COMPLAINTS about the behaviour of Oxford Brookes University students have fallen after it launched a community wardens scheme.

Thirty per cent fewer complaints from residents to Brookes about its students were recorded this academic year compared with 2011-12.

This was a drop from 205 last year to 145 this year.

The change comes after student community wardens were introduced in November 2011 in response to concerns about the relationship between students at Oxford Brookes and the surrounding community.

The university ploughed about £10,000 into the scheme,and recruited a full-time member of staff to allow community liaison manager Andrea Syret to manage it.

The wardens meet residents who have complaints and then discuss them with the students involved.

English student Kathryn Weir, 21, is one of the student community wardens in the Divinity Road area.

She said: “Usually it’s a complaint about noise, so we remind the students they live next to professionals or families.

“Most of them are very apologetic and didn’t realise how much noise they were making.

“There have been very few times when the students have not been happy and, once a resident has made a complaint, we never usually get another one from that address.”

Student community wardens also meet the neighbourhood local policing teams and residents’ associations.

Headington city councillor Ruth Wilkinson said: “The student community wardens have helped a lot by getting themselves known locally and sorting out issues like noise, antisocial behaviour and litter promptly.

“Local residents have greater confidence that their concerns are taken seriously and will be investigated.”

But Marston resident Malcolm Kitching, who has complained several times about students parking outside his home in Lewell Avenue, said he was still having problems.

Mr Kitching, 72, said: “It’s eased off a bit, but it’s still happening. I just don’t understand why they don’t build another car park.

“We had meetings with Brookes, and with the JR, and the guys from the JR genuinely sounded like they meant it, but I don’t know about Brookes.”

Dr Anne Gwinnett, director of corporate affairs at Oxford Brookes, said: “We are delighted to see further improvements in the relationship between students and the local community.

“This is testament to a number of proactive initiatives we have put in place in collaboration with residents, Oxford City Council and Thames Valley Police.

“I would particularly like to praise the work of our fantastic student community wardens, who are doing an excellent job in further improving relations with our local community.”