Busker calls city crackdown 'outrageous'

David Fischer, who has busked for about 15 years, said thought the move was shameful

A Birmingham busker has called a council crackdown on busking and street preaching in the city centre "absolutely outrageous".

Birmingham City Council's public space protection order (PSPO) was enforced on Friday in an attempt to tackle "excessive noise levels" in certain streets across the city.

The new order bans musicians and preachers from using amplification equipment and musical instruments on certain roads until at least 2028.

David Fischer, who has busked for about 15 years and performs in Druid's Heath, said he thought the move was "shameful and embarrassing".

The areas covered by the order include Victoria Square, New Street, Temple Street, Cannon Street, Needless Alley and part of Waterloo Street.

Mr Fischer, who has busked in more than 500 cities in 50 different countries, told BBC Radio WM: "I'm so proud of this city, I think it's a wonderful place. I'm devastated that they've done this"

"A few weeks ago we had one of the best concerts in musical history here in Birmingham and that's what makes me proud to live in this city.

"I think we've got such a rich cultural history and I think it's shameful and it's embarrassing that we are the only city in the UK and one of the only cities across the world who has banned busking in the entire city centre."

He added: "I can think of one other major city that has banned all busking across the city centre and that city is in Azerbaijan.

"There's various other rules, there's various different legislations in different countries, but nowhere else have they banned busking across the entire city centre."

Mr Fischer claimed "the entire council" had been misled about the proposal and not been told that all busking had been banned.

Birmingham City Council has been approached for a response regarding this claim.

The council order covers a number of streets across the city centre

Businesses, residents trying to relax at home and landlords attempting to let properties were being impacted, the council said.

Speaking about the PSPO, a council spokesperson said: "The council is not considering introducing this PSPO without reason.

"We have received a significant and consistent number of complaints from both residents and businesses that there are too many people causing noise in the street and, despite being asked to moderate their noise levels, there has been no respite for the affected people.

"The PSPO aims to tackle the excessive noise levels caused by street preachers, buskers, and street entertainers, which have caused alarm and distress to residents and businesses."

Mr Fischer said he had done a Freedom of Information request and found that 77 of the noise complaints were sent by the same person, and said people should take the council's claims about excessive complaints "with a pinch of salt".

He added that he understood that some buskers were too loud and that he was not saying that the council should have no power to deal with that, but instead suggested legislation that would just deal with people "who are actually causing problems".

"There were so many compromises that could have been made," he said.