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Canterbury house party hell as university students’ letter warns neighbours not to park in own street

Brazen students warned families not to park their cars outside their own homes before hosting a rowdy all-night house party.

Residents say hundreds of young people flooded into Kemsing Gardens in Canterbury for the end-of-term blowout.

Police were called after reports of party-goers doing drugs – as well as a brawl breaking out in the early hours, with one person seen wielding a baseball bat.

The following day neighbours were left to clear up the mess, with broken glass and dozens of laughing gas canisters strewn across the street.

Fed-up residents have been left feeling “unsafe” and say: “No one should have to live like this.”

The chaotic scenes erupted on Saturday night after an anonymous letter was pushed through the letterboxes of several households earlier that day.

It said a “barbecue” would be taking place between 9pm and 4am.

Paul Babra, along with several other neighbours in Kemsing Gardens, received a letter warning them to park elsewhere on Saturday night, lest their cars be vandalised during or after the party
Paul Babra, along with several other neighbours in Kemsing Gardens, received a letter warning them to park elsewhere on Saturday night, lest their cars be vandalised during or after the party

“There may be several people parking around the area and additional noise from music and guests,” the letter continued.

“We wanted to apologise in advance for any inconveniences and will do our very best to keep the music level and noise to a respectable level and ensure that our guests leave quietly.

“We strongly encourage residents to park on a different road to help ensure no vandalism or damages are made to any vehicles.”

Despite the promised efforts to minimise disruption, residents say the music kept them awake all night and they were left feeling intimidated.

One woman spent 20 minutes trying to get her car out of her driveway because the road was so rammed with vehicles and people.

KentOnline visited Kemsing Gardens this week to speak to neighbours.

Paul Babra, who has lived in the area for decades, told our reporter between 300 and 500 people attended the house party in the property next to his.

“We felt completely unsafe, intimidated and not part of the community,” said Mr Babra, 68.

The party-goers left plastic cups, broken glass and rubbish strewn across Kemsing Gardens in Canterbury. Photo: Paul Babra
The party-goers left plastic cups, broken glass and rubbish strewn across Kemsing Gardens in Canterbury. Photo: Paul Babra

“Even with every window in the house closed, it was still too loud for us to get any sleep.

“Nobody should be expected to live like this.”

The retired civil servant says it took him and a few of his neighbours more than an hour to clean up the rubbish from the street.

A video taken by Mr Babra the morning after the festivities shows nitrous oxide canisters and red plastic cups scattered across the road.

“Why should I have to spend my time and my energy cleaning up other people’s mess?” added his wife, Rani.

“Sometimes it feels like we are living in a student campus.”

KentOnline also knocked on the door of the house where the gathering was held.

Dozens of laughing gas canisters were left among the litter in Kemsing Gardens, Canterbury
Dozens of laughing gas canisters were left among the litter in Kemsing Gardens, Canterbury

A young man, who gave his name as Jerome Smith, answered the door and claimed the event had been a “normal party” of about 90 attendees.

“We had organised security, and we sent out the letter to make it more professional,” said Mr Smith.

“There was a bit of commotion outside when people were leaving but other than that everything went averagely well.”

The property has signs on the wall near the door saying “no drinking” and “no smoking”.

But another resident, Barry Young, claims students were downing alcohol and using illegal substances late into the night.

“You name it, they were doing it,” said Mr Young.

The postal worker called the police in the early hours of Sunday after a fight broke out close to his house.

“We had a gentleman with a baseball bat who decided he would have a little scuffle with someone right opposite my house...”

“We had a gentleman with a baseball bat who decided he would have a little scuffle with someone right opposite my house,” he said.

“And then on Sunday night they decided to have another party, which, in fairness, wasn’t as bad but still it started around midnight and finished around 3.30am.”

Residents say the neighbourhood is usually quiet, with the predominantly student population ordinarily very respectful.

But in the past three days, four loud parties have caused people who live in Kemsing Gardens to feel anxious.

“Many of the people who live here are carers,” added Mr Young.

“They’re up leaving for work at five in the morning and, bless them, they haven’t been getting much sleep.

“I appreciate the students need to let their hair down at the end of term. I don’t have a problem with that, but they need to think about the other residents who still live here.

“One of my neighbours was going on holiday and had to leave for the airport, but the road was chock-a-block with cars and people – it took her 20 minutes just to get out of her driveway.”

Police say they were called to a report of a possible disturbance in Kemsing Gardens shortly before 11pm on Saturday.

“Officers attended the property and spoke to those present,” a spokesperson said.

“No criminal offences were established.”

Regal Estates, which manages the property where the party was held, says the tenants will “bear the full consequences of their actions”.

A spokesman also confirmed the firm is in direct communication with neighbours and Kent Police, adding: “We were only aware of the event after it happened unfortunately, but it was acted upon immediately. The university have also been contacted.

The letter sent to residents in Kemsing Gardens ahead of the house party
The letter sent to residents in Kemsing Gardens ahead of the house party

“We have contacted the tenants and their guarantors today and are treating this incident extremely seriously as it is a breach of their agreement.

“The tenants will bear the full consequences of their actions. However, as you can appreciate, we cannot control or prevent the actions of tenants, nor can we monitor them 24 hours a day.

“We can only take action once we are aware of a situation and can then take the relevant course of action within our jurisdiction to do so, which we have done and will continue to do.

“It is extremely disappointing that the tenants have caused such disruption within a community.

“We do not support the behaviour of these tenants and would never encourage such behaviours, or expect it.”

The anonymous letter to residents also included a mobile phone number. KentOnline has called the number several times but no one has answered.

The University of Kent, which is understood to be where many of the partygoers study, said: “We take our role and responsibility as a good neighbour very seriously and value our close relationship with the local communities we serve.

“We regularly remind our students to be considerate and respectful of their neighbours on and off campus and of the potential consequences when they fail to do so.

“We also take all complaints against students seriously and encourage any members of our local community who may have an issue with our students to contact our Community Liaison Team.”

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