Call for action on "party flats"

10.30.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 17th Aug 2009

Lib Dem spokesman for Newcastle East Greg Stone has highlighted growing concern over "party flats" used by stag and hen parties in apartment blocks in areas such as the Quayside. Residents of city centre blocks are increasingly troubled by noise nuisance from rowdy groups of visitors, and other cities such as Edinburgh are lobbying the Scottish government for planning powers.

Greg said "I am monitoring the Scottish situation carefully and will look to see if any lessons learnt north of the border could be introduced here. I am aware that Newcastle council has a very effective night time noise service but residents rightly want confidence that the "party flat" problem is not going to spread.