Any city centre wide PSPO busking ban, if implemented, would commence in August 2025. Photo: Shutterstock.
In a city that has already cut all of its arts funding, the creative sector has been dealt another blow as the council seeks to extend the current busking ban in two city centre zones, by widening it out to larger parts of the city centre.
This will effectively ban all busking in the centre, and so hollowing out even more of the already shrinking arts offer in the city.
The MU view is that a more nuanced approach is the answer
Stephen Brown, MU Midlands Regional Organiser said, “The council claims the ban is needed because of noise issues from buskers, street preachers and others - including unlicensed traders affecting business and residential properties. They appear to be yet again using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
“They revealed in conversation with the MU that not all buskers are a problem, but rather than deal with anyone causing a statutory nuisance in a reasonable way, they have chosen a more draconian way to address the issue - by proposing a blanket ban affecting all buskers.
“We are urging members to respond to the council’s Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) consultation and log their objections to this unnecessary busking ban. The MU view is that a more nuanced approach is the answer, by permitting daytime busking in the city centre through a better management scheme of noise control and agreed pitches.”
Consultation closes 25 May, so we’d urge members to be quick in logging their objections
Members can log their objections to the proposed PSPO busking ban, and suggest viable alternatives like the MU’s preferred approach, via the link below.
The consultation closes at midnight on Sunday 25 May, so we’d urge members to be quick. Any city centre wide PSPO busking ban, if implemented, would commence in August 2025.
This news also comes just one month on from the busking ban in Leicester Square, where the MU and musicians gathered in London's West End to mark the last day of busking in the area, following a noise abatement notice from the City of London Magistrates' Court.
Speaking at the protest, MU London Regional Officer, Simeon Scheuber-Rush, said: "Musicians are dedicated to their craft and always strive to entertain the public; they have no desire to be considered a ‘nuisance’ ."