Buskers will be banned from playing in Leicester Square from next week after a judge ruled in favour of office workers who had complained the noise was “psychological torture”.
Westminster Council’s decision means that from Monday, April 17, all performances in the square will be suspended and entertainers who defy the ban will face fines and having their equipment seized.
Their licence to perform elsewhere in the borough could also be confiscated under the new rules with the council saying it had “no choice”.
Letters were handed out to buskers explaining the plan on Friday.
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One of 25 buskers playing throughout the day at Liverpool Street station to mark 25 years of TfL
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Westminster councillor Matt Noble said: “Street performers are a much-loved part of our city’s identity, but we also have to balance this with a duty to protect residents and businesses. The court ruling gives us no choice — we now have a legal obligation to act.
“This is categorically not a ban on street performers in Westminster. Our next step is to comply with the ruling by suspending street-performance pitches in Leicester Square, consider the court ruling and find a fair solution.”
Here is what it means for busking as a whole in London.
What are London busking rules?
Rules around busking in general have not changed on the back of the Leicester Square ban for London in general.
Official rules still state that those able to perform must be older than 14, but other requirements should be observed to avoid legal issues, and they generally depend on the council people are based in.
Specific requirements can be found on the Government website, though generally tend to be listed as follows:
- making an application form;
- a relevant application fee;
- having photographic ID;
- a certificate of public liability insurance exceeding £2million (for Westminster at least);
- declaration of right to work in the UK;
- a description of performance activity and a description of any instruments or other equipment that may be used during the performance
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Meanwhile, byelaws will include not making too much noise, blocking public highways, displaying notices asking for a payment or street trading – and only busking in certain parts of town for a limited period of time.
At London tube stations, licenced buskers have acquired success, attracting audiences of 3.5 million Tube passengers daily, according to Transport for London (TfL).
They include Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, Bob Geldof and Katherine Jenkins, who have all performed in the underground at some stage. TfL recently commemorated 20 years of its live busking scheme in November. Auditions for this are held on an annual basis.
Rules could change, however, with Westminster Council tipped to extend its Leicester Square ban to the whole borough.