STUDENTS who threw a party the same week a man told a council committee he was suffering from sleep deprivation have said it is his problem for living in a student area.

David Mead told members of a Brighton and Hove City Council committee in December that his health was being affected by noisy students in the area.

Just four days after the warning, student neighbours threw an evening bash that kept Mr Mead awake, he said.

A 22-year-old student in Upper Lewes Road, who gave his name as George Flint, said: “We have only had one party and we sent around a letter beforehand to let our neighbours know.

“He sent us a grumpy letter back saying thanks for letting me know.

“We know our neighbour has a young child so we put our number on there so they could ring us if there were any problems.”

But Mr Flint admitted to The Argus that he would not have shut down the party if asked.

Another student in the house, a 20-year-old who gave his name as Tom Ross, said: “I do feel sorry for him.

“Not being able to get up for work is not fun.

“But at the same time he has chosen to live in a student area.”

Mr Ross echoed concerns about “houses in multiple occupation” and said he felt many landlords were “cheaping-out” by “trying to shove as many people as possible into one house”.

The pair said it was unusually quiet on the street at the moment as many students are studying for exams.

Mr Mead said all students in the city should be linked up to a database between the council and their universities, so when a student property receives a noise complaint, they can be held accountable.

But Mr Ross disagreed and said that the proposed scheme would unfairly punish students who were living next to neighbours who complain a lot.

An unrepentant Mr Mead believes the council needs more power to deal with noisy neighbours.


The Argus:

Mr Mead has spent thousands soundproofing his house


He said he successfully built healthy relations with his student neighbours, but they constantly change due to the turnover of students each year.

He said: “These people don’t care because they know they’re moving on to another house.

“What the authorities have failed to do is put together a central database.

“So if something happens which causes a disturbance as a result of antisocial behaviour they can haul them in and threaten to throw them off their course.”

The council said residents can call 01273 293541 or email outofhoursnoise@brighton-hove.gov.uk from 5pm on a Friday through to 9am on Monday morning.

Have you been affected by noisy students or homes of multiple occupancy in your area of the city? If so, contact jody.doherty-cove@theargus.co.uk with the details of what happened.