Residents are calling for action to tackle student behaviour in east Reading.
More than a hundred complaints have been sent to the University of Reading (UoR), the police and the council about anti-social behaviour in the area surrounding a halls of residence which the university wants to expand.
Whitley Park Lane resident Jessica Di Luccio has been recording anti-social behaviour witnessed by her and neighbours in the area surrounding St Patrick’s Hall for the last 15 months.
They include reports of vomiting and urinating in residents’ gardens, chanting and screaming until 3am and leaving cans of beer and pizza boxes on the streets.
Anti-social behaviour has been recorded on east Reading roads including Northcourt Avenue, Christchurch Road and Whitley Park Lane.
Ms Di Luccio said: “Residents have been victim to over 15 months of chanting, swearing, shouting, screaming, banging of bus shelters, walking on bus shelters, booze litter, vomiting and urinating on our streets.”
She has recorded a diary of anti-social behaviour and complaints sent to the police, council and university from herself and other residents in the area near St Patrick’s Hall in the last 15 months.
A government inspector recently held an inquiry into the university’s proposed 836-room extension at St Patrick’s Hall, which was rejected by Reading Borough Council (RBC) in February 2018.
A decision on the appeal is expected within the next few months.
Ms Di Luccio said it would be ‘an absolute travesty’ if the plans were approved.
The bus stop at Christchurch Green on the corner of Whitley Park Lane has been a hotspot for anti-social behaviour, with the university implementing a street warden scheme focused on dispersing students in this area.
A UoR spokesman said: “UoR is committed to being a good neighbour and we work closely with our neighbours, the Students’ Union, council and police to make improvements where possible.
“We have robust disciplinary procedures and we regularly communicate with our students of their obligations to our local community.
“We manage student behaviour in a number of ways, including our street warden scheme.
“Based on the positive feedback we have received about the scheme from many local residents since starting last year, it will be continued and extended in future.”
Ms Di Luccio said the scheme ‘fails to deliver on its promise of dispersing the noise’, with several residents questioning what the wardens are there to do.
She said the university is ‘burying their head in the sand’ and Thames Valley Police and Reading Borough Council have failed to act on the anti-social behaviour.
An RBC spokesman said: “The council is aware of concerns about the behaviour of some students waiting at the Christchurch Green bus stop which is causing a disturbance to some residents at certain parts of the day.
“We understand the concerns of residents who are bothered by the behaviour of some students in this area and we are continuing to work with the university and police to deal with the situation.”
PC David Wren, based at Reading police station, said TVP are monitoring complaints and discussing a long-term solution with UoR and RBC.
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