Musicians are dedicated to their craft and always strive to entertain the public; they have no desire to be considered a ‘nuisance’. Photo: Shutterstock.
The recent judgement from the City of London Magistrates' Court, serving Westminster City Council with a noise abatement notice, categorises music played by buskers in Leicester Square as a ‘statutory nuisance’.
Not only does such a ruling risk the livelihoods of musicians and threaten the suspension of one of the world’s most famous street entertainment spots, but it also sets a dangerous precedent for other local authorities supportive of busking musicians and other street entertainers.
The judgement unfairly punishes those already complying with the scheme
We believe that the judgement, which compares some elements of busking to “psychological torture techniques”, unfairly punishes those trying to comply with an already highly restrictive busking licensing scheme. We urge Westminster City Council to appeal this decision, and to liaise closely with the musicians who have worked tirelessly to ensure that an agreeable coexistence can be achieved between musicians, audiences, residents and businesses to avoid the eradication of street entertainment from the heart of the West End.
We believe that any response to this ruling from the council must be proportionate, and that by working closely with buskers and the Westminster Street Performers Association (WSPA), mitigations can be achieved that will help achieve the reduction in sound levels required by the abatement notice, whilst simultaneously avoiding the eradication of this important artform.
Busking can help develop careers and online followings
MU Member and representative of the WSPA, Will, really values the opportunity to entertain the public in Leicester Square, which has helped to develop his career and online following. He believes that to lose this busking pitch would be devastating.
He continues to work closely with fellow buskers to significantly reduce amplification and avoid nuisance noise levels, stating that: “We empathise with anyone subject to unreasonable noise, and we would like to work with nearby businesses to ensure the best possible outcome for all parties involved. Street performers bring vibrance, entertainment, reduce crime rates and bring more tourism and business to areas of the city.”
We urgently call on Westminster City Council to appeal this judgement
MU London Regional Officer, Simeon Scheuber-Rush, said: “It is extremely disappointing that, despite significant efforts from our members to comply with the imposition of the Westminster Busking Licensing Scheme, both their livelihoods and the provision of accessible, affordable street entertainment remain under threat.
"Musicians are dedicated to their craft and always strive to entertain the public; they have no desire to be considered a ‘nuisance’ and we’ve seen our members work collaboratively and cordially with the council to address any issues as they arise. There's no certainty that the imposition of further access restrictions to busking in this location would provide a resolution to the noise disturbance experienced by businesses located in the square.
"Such an iconic area of Central London often experiences higher sound levels due to regular events, including film premieres and Christmas markets. These sound levels are further amplified by unlicensed street entertainers, pedicabs, street preachers, and the general noise typical of a busy tourism hotspot”.
We urgently call on Westminster City Council to do everything in its power to appeal this judgement, and to support musicians in finding a way to continue their contribution to the cultural fabric of London’s West End.