RESIDENTS say a proposed student accommodation block in Charminster will lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour as well as serious parking problems.

More than 40 people gathered at the Brunswick pub on Thursday evening to protest about plans for a two/three-storey building with eight student flats including 41 study bedrooms at 222 Malmesbury Park Road and 4 St Leonard’s Road, Charminster.

Two previous attempts to build student accommodation on the site were turned down at appeal.

Applicant Malmesbury Park Ltd has stated the flats will house foreign students from Kings School of English language school.

Bournemouth council has received 22 objections to the plans so far.

Ward councillor Carol Ainge said up to 60 students could be crammed into the building, which would lead to “overcrowding” and noise and parking problems for residents.

She added: “This is people’s lives they are messing up for the sake of making money. I find that totally unacceptable.”

Malmesbury Park Road resident Myra Russell said there were already problems in the area with anti-social behaviour from students, adding: “They will be out there smoking, drinking and shouting.”

Other residents said existing parking problems would be made worse.

Stephen Phillips said parking was already a problem as many students in houses of multiple occupation owned cars.

He added: “As a result, parking, which was already at a premium, has got worse and many residents find it difficult to park at or close by their own properties.”

Anthony Willis said the area had been “degraded by student lets” in the last 40 years.

“How can this road support 41 flats on this site with three parking spaces?” he said.

“The road is already chock-a-block with student cars.”