Buskers in York say they are pleased about news of a warmer welcome in the city now Covid rules have relaxed further.
It’s only been a few weeks since Alistair Lawrence, a piano player, was fined after an argument with the police, although he says he still hasn’t had the fixed penalty in the post.
Opera singer Jack Hunter told YorkMix it’s great to have been told by the council that they can perform on the streets.
In a statement, Jane Mowat, Head of Community Safety, said: “The health and safety of the residents and visitors to York has consistently been our main focus, and we will do everything we can to help make our city a safe place for all.
“Unfortunately, this means that until further restrictions are lifted at stage 3 of the roadmap plans, we are not able to actively encourage any activities that could attract groups of people or the mixing of households.
“We have drafted some additional guidance for buskers to reflect specific advice on how to operate safely in relation to COVID and we will be engaging with buskers in the city to promote this.
“We continue to work closely with partners and the busking community to keep members of the public safe.”
The current guidance is available here and “the additional COVID guidance will shortly be available online”.
Jack Hunter described the recent controversy over the covid rules as “dystopian” but he said it’s fantastic to be back out again.
“The police had said that we wouldn’t be able to go out again until the 17th May but we were able to busk in Northallerton and Wetherby and now there’s been a change of mind in York too. They can’t be fining buskers in York if it’s ok to go down the road and do it”
He added “It’s now back to what I call normal and I can be out and enjoy singing again”