Busking crackdown given green light

Buskers had called for compromise over the plan

Plans to crack down on busking and street preaching in Birmingham city centre have been given the green light.

In a bid to tackle "excessive noise levels" in some streets, a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) will be introduced by the council, with a ban on using amplification equipment and musical instruments applying on the roads covered.

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

But some have criticised the move, including Jason Allan, a musician and veteran busker saying it would "hinder the town rather than enhancing it".

"We want to enhance competition and what I've found is the less rules and regulations you have, the more you invite competition," Mr Allan told BBC Radio WM.

And an unnamed busker told a consultation over the plans, the move would make Birmingham the country's "least friendly city" for street performance.

Some BBC Radio WM listeners also criticised the move on the station's Facebook page, with one posting it would make the city centre "even more soulless".

And another said: "Why? They don't do any harm and it's nice to hear some music."

The order will focus on noise associated with busking, street entertaining, street preaching and public speaking affecting people living in the area and businesses.

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

'Better ways'

Labour councillor Nicky Brennan said for some residents who may have sensory sensitivities, noise levels that were too loud could "cause increased anxiety, stress and mental fatigue".

Conservative councillor Ewan Mackey said businesses in the city centre were "equally important" as residents.

But Liberal Democrat Deborah Harries said: "Does Birmingham really want to be a city culturally that is […] not really interested in doing anything to protect its musical heritage in terms of The Crown [pub] and Station Street and bans the busker?

"There must be better ways than this absolute hammer to crack a nut."

The council's deputy leader, Labour's Sharon Thompson, said it was not true nothing was being done with regards to the pub known as the birthplace of Black Sabbath.

Thompson said she knew "we are doing things around Station Street".

Several businesses backed the PSPO plan with some telling how city centre busking was taking a toll on workers and driving away customers.

A number of buskers said compromises could be reached, with one suggesting the council adopted a model similar to that of Busk in London with respect to basic licensing.

But council director of regulation and enforcement Sajeela Naseer said London had a "specific piece of legislation".

Cabinet members approved the declaration of the PSPO and that officers should explore the feasibility of a 'consent/permitting scheme' for city centre busking.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.