“There is a real fear that June will be very complicated. As deconfinement progresses, the problem of student parties undermining neighborhood life is returning to the fore in Cergy (Val-d'Oise). "There is an upsurge in reports," recognizes Eric Nicollet, deputy mayor in charge of housing, sustainable development and town planning. It must be said that the last few months have not been calm, despite health restrictions and other curfews. "Since January 14, there have been 158 reports of nuisance", assures the elected opposition (LR) Alexandre Pueyo. “Which gave 109 formal notices and 21 verbalizations. "
"The problem is not new, but it has made the lives of residents of 17, rue de Pontoise particularly difficult in recent weeks," worries another opponent (DVD) Armand Payet.
No wonder, recognizes Claire Beugnot, deputy mayor for education, “an owner rents housing by stipulating that it is possible to party there.
There are even marquees set up in parking spaces sometimes… It's quite discouraging because despite all the calls to order from the police, it continues ”.
Cergy (Val-d'Oise), May 25, 2021. The inhabitants of the Villanova residence, located opposite the Essec, complain of noise pollution caused by student parties.
LP / Melissa Prou
Located opposite the large Essec business school, the Villanova residence is one of the most affected by the phenomenon.
Alicia, resident of the building, confirms the commotion: “I can distinctly hear the music being played two floors above,” she says.
She has established contact with these students and understands their need to decompress, but regrets their incivility: “The guard finds piles of trash, beers in the elevator.
These young people are highly alcoholic and do not realize the risks, some have already fallen from the balcony.
"
"I'm going to ring their doorbell until 5 in the morning"
At Touleuses too, families are annoyed: "I don't want to prevent them from living, but when it wakes up my daughter who has class the next day, it's not possible," says Matthieu.
For three years, the neighboring pavilion has been occupied by students from Essec: “During the confinement, there were about twenty of them in the garden.
The father of the family has tried everything: "I am going to ring their doorbell until 5 in the morning, the next day they apologize but they start again.
From March to November 2020 it had calmed down, but with the second confinement it's parties all the time.
"
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The intervention of the police struggles to calm the night owls: "They know that the police cannot return without a warrant", explains Pierre (the first name has been changed), student and former member of the student office (BDE).
According to him, the first year students are the most virulent, which confirms Thierry Rousseau, the head of student life at Essec.
“Each school year, we educate the 2000 first year on living together, with the help of the police who travel in amphitheater.
"For a year now, residents have been able to call on" liaison students ", who live in the building and are members of the BDE, they intervene to calm things down." But the associations have no power of sanction ", blows Pierre .
These stakeholders are therefore mocked by the revelers.
250 warnings, twice as many as last year
Once informed by the police, who meet with the school every week, Thierry Rousseau summons the students responsible for incidents.
Since September, 250 have received a warning, they are twice as many as last year.
This year is special, the associations have not been able to organize their usual activities: “Some have made up for it with shared parties.
If we look at previous years, the nuisances were mainly during the week, especially during the night from Thursday to Friday.
Since confinement, it's anytime, there is no privileged day, ”explains Thierry Rousseau.
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The municipality assures for its part that it does not spare its efforts to try to limit the nuisances caused by "a minority of students", but which cause major concerns in various districts of Cergy, from the Villanova residence to Plants by the way. by the Ponceaux.
“We are at the mercy of a tragedy.
We need to find a more accepted campus city, ”says Eric Nicollet.
In addition to the ongoing establishment of a rental permit and a dividing permit, daily actions are also being carried out.
The town hall urges them to file a complaint
“Since September, several dozen - and I even think that the hundred is reached - reports were drawn up the same evening, affirms the deputy delegate to the habitat. We also intervene the day after the facts, we seize the owner of the accommodation so that he gives notice to his occupants. And we make a report to the schools. "
To be able to implement all these steps, with each party going beyond the limits, the town hall thus encourages the inhabitants to systematically file a complaint or at least to make handrails. "We need to initiate a logic of constitution of file, explains the deputy mayor. I now have the agreement of the management of Essec. If we send them a heavy case, they will initiate a disciplinary council. They told me and it's a real victory. Schools must take sanctions. "
