Local residents in High Kingsdown have expressed strong opposition to plans for a local pub converted into twelve new student flats.

The pub, ‘The Kings’s Arms’, could potentially be reorganised to house fifty students in ‘cluster flats’ which would not require any rebuilding to take place on the site.

The High Kingsdown development is an award-winning area of Bristol built in the 1970s, where local residents take pride in their vibrant, friendly community. The location is extremely desirable for Bristol University students since it is under ten minutes’ walk from Woodland Road and other major university buildings.

Residents fear that the area is becoming a ‘student ghetto’ where the peace of the neighbourhood will be disturbed by students creating ‘an uncared for area, a mess of litter, overflowing rubbish bins and front gardens looking like tips, not to mention noise’ as Linda Ewles of Tyndall Park Mews put it.

An anonymous resident who has been living in HIgh KIngsdown for 25 years said ‘I think it is outrageous. There are already a large number of students here, which makes it a transient population. this development, with so many more students, would swamp the place with them.’

As well as objections online from local residents, there have been concerns voiced by the Kingsdown Conservation Group, the Bristol civic society and the Highbury Residents Association.

Mark Wright, a Councillor for the area, has said that ‘The surrounding area of High Kingsdown is already well over 50 per cent students and what the area needs is more balance in its demographic rather than more transient residents.’

Concerns coming from residents are focussed on anxiety over the negative atmosphere that students may bring to the area in the form of noise, rubbish and late night parties. Dr Julie Clayton said ‘We need more young families who can attend local schools- and walk to school rather than driving from a distance. We need owner-occupiers who are going to care for each other and the neighbourhood and support a mixed sustainable community.’

Response from students has defended their reputation, with one student saying: ‘I am saddened that students are being depicted in this negative way.’ Another has claimed that ‘It is no less discriminatory to suggest that students make bad neighbours than to say ethnic minorities or those dependent on social welfare make bad neighbours.’ Those who do not support local objections have argued that students can benefit a community and that other residents can also be held responsible for noise levels and litter.

In an online comment, one resident has said ‘I appreciate the important contribution students make to the community. The shops, cafes and pubs in the area would close down without them.’

Although consultations regarding the plans to convert the pub have finished, the decision will not come before the committee until next month.