Post 57 – 14/04/24 – Living With The Blight Of Student Anti-Social Behaviour – A First Hand Account (5 Minute Read)
Over the past few weeks we have been asking for stories relating to the handling of RHUL student related issues. In light of some comments on Facebook, we thought it an opportunity to share a first hand account of one person’s experience of living with student ASB. A bit like Jon’s story, I don’t think it needs much in the way of an introduction other than to say that this is a reality for many residents that live in Egham & Englefield Green.
“It’s just after two in the early hours of Thursday morning but it could just as well be a Tuesday or a Saturday…
Once again I’ve been woken by a group of revellers returning home, this group were singing tunelessly. I know though that just as I try to get back to sleep the next group will stagger along. They might be shouting, fighting or screaming, if I’m lucky. If I’m unlucky they’ll be jumping from my car boot to the bonnet, stealing the plant pots from my front door step or urinating in my front garden. Oh and did I mention racing each other in wheely bins up and down the road!
These incidents will carry on for at least two hours… and longer when the clocks go forward, often until 6 in the morning.
It wouldn’t be so bad if it were just one group and I could get back to sleep but it is seemingly endless. It feels like a kind of torture. When I eventually drift off to sleep in the early hours it feels like minutes until my alarm goes off. How will I face another day at work on little or no sleep?
My partner and I find ourselves short tempered with each other, well of course we are, when at least three nights a week we are existing on just a few hours sleep. The children doze at their desks in school and the Head called me in to discuss their sleep deprivation!
We’ve even tried going to bed earlier to get some sleep in before the interruptions start!
I’ve made complaints (numerous) to Environmental Health, the Police and to RHUL
I’ve been asked how can I be sure the revellers are students. Apart from the fact that most of the disturbances are following a late licence at the college, I mean who else would it be that doesn’t have to go to work Monday to Friday, that can party until the early hours several times a week!
I’m soul crushingly weary but above all I’m sad. The town I loved and have lived in most of my life has become inhospitable and unbearable to live in. I wonder how much more I can take? Will I become another casualty, forced out because nobody’s listening?”
If you are not impacted by student ASB or transient noise today consider yourself lucky – it can be a serious blight on your life. As RHUL plans to grow by 25% in the next 6 years to 15,000 students: with its Rusham Park Student Village development paused and its Head Lease scheme being considered, this particular problem may be quite literally coming down your road.
But things should be alright: nearly three years ago – in full recognition of these problems – RHUL, RBC and Surrey Police entered into a collaborative Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) specifically to pool information about RHUL student ASB and tackle it together. The MOU states, ‘Where particular locations or individuals are causing a chronic issue, stakeholders will work in partnership to seek a resolution’. Do you think that the MOU is working for this particular resident? Would it work for you?
Best wishes,
We Need To Talk About Royal Holloway
Updates:
- For the benefit of people that have recently joined this group: https://weneedtotalkaboutroyalholloway.com/timeline/
- New Home Page: https://weneedtotalkaboutroyalholloway.com/
- Save the date. Only 54 sleeps (Fingers crossed emoji) until Saturday 8th June. More details to follow.
- If you would like to read Jon’s story please follow this link: https://weneedtotalkaboutroyalholloway.com/whatsapp-forum-posts-2023/28/
- If you have a story relating to the handling of RHUL student related issues, good or bad, we would like to hear from you. Please send an email to enquiries@weneedtotalkaboutroyalholloway.com with a brief outline and someone will get back to you.