‘Opportunities being stripped away’- Inside the battle over Birmingham’s busking crackdown

Or is it welcome relief for city centre workers driven to migraines and stress due to ‘excessive noise’?

That’s the question at the heart of a fierce debate sparked by the city council’s decision to introduce new rules to tackle street noise.

The Labour-run authority’s new PSPO means there is a ban on using musical instruments and amplification in city centre areas including New Street and Victoria Square.

The ban came into effect this summer, with the council saying it had previously received a “significant and consistent number of complaints” from residents and businesses about noise issues.

But the battle over the crackdown has rumbled on, with buskers and musicians arguing it could contribute to the Second City becoming a “cultural wasteland”.

‘Opportunities being stripped away’

“Busking means so much to the city,” musician Lea Saric tells me. “It makes the city feel so lively and puts people in a better mood.”

The London-based busker is speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service as one of thousands campaigning to reverse busking crackdowns in both the capital and Birmingham.

She said busking was important for a city’s culture and as a “lifeline”, describing it as vital for musicians from less privileged backgrounds.

“It allowed me to leave a full-time job I wasn’t passionate about and pursue a part-time Master’s degree in musical studies while doing what I love most: singing,” she said.

“While busking may be looked down on by some, performing on the street not only gave me the flexibility to study but the ability to pay rent, showcase my talent, and grow as an artist – something I never would have been able to do otherwise.”

But she said that lifelife was being “ripped away” due to restrictions in Birmingham and London’s Leicester Square.

“Busking culture is getting worse over time and the changes disproportionately affect young, working-class musicians like me,” she said.

“The street is our stage, our training ground and sometimes, our only source of income.

“This isn’t just about performance spaces being taken away – it’s about opportunities being stripped from people who need them most.”

Asked for her message to Birmingham City Council, she said: “Give us a chance to reach a compromise.

“We can find a way for everyone to be happy.”

An online petition against Birmingham’s restrictions has been signed by more than 1,500 people and shared on Instagram by The Libertines legend Pete Doherty.

Black Country duo GANS, who launched the petition, wrote: “Considering the city council has already completely defunded arts and consistently shows hostility towards any form of culture in the city, this draconian measure is increasingly making the second city a cultural wasteland.

“The issue is bigger than just the silence the city will feel without music and performance.”

The Keep Streets Live campaign, which aims to “protect public spaces for informal offerings of the arts”, was among those which threw its weight behind the petition.

“Shame on Birmingham City Council for turning Birmingham into the least friendly city in Europe for buskers,” it wrote.

‘Our mental health is suffering immensely’

On the other side of the busking battle, numerous businesses in Birmingham city centre backed the crackdown amid claims of migraines, staff anxiety and customer complaints.

Council documents from earlier this year revealed how businesses were being affected by city centre busking, with some suggesting it was taking a mental toll on staff.

One, who works at a business in New Street, described the amount of buskers performing outside at the time as “ridiculous”.

“This disturbs our everyday working due to the loudness,” they said. “Often we can just about hear customers engaging in conversation with us.

“Due to the heavy number of buskers, numerous colleagues suffer with headaches and migraines.”

A business owner claimed their staff were struggling to communicate effectively with customers due to “constant loud music and performance”.

One employee at a shop said “prolonged exposure” to noise from a busker had led to headaches and stress among staff.

“The door is closed due to the excess volume meaning the shop is incredibly hot,” they said. “Our mental health is suffering immensely due to the constant noise pollution.”

“We find the noise levels from outside can be unbearable many times during the week,” another shop worker added. “We all enjoy our music but when we are trying to assist our customers and have to almost shout to be heard, it’s extremely unprofessional.”

Sam Watson, chair of the Central Birmingham BID, said there had been a “noticeable improvement in the customer experience” in the city centre since the introduction of the recent PSPOs.

“Many of the businesses within the Central BID area covered by the PSPOs have reported a positive reaction from customers and staff,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

‘No quick and easy answer’

But numerous buskers – including Saric – suggested the majority of musicians were willing to be respectful and compromises could be reached.

One argued the council could adopt a model similar to that of Busk in London with respect to basic licensing.

But the council’s director of regulation and enforcement Sajeela Naseer said previously that London had a “specific piece of legislation which enables it to have a licensing scheme”.

“There is no quick and easy answer to these issues,” she said. “We need to balance the rights of residents and businesses against those who wish to make music and other amplified noise in the city centre.”

At the council meeting where cabinet members approved the PSPO plans, Coun Nicky Brennan said: “I’m sure we’re all familiar with examples of walking through town when the noise levels are too loud.

“And we must remember for some residents who may have sensory sensitivities, this can cause increased anxiety, stress and mental fatigue.”

The authority has said that enforcement arrangements failed to deal with noise levels in streets outside two previous orders and businesses supported the declaration of a “new, wider PSPO”.

Westminster City Council said earlier this year it had no choice to restrict busking in Leicester Square due to a court ruling.

“[Buskers] are a much-loved part of our city, but we have to balance our duty to prevent disruption to residents and businesses,” Coun Aicha Less said.