WATERFRONT: Quayside residents today voiced their concerns after enduring several weeks of “excessive noise” caused by a group of freshers.

A number of residents have issued complaints about the noise levels at Athena Hall – the newest student accommodation just yards from the University Campus Suffolk’s (UCS) Waterfront building.

Made up of 470 students, the new accommodation facility was opened on September 5, allowing the new students to experience living on campus.

One resident, who lives close to Athena Hall, but asked not to be named, said: “While I understand that when you first get to university you want to go out and have a good time, the level of noise from the students as they walk across the car park on their way out is excessive – especially during the week in the middle of the night.

“The halls are surrounded by residential flats and this must be keeping people awake the whole way along the Waterfront.”

The resident said that a group of young men had also been spotted urinating in the car park, adding: “It is pretty ridiculous, considering they have just come out of their building.”

Carol Macaskill, director of operations at UCS, said that they were attempting to bring the issue under control.

“Our campus halls are made up of 470 residents in total – which we are delighted about,” she said. “However, we are disturbed by the feedback from local residents, relating to noise caused by a small number of students. We have received five or six official complaints and some people attending residents’ meetings have expressed concerns.

“We don’t take things like this lightly, and we do appreciate that it is the beginning of term. We are taking steps to speak to the small number of persistent offenders, as we see them as our ambassadors.”

Jane Crouch, director of operations for Fresh Student Living, which runs the site, said they would work with the students and university to ensure there were no more disruptions to residents.

n Do you have any concerns about the Waterfront? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstar letters@eveningstar.co.uk