Loughborough students 'are the loudest in the land'

Hard-partying students in Loughborough are the loudest in the land, according to levels of noise complaints made to British universities.

Fed-up residents made 436 complaints about students wrecking their peace and quiet with loud music, drunken shouting and screaming and other disturbances between August last year and July this year.

That's one complaint for every 40 of the university's 17,650 students – the highest ratio of noise-related grievances in the country. Nationally, the average is one complaint for every 557 students.

Loughborough Students' Union president Rob Hulme said: "It doesn't look good but I'm not sure it's entirely representative to single us out like this.

"Obviously, students are never going to be the quietest people to have as neighbours because they do want to enjoy themselves, but we try to make sure we get the message across that they should find a balance between fun and respect and not be too noisy.

"Last year, there were a lot of noise complaints but they were mainly related to two outdoor music events – our freshers' ball and Freefest – which upset quite a few people.

"We listened to them and this year we had our freshers' ball indoors and I haven't had any complaints."

Mr Hulme said the union had also paid for street marshals to keep the peace on two specific nights when up to 2,000 students headed from the campus to town centre pubs and clubs.

John Burnard has lived on Ashby Road, the main route between the campus and the town centre, for 11 years.

He said: "On Sunday morning at 4.30am, I was woken up by students outside my house screaming and shouting and it wasn't nice.

"That sort of thing is quite common, unfortunately, and I'm not surprised Loughborough is top of this particular table.

"Having said that, the university knows there is a problem and actively encourages us to complain so they can do something about it. Many others probably ignore the noise issue."

Resident Peter Shone, 63, said: "Last year, the noise was quite bad and at one point there was a recurring problem with students ringing doorbells and running away.

"This year, as far as I'm concerned it has been far quieter. The union and university deserve a bit of praise for that but I think it's down to all the angry people last year.

"In a small town like Loughborough, the impact is going to be more noticeable than in big cities like Leeds, Nottingham or Leicester."

Loughborough University community relations manager Alison Barlow said: "The behaviour of the vast majority of our students is exemplary.

"However, any complaints are taken very seriously and we have a comprehensive system in place for reporting, recording and investigating incidents."

She said the university believed the system was "in advance of many universities", which was "an important factor in accounting for Loughborough's position in the table".

Sound insulation firm Rockwool submitted Freedom of Information requests for noise complaints figures to every UK university. The University of Leicester came 18th of the 92 campuses, which is one complaint for every 170 students.

A spokesman said: "The university's student welfare service record complaints they receive from students coming under the heading of noise and anti-social behaviour. From August 1, 2008, to July 31, 2009, they received 47 such contacts."

Rockwool said Leicester's De Montfort University did not respond.

The firm's managing director, Hans Schreuder, said: "University chancellors should be aware that excess noise pollution can affect their university's reputation."