'Birmingham noise order risks chipping away our freedom of speech' - says Walsall preacher
A preacher from Walsall says he is dismayed by new orders to tackle noise from activities from busking to street preaching in parts of Birmingham city centre.
Pastor Stewart Prebble is part of the Church on the Street group who regularly preach in the city centre on Sunday afternoons. The volunteers take turns to preach, serve food, hand out literature and chat to passer-bys who stop to ask questions about Christianity.
Two new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) orders have been introduced this month following complaints from businesses about noise in certain streets also targeting illegal street trading and peddling. The orders will remain in place until August 2028 and include a ban on the use of amplification equipment, as well as musical instruments in some streets in the central area.
Mr Prebble, aged 78, from Walsall, said: "There's always been restrictions on where speakers and buskers can be. We base ourselves outside buildings in New Street and High Street which are not open on Sundays. As a matter of fact our stand is outside the old M&S building which is shut.
"I'm dismayed by the order because I feel it's an infringement on our freedom of speech. Where is it going to end. It's the thin edge of the wedge. People come to this country because it's a place where we have freedom to safely express our faith and these orders are taking those away. We're a risk of becoming like those very countries. I do not agree with the new orders.
"If people don't want to listen to what's being said they can walk away. We sometimes get verbal abuse, but that's a rare occurrence.
"We're actually finding that more people are stopping to listen and to speak to us. We have some very good conversations with people."
The order designed to tackle ‘excessive noise levels’ covers New Street, Temple Street, Cannon Street, Needless Alley and part of Waterloo Street and covers busking, street entertaining, street preaching and public speaking affecting residents and businesses within the restricted area. The other order prohibits street trading and obstruction of the public highway unless the relevant person has appropriate consent issued by the council.
Registered charities, religious organisations and distributors of leaflets for political purposes are exempt from the last prohibition unless they carry out these activities in a manner that obstructs or impedes the passage of any other person on the highway.
The city council said the orders followed complaints and concerns that visitors to Birmingham were “frequently approached” by people either selling goods or services, handing out free literature or collecting for charity or commercial reasons.
