The city’s new, and returning, university students are being warned not to party too hard in door-to-door visits by the police, Manchester City Council and university staff.
Freshers’ Week is in full swing and officials are circulating student areas, knocking on doors to inform students of the impact big parties that run through the whole night can have on their neighbours.
Students have also been told that action – from seizure of the noise making equipment to the issuing of injunctions – will be taken against them if they hold particularly loud parties.
The most troublesome houses will be issued with closure notices – students may be evicted from their homes and disciplinary action from their university if they fail to comply with injunctions.
Councillor Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council’s executive member for neighbourhoods, is determined to anchor down on noise discipline for students in busy neighbourhoods.
He said: “Residents should never have to put up with loud parties, and cracking down on this problem is a major priority for us.
“That’s why we’ve been working closely with the police and universities to adopt a new approach to dealing with the issue this year.”
Whilst officers are visiting all areas with high student populations around Manchester, particular focus is being made to 10 streets in Fallowfield as over the last three years they have attracted 270 noise complaints.
Mr Murphy was eager to point out that while we hear about ‘student areas’ these areas also house permanent residents with jobs and/or families.
“Students who live on these streets may think they are in a ‘student area’ but in fact the majority of people who live there are permanent residents who are working full time and bringing up families,” he said.
“We’re asking students to be aware of this, respect their neighbours, and think again before holding noisy parties – because if they don’t we can and will take serious action against them.”
Over the last few weeks, during the run up to the student term, the city council has also written to landlords, students themselves, and their guarantors – in many cases the students’ parents – with the same warnings.
