Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RESIDENTS ‘LIVING IN FEAR OF STUDENTS’
Concern rises as Freshers’ Week gets started
HOLYLAND RESIDENT YESTERDAY
RESIDENTS are “living in fear” of anti-social behaviour caused by students in South Belfast – a local woman has claimed.
Today marks the start of Freshers’ Week 2019, where students begin a new chapter in their lives, with many residing in the Holyland area of the city.
Anne has lived on Rugby Avenue in the area for 11 years, and told the Mirror she and her neighbours fear September coming around year after year.
The 54-year-old said: “I am absolutely petrified and dreading the students coming back.
“The partying started last weekend because they have all got their keys and are starting to get a feel for the ‘student life’ as such.
“I have already received abuse last night when I ask them to keep the noise down.
“I stood in my garden having a cigarette and students actually walked up my pathway holding bottles of vodka and wine and asked me for a cigarette.
“When I told them to go away they started shouting and cursing at me. I really think local officials need to change their strategies because what they’ve been trying over the years clearly isn’t working.
“These people don’t live here 24/7 365 days a year so I think they need to sit down with residents and listen to us.”
Anne went on to defend “students who come to actually get a good education without causing trouble”.
She added: “Don’t get me wrong, there are some really good kids living in the Holyland area.
“They have a drink and a bit of a party too but they know where the line is and they know when it becomes disrespectful.
“It’s not just St. Patrick’s Day that brings trouble – you have Freshers’ Week, Halloween, Christmas, Re-freshers’ Week, St Patrick’s Day and then their final partying before they go home for the summer.
“I have been so tempted to just move out of the area, which isn’t right.
“When I first moved in here it was a mess, I have done all the work to the house and it is now my home.
“But I would leave here in a heartbeat, which is so sad because I do love this area.”
Local universities have warned students planning to live in the Holyland area this year to not engage in anti-social behaviour or there will be “robust disciplinary processes”.
A spokesman for Ulster University told the Mirror: “Ulster University does not tolerate antisocial behaviour and has robust disciplinary processes in place to deal with any incidences, as and when they are reported to us by the council or the PSNI.”
A Queen’s University spokeswoman said it will be working closely with the PSNI and Belfast City Council this year.
She added: “A strict off-campus disciplinary code is in place and if any Queen’s student is found to have brought the university into disrepute, they will be subject to the full rigours of this code.”
Alliance MLA for South Belfast Paula Bradshaw said more needs done to “protect both residents and students”.
She added: “No community should be expected to live in constant fear of what is going to happen every night of the week, not knowing if they are going to get any sleep, or wake up without a wing mirror on their car.”