This amounts to years of residents having their human rights infringed

THE letter from a ‘Wet Resident’ in the Echo (November 15) highlights very serious problems which the university, despite frequent claims by them to the contrary, is simply not dealing with effectively.

These problems of loud, disturbing night-time noises on the streets, caused directly by some of their student-customers, have been happening for many years during term times in certain parts of the town. As your correspondent points out, this amounts to years of residents having their human rights infringed.

A stated right that people should be able to experience peaceable enjoyment of their homes ensures protection for their health and well-being. Disturbing noise, particularly during the night-time hours, disrupts and prevents proper restful sleep.

This is self-evident, especially to those who regularly and unfortunately experience it. The short-term and long-term negative health consequences of sleep disruption are serious and well documented. The impact of inadequate sleep has been shown to affect the physical, mental and emotional health of sufferers.

The NHS recognises the importance of adequate good quality sleep, and states that, “Regular poor sleep puts you at risk of serious medical conditions, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes – and it shortens your life expectancy. It’s now clear that a solid night’s sleep is essential for a long and healthy life.”

(1) Disrupted sleep dramatically affects body chemistry, immune func- tion and how the body responds to damage and stress.

(2) Loughborough University’s own sleep research agrees that disrupted sleep has serious adverse effects.

(3) When residents experience such sleep disruption several nights per week, the cumulative effects on their health should not be treated lightly. The local council has a duty of care to protect its residents from this antisocial noise, and the university has a responsibility to control those of its student-customers who directly contribute to it.

In its published response ( Echo, November 15) to the letter previously cited, the university claims that it “takes the issue of student behaviour very seriously” and says that it recognises that local residents “face disrup- tion as a result of inconsiderate behaviour by a minority of students” and “empathises” with these sufferers.

In light of the abundant research showing the dire health consequences of sleep disruption, the university must therefore acknowledge that it is also culpable (alongside this student minority) for these negative health impacts if it does not prevent this causative behaviour effectively.

Inspired by the idea of a challenge, as mentioned in the previous letter, Echo readers might speculate if Loughborough University’s academic staff could rise to the simple challenge of formulating a robust and effective pre-emptive solution to the significant community problems caused by such an insignificant number of their students.

Current solutions require embattled residents to react to noise disturbance (often several times in one night) by calling university security each time to lodge a complaint and request their reactive action. Well over a decade of this reactive approach has not proved effective in significantly reducing the problem – quite the opposite is our bitter experience.

What is required is a proactive determination to prevent the continuation of this entrenched problem – and it is not the responsibility of the long suffering residents affected by it to also develop the appropriate medicine for their malady.

Maire Lenagh York Road Loughborough