Sir – I was very disappointed by Dr Gwinnett’s response to Elizabeth Mills’ letter re recent student noise in our streets.
Having lived in East Oxford for almost 50 years now, I think I can say that, on the whole, we are a pretty tolerant lot.
We have taken on board the steady growth of the student population, bringing in its wake the proliferation of HMOs, increasing parking difficulties, and the opening of clubs and bars on the Cowley Road to cater for their needs.
So, when my lovely neighbours, working couples and families with small children (not just “oldies” like myself), tell me how upset they too are at being woken in the small hours, night after night, during the last two weeks or so, by students shouting, swearing and singing (or even just talking excessively loudly), right outside their windows, I know that this year things must be especially bad.
If there have been no incidents logged by police, and only a few complaints received by Brookes, I think this just proves that we aren’t habitual moaners or wasters of valuable police time.
Incidentally, the whole of East Oxford and the Brookes campus seems a very large area to be covered by two PSCOs!
So, Dr Gwinnett, whilst we continue to welcome civilised students in our midst, surely it is the responsibility of the University to ensure that the rest act in a reasonable manner, so that there is no need for local residents to involve the police any other agencies?
Pauline Hambrook, Oxford
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