ALLEGATIONS over years of drunken antisocial behaviour could lead to a woman being banned from her home.

Residents have complained repeatedly about fighting in the street, swearing and music being played until the early hours of the morning in Shrubland Road, Colchester.

Now the authorities say enough is enough and have decided to use new powers to try to close the building. It is the first time anyone has used the new laws outside London.

PCSO Leah King explained: “For the past couple of years, Essex Police and Colchester Council have received complaints from all residents about the noise, drunken behaviour, rowdiness and all sorts of unpleasant behaviour.”

Yesterday afternoon, Colchester police and Colchester Council’s antisocial behaviour team served a closure notice on a two-bedroom house in the road. The building is privately-rented, but the tenant was not home at the time.

Only the woman and her landlord are now allowed inside.

Similar to a crack house closure, magistrates can grant the order to temporarily close any council or private property for three months, to offer communities “immediate respite” from persistent disorder or nuisance.

An application will be made before Colchester magistrates tomorrow. If successful, the building will be boarded and sealed up and it will be an arrestable offence to go inside.

The tenant will be offered legal homelessness advice, but will have to find somewhere else to live.

Tim Young, councillor responsible for street and waste services at Colchester Council, said: “This is another example of Colchester using legislation to tackle antisocial behaviour and nuisance.

“I hope Colchester residents will feel confident their council is on their side when dealing with this sort of behaviour.”

The occupant was not available for comment.