe to Stoke-on-Trent line.
Buses: Regular bus services connect to Crewe, Hanley, Sandbach and Congleton.
Road: Alsager is less than two miles from junction 16 of the M6.
Air: Manchester Airport is around 25 miles from the town.
Shopping:
Alsager has a good selection of small, often independent, shops.
An outdoor market, with around 25 pitches, is held on Fairview car park every Wednesday.
There is currently one supermarket, Co-op, but Sainsbury's will soon have a presence here.
Eating and drinking:
Take your pick from a small selection of eateries including Italian, Kashmiri, Chinese, pubs and takeaways.
There are plenty of pubs to choose from, including one renowned for its live jazz evenings.
Sports and leisure:
Alsager Town FC, currently in the Unibond First Division South, play at Wood Park.
Alsager Leisure Centre, Hassall Road, has a swimming pool, fitness suite, sports hall, indoor cricket nets and squash courts.
The Alsager Five Mile Road Race is held every February and usually attracts around 1,200 runners.
Alsager Cricket Club is in Fairview Avenue.
Alsager Golf and Country Club is in Audley Road.
Entertainment:
Alsager Arts Centre, based on the university campus, stages theatre and dance performances and art exhibitions. It is set to move from the town within the next few years, when it will be relocated in Crewe.
Alsager Community Theatre is an active amateur group which puts on four productions each year at Alsager Civic Centre and outdoors at Little Moreton Hall.
Parks and open spaces:
pic: The Mere, Alsager
Milton Gardens is the town's main park, with a large open space and a children's play area.
Coronation Gardens, Sandbach Road North, has views over the mere.
Cranberry Moss, Crewe Road, is a nature reserve one mile outside the town centre.
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