Buskers are getting too loud, say city traders

Shop manager Eann Wallace compared the quality to pub karaoke

Buskers in Nottingham city centre have become so loud that customers and staff are struggling to hear other speak, according to business owners.

Traders at shops and stalls around High Street in Nottingham say the problem has been getting worse over the past couple of years.

They blamed more powerful speaker systems and a lack of enforcement by the city council

The authority said it was aware of problems with buskers in some areas and carried out regular patrols.

Eann Wallace, manager of Gauntleys, a spirits, wine and tobacco shop, said: "I find it frustrating because the noise levels can be so intense I can't concentrate speaking to my customers and they can't hear me.

"It's been going on for 10 years but it's more noticeable now because of the electronic equipment.

"For the last two years it's been exceptionally bad. It's literally karaoke on the street. If I wanted to listen to karaoke I'd go to a pub on a Friday night."

Annette Clay said calls by businesses to the council would not get a response

Annette Clay, 69, who runs a flower stall nearby, said some of the buskers were playing like they "thought they were at Wembley Stadium".

"It's too loud for a city centre," she told the BBC. "When they just know four tunes, it's horrendous, like torture.

"Instead of concentrating on the voice… like they did years ago… now they come kitted out like they should be at a disco."

She added over the past month the buskers appeared to have moved on from the street but she was not sure why and fears they will return for the Christmas shopping period.

Clumber Street, which joins High Street, is a popular busking spot

According to council figures, obtained by a Freedom of Information request, there have been 40 reports of nuisance busking in the city centre so far this year compared to six in 2021.

However there have been proportionally fewer warnings handed out – with 23 in 2022 compared to nine so far this year.

No-one has been given a fixed penalty notice since 2022.

Mr Wallace believes the council is not doing enough.

"There needs to be people out there being more proactive to move them along," he said." The whole city centre should be closed to that kind of noise – it's not entertainment, it's noise."

City centre 'vibe'

A saxophonist who has been busking in the city for about 40 years, and wished only to be known as Mogs, agreed some performers were "too loud".

"A lot of them admittedly aren't very good," he said. "I think it's portable speaker technology, it's gone leaps and bounds."

He added there used to be a lot of council and police officers on the streets who would keep them in check but he no longer sees them.

"It's a conundrum but the shops are going to have to put up with it I'm afraid," he said.

"If you really want to kill the city centre vibe, get rid of live music on the street."

Busking is legal in the UK but local authorities can put limits on it.

Signs in the city centre show there has been a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in place since 2019 which prohibits performers making "an unreasonable disturbance whilst busking" or performing on certain roads.

But it lapsed in March this year, meaning there are no longer any specific restrictions on busking areas in the city centre.

The city council did not say why it had not been renewed but told the BBC it was preparing a new draft.

A spokesperson also said they were aware of problems with buskers in some areas.

"Neighbourhood Safety Officers engage with buskers directly and can take enforcement action where necessary," they said.

"Our officers continue to work closely with businesses, partners and performers to help balance the interests of everyone using the city centre and ensure it remains a welcoming and enjoyable place to visit."