POLITICIANS, residents and officials have expressed hope that solutions can be found to issues of student and family housing in a city centre.

Residents have expressed concern for some years over a perceived student takeover of parts of Durham intensifying problems of anti-social behaviour, congestion and rubbish.

But following meetings held at the end of last week, a new mood of optimism appears to have broken out.

Durham University officials, police and members of the new Durham Area Action Partnership (AAP) held talks with residents in Durham Town Hall on Thursday and Roberta Blackman-Woods, Labour MP for Durham City, met Durham County Council officials on Friday.

Speaking afterwards, Dr Blackman-Woods said she wanted the council to take a different approach to student and family housing, creating a balance between the two.

She called on the authority to establish a multi-agency group to explore ways of creating and maintaining sustainable and balanced communities.

"I was heartened that the county council recognised the importance of addressing these issues and of doing so with a multi-agency approach.

"I want to see Durham City as a place where all people are able to live in a mix of types of housing," she said.

Liberal Democrat county councillor Nigel Martin, chair of the Durham AAP, said Thursday’s had been a very positive meeting, allowing newly appointed officials to familiarise themselves with the issues.

John Murphy, AAP co-ordinator, said: "We hope people will come to believe the AAP is going to genuinely listen to the concerns of residents and do something about them."

Alan Hayton, of Whinney Hill residents’ group, said: "We came away feeling we had got our points across and we had been listened to and taken notice of, which you couldn’t say about a lot of other meetings we’ve had in the past."

Community campaigner Mike Costello said: "I’m quite optimistic, but then I’ve been optimistic before.

"I do think there’s new blood coming into the city with the new council. They really seem to be bringing some energy to it."

Prof Chris Hutchison, Durham University’s city liaison officer, said the university was committed to promoting good relationships between students and the local community and the AAP meeting was very positive in bringing together all who could make this happen.