THE Scottish Government has been urged to curb the number of stag and hen parties renting flats in Edinburgh city centre and causing a nightmare for residents.
SNP Lothians MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville said city centre residents had complained of excessive noise and disturbance from flats being marketed for pre-wedding celebrations.
Along with Labour's Edinburgh Central MSP Sarah Boyack, she wants the Gov
ernment to consider tightening regulations on short-term lets.
She said: "The number of stag and hen weekends in the city centre has risen rapidly in recent years, and it's not just the party-goers that are facing headaches.
"Many local residents in the neighbouring flats are faced with excessive noise night after night.
"The occasional noisy weekend is one thing, but action has to be taken if antisocial behaviour becomes a regular problem."
She said people could phone the city council's 24-hour noise nuisance hotline. "That means the particular problem is dealt with immediately, but we need to look at whether there is something wrong with the system which could be tightened."
Ms Boyack said the problem arose because of loopholes in houses in multiple occupancy regulations, which meant short-term lets were not covered.
She said: "I have heard of situations where ten people have been allowed to stay in three- bedroom flats, partying into the night with little regard for other residents."
She said she had been pressing both the SNP Government and the city council to act.
Bruce Borthwick, a retired vet whose property off the Royal Mile has been blighted by stag and hen parties, said: "We've had problems with large groups of people coming who have absolutely no responsibility to their neighbours.
"I think the council made a cock-up because they didn't even think how unpleasant things could be for residents. We've had groups of ten staying in a nearby flat designed for two people, who came knocking on our door and windows thinking we're the concierge service."
David Beckett, SNP councillor for the city centre, said he was getting a growing number of complaints from people about flats let out to stag or hen parties.
He said: "It's a real issue in the city centre and West End. People are being kept up all night by these parties. These are people who have come to Edinburgh just to party, they are drinking till 5am or 6am and they're loud and boisterous. It's noisy and a bit intimidating as well, because there are so many people."
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "Councils can already take action against antisocial behaviour caused by stag and hen parties, including using noise nuisance powers."
Anyone suffering noise disturbances can contact the Night Time Noise Team on 0131-311 3131.
The full article contains 464 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
