By community correspondent Bethan Baxter There has always been a subtle divide between East and West Molesey. It’s always been the ‘snobs’ of the East turning down their noses at the council housing and perceptions of yobs of the West roaming the streets. This is a sceptical view, but however much people deny this divide, it exists.

What makes East Molesey so much better? Well, for one it has Palace Road, Wolesey Road and Arnison Road, some of the finest and most expensive roads in all of Molesey. West Molesey is home to Ray Road, a road with one of the highest amounts of antisocial behaviour, and of course the industrial estate. The West side of town is a mish mash of ex-council houses, Victorian cottages and post war houses, not the villas of Palace Road.

This reputation and division has a big influence on the choices people make when considering moving to Molesey. A small house in East Molesey on a narrow Victorian street with no off street parking could cost the equivalent of a comfortable size house, with a large garden and drive in an average West Molesey street. You will be paying a large sum of money for the road and the address when in fact you could get more for your money in a slightly less ‘desirable’ part of Molesey.

However, West Molesey offers green parks, local shops and history, the original High Street and the beautiful River Mole (which Molesey is named after). So why is it looked down on? Yes, there have been slightly rebellious teenagers shouting in the streets after dark but in fact West Molesey is the heart of Molesey. Many of the extended families who have lived in Molesey for generations live in West Molesey and often it is these people that arrange the carnival, and other events that bring the entire community together. They haven’t just moved in from the hustle and bustle of London to live in a quiet suburb, over many years they have seen the town go through so many changes and come out the other end.

Molesey has a truly satisfying villagey feel about it because of the social mix and people from all over coming together. This is one of the factors that means people who move to Molesey stay in Molesey and raise their family here. Here’s some more food for thought, perhaps, teenagers meeting in the streets at eleven o’clock at night and riding their bikes is all part of keeping up the warmth of the community and the town itself!

The division will always be there, but the variety in buildings, people, culture and religion will always knit the town together to make one warm community.