Bath: Busker Amp Ban Questionnaire

7 January 2015, 13:29 | Updated: 7 January 2015, 13:51

Bath Abbey courtyard is well known for its buzz of entertainment - from street performers to buskers - but now we are being asked to say if musicians should be banned from using amplifiers nearby.

The online questionnaire follows problems last September, when Evensong at Bath Abbey had to be cancelled due to the high volume of music coming from outside. 

BANES Council is proposing to ban performers from using amplifiers through so-called Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) in three areas: 

• Abbey Church Yard
• Kingston Parade
• Abbey Green

To impose such an order, the local authority says certain criteria would have to be met: 

• that the activities have had a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality
• the activities are persistent or continuing 
• the activities are unreasonable 

The Council says it does not currently have a formal policy on busking, as musicians engage in a voluntary code of practice. 

The deadline for returning the online questionnaire is Sunday 29th March at 11.45pm.