RESIDENTS in Leamington claim students are noisier and more anti-social than ever.
South Leamington Area Residents (Solar) say the number of parties and noise on the streets in the early hours had increased significantly and they blamed a rising number of students living together in homes in multiple occupation (HMOs).
The group has launched an online survey asking fellow residents what incidents have affected them.
Solar member and south town resident Len Mackin said: “It is really important we gather this information.
“Residents across Leamington, and particularly south town, are complaining more and more about disruption to their lives caused by the ever increasing loud and anti-social behaviour.
“This is a particular problem at this time of the year when a large number of young people come to live in the town. The council, the police and the university are not listening to our concerns.”
And the group say despite a noise review done by Warwick District Council, nothing is being done to tackle the problem.
Mr Mackin added: “The council’s recent Night Noise Review was a total damp squib and did nothing to address residents’ concerns.
“We are doing our own work on the issue and giving residents a chance to say how noise and anti-social behaviour is affecting them. We know it can have a huge impact on peoples health and well being.”
The group says its survey will run throughout the academic year until next July and a report will then be prepared and given to the relevant bodies.
But the district council says it works hard to ensure noise is kept to a minimum.
Health and community spokeswoman Coun Judy Falp said: “The report on our out of hours service dealing with noise confirmed that the service is fit for purpose.
“In terms of dealing with noise in the street, we work closely with police and the University of Warwick and introduced the first off-campus street marshall scheme in the country.
“We brief the marshalls on routes to patrol based on reports from the community with the aim of minimising any noise made by students when leaving or returning to the communities in which they live.“
Warwick University says it takes noise complaints seriously.
A spokesman said: “The university and the students’ union continues to work with Warwick District Council to communicate throughout the academic year with students and landlords about noise nuisance, and to help our students to understand their responsibilities as local residents and how to be a good neighbour. However we do recognise that from time to time there will be concerns and subsequent complaints from local residents.
“We take any such complaint extremely seriously. Where the student is identifiable we will investigate and, depending on the nature of the complaint, provide them with advice, require them to write an apology, or take disciplinary action.
“We meet on a monthly basis with both Warwickshire and West Midlands Police and Warwick District and Coventry City Council to monitor, respond to and develop proactive projects to address concerns about students living in local communities.
“This year we have also launched a new Student Housing Enforcement Project in a partnership between Warwick District Council, Warwick Students’ Union and the university. The university has given a grant contribution for a full-time housing enforcement officer employed by WDC to be a single point of contact on all student housing issues for students, landlord and local residents.”
