Student party stress put me in hospital says Priya
PREGNANT MUM: SLEEP DISRUPTED FOUR NIGHTS A WEEK
A PREGNANT mum says she was admitted to hospital because of the stress cvaused by student house parties on her street.
Priya Bains, 30, of Balfour Road, Lenton, said that her sleep was being disrupted on four nights a week her with her five-year-old son afraid to sleep in his own bedroom.
She said that on top of loud music and shouting, drugs – such as nitrous oxide canisters – had been thrown into her garden, where her children play.
The desperate mum says that, despite the fact she has kept a diary and continuously called for help, noone has taken her predicament seriously.
Priya moved into the property three years ago with her husband Sarosh Williams, 31.
They have two sons, aged 5 and 11 months, and are expecting their third child.
Mrs Bains, who is 14 weeks pregnant, said they have struggled to move houses due to the pandemic but feel they can no longer live in the area they once loved.
She said police have attended her calls, but once the party is dispersed, another will start, sometimes as early as 1pm the next day.
She said when police arrive it is like “a stampede” as students attempt to evade fines and run away.
She told the Post: “The amount of parties that have gone on is ridiculous.
“The parties can start about 1pm in the afternoon and do not stop until 4am.
“I have a five-year-old and he gets very disturbed when they are screaming.
“He does not know they are screaming for joy. He thinks they are in distress and gets very upset.
“Since we have lived in this house we’ve had problems where he is emotional and incontinent at night.
“The noise is always loud and feels like someone is trying to get into the room.
“It has got to a point now where he is in my bed and my husband is sleeping on the sofa.
“Four nights a week our sleep will be disturbed.
“I don’t mind a party or a kneesup. We are all human and need a let down, but not three or four times in the week.
“Not every night should we have to hear screaming and shouting.”
Recently, the family were faced with an emergency when Mrs Bains said she was taken to hospital which she says was linked to dehydration and stress.
“I am not getting any rest,” she added, “because the children are up throughout the night. I was admitted into hospital. I think it is down to the stress of living here.
“With the stress I can’t keep anything down. I am always worried about what will set the baby off or my five-year-old.
“I have kept a diary of complaints but I have given up because nothing ever gets done.”
Sarosh, an electrician, said they would never have moved to the area if they knew that more students would move into the street.
He said: “It is good for a bachelor but not for any families who are living here. You can’t expect a family to live and survive with good moral values here.
“There is no community feeling. If it wasn’t for the students the area is beautiful.”
Last Saturday, police closed down a house party next door to Priya and Santosh, and 16 students were fined £200 each.
Residents said they saw taxis pulling up on the street, with groups of “three or four” entering the property.
At one point
20 people were counted in less than a minute.
It is still illegal for people to meet indoors and gatherings should be limited to six people or two households outdoors.
Police said they will continue to attend large house parties despite the rules relaxing on Monday, as it is still a “threat to public health”.
The Post attempted to contact the students at the property in Balfour Road but no-one was available to talk.
Priya’s plight comes after another resident on the street, Tony Sandhu, 61, told the Post that he had to quit his job as a result of student house parties.
The sleep-deprived truck driver, who has lived in the area all his life, said the three hours’ sleep he was getting a night meant he was a danger to other road users. In March, residents living in the heart of Lenton said they were planning on selling up or leaving the area after weeks of illegal gatherings and bad behaviour by students.
Many are pointing at the two universities – Nottingham Trent and the University of Nottingham – for not taking action despite so many complaints.
The universities have provided a joint statement, which reads: “We make clear to our students that they should behave as responsible members of the communities in which they live, and we are proud that the majority of our students act accordingly, with many making a positive contribution through volunteering to support causes in the city.
“We do not tolerate any form of anti-social behaviour, and on receipt of any report will always investigate promptly.
“When we have evidence of behaviour that falls short of our expectations, we will always take immediate action under our respective internal disciplinary processes.
“We have issued warnings, fines and suspensions this year.
“As more students return to faceto-face teaching, we will continue to remind our students of their responsibilities to their local community.
“We patrol local neighbourhoods and have increased our security presence in areas with a higher number of students.”
i have a five-year-old and he gets very disturbed when they are screaming
Priya Bains