Pensioner moves out her home after 39 years as rest of road becomes student accommodation
A PENSIONER is finally moving out of the home she has lived in for 39 years because she is the only householder in the street who is not a student.
Jackie Levitas, 79, has been the only permanent resident in Waddington Street, Durham, for the last three years after all the other residential properties became student accommodation.
She told how for seven months a year students make her life “hell” with ear-splitting music, drunken parties and vandalism.
Then for five months of the year she is completely alone - without neighbours – when they go home for the holidays.
Mrs Levitas, a retired journalist and poet has campaigned for years trying to stop the homes surrounding her being turned into student accommodation.
Now she is finally selling up and moving from the Victorian terrace she has called home since the 1977 saying she can stand it no longer.
Of the original 12 properties in the 120 yard street, there is now hers, a house which has been turned into offices, another is a community centre and the rest are student properties and flats.
She finally admitted defeat following a successful appeal by developers to turn a former hospital overlooking her home into accommodation for another 363 students.
She says she has faced shocking behaviour from students since they started moving in 15 years ago.
On one occasion she watched as drunken youngsters climbed up onto a roof and hurled slates onto the street below.
And on other occasion she stormed out of her house in pyjamas to confront 50 drunken students
Vomiting on the street is commonplace. They have made my life hell
She said that during the seven months of student hell: “They drink at their houses until 11pm and then go to the bars in the town and come back at two or three in the morning completely blotto, shouting and screaming.
“I am woken by gangs of them shouting and singing. They march down the streets and take over late at night.
“Vomiting on the street is commonplace. They have made my life hell.”
The pensioner says that when she first moved into the £200,000 property the street was populated by other families and there was a sense of community.
She added: “”People had pride in their homes and put flowers outside. I loved my house. And my children were very happy.
“But all the students are interested in are their exam results, drinking and having a good time. Some have no consideration
“I have to explain to them that their behaviour is anti social.
“They have so many parties and there is rubbish everywhere.
“Two years ago I had a very bad group of students next door who played ear splitting music at all times so loudly that I could not hear my own television.
“Last year we had somebody who threw his pizza boxes in the front garden every time he had a pizza.
“Then the summer comes and there’s nobody here, I’m completely alone. If anything happened to me nobody would know.”
“I haven’t got any neighbours for five months a year.
“When I put the rubbish out it’s so dark and quiet I get anxious. I’ve been heartbroken because I love my house. But it’s no longer a place where you can lead a life.
“I’ve suffered from depression and my health is suffering.
“I am leaving with a heavy heart.”
Mrs Levitas has spent years campaigning against the homes surrounding her being turned into student accommodation
In an ironic twist her hopes to now sell hers for student accommodation may be dashed by very regulations she had previously campaigned for.
She has applied to Durham County Council for permission. But the new regulations can prevent houses from being converted in areas where there is already more than 10 per cent student housing.
Nearly 70 percent cent of homes within 100 metres of Jackie’s house are student accommodation.
She added: “This a battle which I didn’t expect.”
Durham University, seen as a rival to Oxford and Cambridge, has more than 15,000 students studying and living in the city, with many choosing to live in privately rented accommodation.
Durham Theology graduate David Knowles, 24, said: “Most students do their best to be good neighbours.”
Stuart Timmiss, head of planning and assets at Durham County Council, said he could not comment on her application as it was still being considered.
But he added: “This is an example of the challenge facing the council when it comes to student accommodation in the city.
“It’s essential that we strive to achieve balance in our communities."
He said they had worked closely with resident groups, including Mrs Levitas, on the new regulations on converting houses to student accommodation - due to be brought in later this month.
He added: “It is sad that one of the residents that lobbied so hard for the measure is now experiencing problems with it. "