• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

News and entertainment worth sharing – York and North Yorkshire

  • News
  • Things to do
  • Radio
  • Vouchers
  • Categories
    • Business
  • More
    • Comments
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
City Cruises York

‘An absurd kneejerk reaction’: Anger at York ‘busking ban’ after guidelines changed

Police about to fine busker Alistair Lawrence in King's Square, York last month
Thursday 8 April, 2021 @ 7.58 am News YorkMix
Share via...

The national body that campaigns for street performers has accused York council of introducing a busking ban – which it says is ‘absurd’ and ‘discriminatory’.

Keep Streets Live helped draw up City of York Council’s busking policy.

But, following the furore after busker Alistair Lawrence was fined £200 for playing piano in King’s Square, new guidelines have been added.

Director of Keep Streets Live, Chester Bingley, says these changes were drawn up without consulting them – and add up to an effective ban on busking in York.

In an open letter, he writes: “As a Director of Keep Streets Live and a member of the team that worked on the city’s busking guidance I’m shocked and disappointed to find that York has taken it upon itself to not only ‘ban’ busking but to make substantial changes to the guidance without any consultation whatsoever with ourselves or the York busking community.”

He said this was “more than a little discourteous as it entirely misrepresents the position of our organisation and suggests that we support your policy, which we absolutely do not”.

‘Perfectly lawful’

A busker in York on 31 March in front of a police van. Photograph: YorkMix

Chester described it as a ‘kneejerk reaction’ from the council, a year after Keep Streets Live issued its safe busking guidelines.

Under national coronavirus restrictions busking is “perfectly lawful provided current social distancing requirements regarding crowds are adhered to”, he said, adding that “the council has no legal right decide that it is allowed/prohibited”.

“It seems absurd that York will be welcoming, and indeed encouraging thousands of visitors to the city from next week and yet a busker is treated as a health hazard,” he writes.

YorkMix - advertise with us
YorkMix - advertise with us
YorkMix - advertise with us
YorkMix #ad

“Beer gardens will be open (with music). Zoos, theme parks and other tourist attractions will be able to gather large crowds.”

And he urges the council to think again.

“We urge you to drop this ban immediately and to incorporate our Covid safe busking advice into the guidance to maintain the relationship that we’ve all built up over the past years.

“The busking community is a great asset to York, and a breakdown in trust and loss of confidence in the guidance is likely to lead to an increase in problems as things begin to open up this season.”

Footer

YorkMix
News 01904 848 766
Email YorkMix news »
5-6 King's Court, Shambles, York  YO1 7LD
YorkMix Radio
General enquiries 01904 375 029
Studio/competitions 01904 375 030
Email YorkMix Radio »
Selby Superbowl, Bawtry Road, Selby  YO8 8NA
YorkMix is a trading name of YorkMix Media Ltd
Registered in England
Company number: 07814727
VAT number: 154 0364 34
© York Sound Ltd

Copyright © 2022 YorkMix Media Ltd

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT