IMPORTANT COUNCIL MEETING ON 11TH NOVEMBER

The Central and South West Area Committee (CSWAC) are meeting on Tuesday 11th November, at 5.30 in the Town Hall, to hear Environmental Health's own report of how this summer's busking season has been effected by the new busking code. We are at the point of finishing our own follow-up report which will be submitted to the CSWAC in order to go on that meeting's agenda.

SUMMARY OF FOLLOW-UP REPORT:

1.Introduction

We begin by thanking the Council for the attention they gave to our report back in February before going on to list the improvements and the remaining problems we found during this summer's busking season. This is followed by a short description of our conclusion (that the code was not adequately policed) and our suggestions for improving code enforcement.

2. Nature of the Improvements over the Summer Period, 2008

The major improvements are acknoledged:

• an overall reduction in noise disturbance,
• a reduction in repetitive and tuneless busking, and
• the authorities are now far more engaged with the problem

In particular,we point out that EnvironmentalHealth officers have went to great efforts to attend call-outs, often showing a great willingness to attend calls outside of working hours.
3. Remaining Problems
The remaining problem areas are dealt with in this third section.

• Improvements in noise disturbance relegated to weekdays.
• Code Infractions are widespread at weekends.
• Congestion.
• Inadequate weekend policing.

Relating to our survey taken over the summer, we show that the weekends have degenerated back into a free-for-all, with large bands with amplifiers and the bagpiper causing most of the problems. Volume levels have still been far too intrusive, the bagpiper is incapable of playing without being in breach of the 50 metre rule and has been found in systematic breach of the 'one session per street per day' rule, and congestion in front of the shops has not even been addressed. The fourth section goes on to show that Environmental Health officers, despite their improved engagement, simply are not around enough, especially at weekends, to cope with the problem.
4. Conclusion and suggestions
We conclude that there needs to be realistic coverage over the weekend and out of hours, which is best handled by the police or Community Police Support Officers. In addition, we ask that ANBO has representation on the local Neighbourhood Action Group, which helps to co-ordinate the workload of the police. ANBO members can also help by handing out leaflets to new buskers, who have been turning up during the summer without having any awareness of the code.
November's Meeting of the Central South and West Area Committee
It will be important that there is a good showing at this meeting as there is going to be a full discussion of the busking situation over this summer. The submission of our follow-up report should be in time to go on the agenda alongside Environmental Health's own report, so both reports can be compared. This meeting will also be significant in that the hardest part of a campaign is often to get effective action following a successful first round, where the campaign is vindicated.
An Association of Businesses, Traders and General Organisations for Cornmarket
It has been suggested that all the shops, businesses and organisations on Cornmarket get together and form an association, in order to consolidate against all the various problems that Cornmarket street has suffered from. These include the rouge trader problem (thankfully now largely solved), the general dirtiness of the street, aggressive begging etc. We are also looking into the possible benefits of joining the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and any other organisations which can be helpful, especially for small businesses. If you would be interested in finding out more, we plan to have an open meeting in around three weeks time (date to be released shortly) to discuss this possibility and to prepare for the CSWAC meeting on the 11th November.
And Finally, a BIG THANK YOU to everyone for their Efforts over the Summer!
The action plan that was handed round earlier this Summer (see last posting) was used widely and effectively to report and log complaints with Environmental Health. This has resulted in a lot of pressure being put on Environmental Health and there has been news that their office has been receiving stacks of complaints, and that many of you have been insisting that these complaints are logged. Let's see how this affects the meeting on 11th November.

HOW THE NEW CODE IS WORKING

The new busking code which we were promised in February has now been out for some time and every busker, shop and office should have one. The main changes have a complete ban on amplifiers and a great reduction in the time buskers and street performers can spend on any one street – one hour per day. Whilst the level of volume has not been directly addressed, using time allocation to limit disturbance, this new time limit has made a considerable difference to the amount of noise nuisance suffered on Cornmarket Street. The new code has been reproduced at the bottom of this posting.

Whilst many have reported a great reduction in noise disturbance, however, certain buskers have still been breeching the code, especially at weekends. We have had reports of bands with amplifiers and so much noise being created that some shop workers reported that they couldn’t even hear themselves think on occasions Also, despite claiming to follow the code (especially in terms of time allocation), the Bagpipe Man has been playing overtime and abusing members of the Cornmarket Street community. One office worker at Clarendon House said that he frequently plays two sessions, or even three, and there have been reports of him playing for an hour as well during the weekends.


Since the new code of conduct comes under review (probably in about 2 months time) it is vital that everyone who suffers disturbance (both noise and congestion) contacts Environmental Health – otherwise the Council will assume that the new code is adequate to control nuisance busking on Cornmarket Street effectively and the suffering will continue and, most likely, escalate to previous levels. For this reason, an action sheet has been produced:


Action Plan for the Coming Few Weeks:

ANBO (Anti-Nuisance Busking Oxford) Action Sheet

Are you still suffering from noisy and irritating buskers?

If so, do remember that the Oxford City Council departments will now listen and act on your complaints. Buskers are allowed to play for just an hour per street per day. Amplification is banned and noisy acts (drums, bagpipes etc) are limited to one 30 minutes play per street per day.

1. If your study or work is being disrupted, do contact Environmental Health immediately on these numbers. An environmental health officer will respond to move on the busker.

Environmental Health:
01865 252382 (weekday office hours)
01865 742138 (weekends and evenings)

2. Insist that your complaint is recorded, even if Environmental Health claim that no action can be taken.*

3. Keep yourself informed. Make sure that you have a copy of the new busking code. All information you need can be found on our blog. You can also phone or email ANBO's campaign co-ordinator and request information. Contact details below.

4. Keep your own record of all instances of disturbance and calls you have made to Environmental Health (exact time and date important), including the name of the officer you have spoken to.

5. If you feel that your complaints have not been addressed, write to your local councillors responsible for Carfax Ward.



*The busking code does not deal directly with volume levels and the thirty minute rule does not prevent a succession of loud buskers in the same place subjecting workers to hours of disturbance. Nevertheless, the Council is aware of this and the new code is under review, therefore, even if Environmental Health refuse to take action, complaints should still be registered so that the need for further amendments is recognised. IT IS VITAL THAT WE CONTACT THE AUTHORITIES AND KEEP OURSELVES INFORMED. THIS WILL ENSURE THAT EFFECTIVE ACTION IS TAKEN AND NUISANCE BUSKING IS FINALLY STOPPED.


Blog: http://anboxford.blogspot.com Email: anbo.info@googlemail.com

Richard: 07903 295560 (any time)

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‘Busking in Oxford 2’: The New Busking Code of Conduct

We welcome most street entertainers and feel they add a lot to the street scene in Oxford. To help buskers and entertainers and to avoid complaints we have introduced a permit sceme and produced a code of practice (see overleaf). We have also designated street entertainment areas. Following the code of practice will help you stay on the right side of the law.

Nuisance:
On occasions however, particularly for people living or working in the city centre, busking may be intrusive, annoying or disturbing. As a result both the Council and the Police receive complaints about the volume and sometimes the nature of busking and street entertainment and about obstruction to the highway caused by gathering crowds.

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (as amended) noise in the street may be a statutory nuisance. The Council has a duty to abate noise nuisances and prohibit their recurrence; this may include the confiscation of musical instruments.

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If you wish to make a complaint about buskers in Oxford or would like to discuss issues relating to buskers please telephone Oxford (01865) 252867 during office hours. For out of office hours complaints call Oxford (01865) 742138.

An Oxford Busker's Badge may be obtained, free of charge, from reception, Environmental Health, Ramsay House, 10 St. Ebbes Street, Oxford OX1 1PT. Please bring a passport sized photo of yourself.

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THE CODE OF PRACTICE

DO:

1. Only perform within the designated entertainment areas.

2. Entertain only between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

3. Hold an Oxford City Council's busker's permit.

4. Smile, enjoy yourself and entertain others!

DON'T:

5. Use amplification of any type. Busking must not be intrusive or be a nuisance in nearby premises (as prescribed in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 [as amended]). Music or voices should not be heard plainly at a distance of 50 metres.

6. Busk for more than 1 hour in any street. Busking shall not be repeated in that street for the rest of the day. Note: very noisy instruments such as bagpipes and drums are restricted to 30 mins maximum time in any one place.

7. Obstruct the highway (road, pavement or open pedestrian area). You are responsible for ensuring that any people gathering to watch or listen to you also do not obstruct the highway.

8. Make use of the street furniture, e.g. public seats, lamp posts, railings.

9. Busk within of 50 metres of another busker or group of buskers.

10. Display signs inviting payment, unless for a charity collection which has been authorised by the Council or the Charity Commissioners. (A letter of authorisation should be available for inspection upon request by an authorised officer of the Council).

11. Perform in a manner which is dangerous to yourself or to the public.

12. Act in a way, or say anything that is likely to cause an offence to a member of the public.

13. Position yourself on a footway or highway in such a way that could be deemed as begging by passers by or the Police e.g. sitting on or wrapped in a sleeping bag or blanket.

14. Act in any way that amounts to anti social behaviour and is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to members of the public or local traders.

15. Busk whilst under the influence of alcohol, solvents or drugs.


OXFORD STREET ENTERTAINERS' CODE OF PRACTICE DESIGNATED STREET ENTERTAINMENT AREAS [BOLD]

Sites

1 (a) Gloucester Green/Friars Entry
1 (b) Gloucester Green/Old School House
2 (a) Queen Street
2 (b) Bonn Square
3 Pennyfarthing Place
4 (a) Cornmarket Street/Carfax
4 (b) Cornmarket Street/Market Street
4 (c) Cornmarket Street/St Michael's Street
5 Covered Market (11.00 - 3.00 Fridays and Saturdays only)

Westgate Pagoda

The Westgate Pagoda area may sometimes also be available for busking upon application to the Westgate Centre Manager. This is because the Pagoda area is frequently rented out for other purposes and is not therefore always going to be available for buskers to use.

Environmental Health,
Ramsay House,
10 St. Ebbes Street,
Oxford OX1 1PT.
Telephone: 01865 252867
Email: noise@oxford.gov.uk

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Finally, we will be making a survey and producing a follow-up report during the nest six weeks. If anyone would like to have their opinions recorded please contact us on the ANBO email address (see action sheet above) and keep the following questions in mind - in addition to any other comments that you have to make:

1. Have you been disturbed by loud, irritating or intrusive buskers since last April? - describe the nature of the disturbance.

2. If so, have you phoned Environmental Health and how have they responded to your complaint/s?

3. Have you heard any buskers using amplifiers and, if so, roughly how many of them have been playing too loud

4. Have you been experiencing relays (or successions) of disturbingly loud buskers playing one after the other at the same spot?

We will be putting up another posting during the next week or so when we have gathered more information. Until then, good luck with your efforts and we hope you have a peaceful and productive time at work.

CAMPAIGN SUCCESS AT TUESDAY'S MEETING!

Environmental Health’s Response to our Report and Central, South and West Area Committee Meeting, Tuesday 12th February, 2008.
Before beginning this posting I would just like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who has supported this campaign and it gives me great pleasure to be able to announce that our report was very well received by the Central, South and West Area Committee on Tuesday night. Most significantly, rather than just opting for improvements to the buskers’ code of practice, great concern was voiced over proper enforcement, especially regarding noise levels – an issue which Environmental Health have not addressed fully in the past. This posting will detail the recommendations made by Environmental Health in response to our report (with some comments) before going on to give a summary of Tuesday night’s area committee meeting.

Summary of Environmental Health's Response to our Report
Recommendations
(Section) 20. Members are recommended to consider the following three options:
Option 1: No change
Cornmarket Street is the only street where there are regular complaints about problems caused by busking in the city centre. On average in 2007 less than one complaint a week was received by Environmental Health about busking in Cornmarket street and the number of premises complaining is pretty small.
Option 2: Amend the buskers’ code of practice
· Entertain only between 10am and 8pm on three days in the week from Monday – Sunday.
· Do not use any form of amplification.
· Do not busk for more than 1 hour in any one place. You cannot busk for more than once a day in any one place. Once you have finished your permitted time in one place you are not allowed to busk in an adjacent permitted entertainment area and must find an alternative approved place. Note: very noisy instruments such as bagpipes and drums are restricted to 30 minutes maximum time in any one place.
· In addition a condition could be added to protect services at St. Michael at the North Gate by restricting the use of the nearest designated entertainment area on Sundays to 12 noon to 6pm.
Option 3: Consider introducing a formal licensing scheme
The powers contained in the Highways Act could be used to produce a formal scheme to license buskers. This option would involve the preparation of a further report to the committee to outline the necessary legal procedures, proposed licensing regime etc.

Comments:
With regard to Option 2, the measures recommended should have a significant effect on the problems caused by nuisance busking. Nevertheless, the following passages from elsewhere in the document are problematic:
“A number of complaints are simply to report the fact that a certain busker has commenced playing and the caller is unhappy about the noise. In these cases the complainant is advised to call back if they exceed the performance time allowed in the code.” (Section 11)
“They report that the code is generally complied with and that the buskers self regulate to a large extent.” (Section 13)
The issue of noise here is sidestepped as the buskers will be keen to secure their places, but once in them, experience has shown that volume, and other considerations, in the code are shown scant regard. Moreover, this does not affect the ‘busking relay’ as there is nothing to stop another very loud busker from taking over, subjecting the students, workers and residents of Cornmarket Street to continual noise disturbance. Nowhere in these recommendations is it made clear how sustained high volume will be dealt with, let alone the other problems such as congestion etc.

Summary of the coverage of ‘Busking in the City Centre’ (Item 9),
Central, South and West Area Committee: Meeting of the Committee, Tuesday 12th February 2008.
Ian Wright, Head of Environmental Health, summarised Environmental Health’s response to our report (see above) and offered the three recommendations contained in that response:
Option 1 – No change
Option 2 – Amend the buskers’ code of practice
Option 3 – Consider introducing a formal licensing scheme
His address reiterated the spirit of the response document; that the emphasis of Environmental Health’s approach was on time allocation and, therefore, the code was generally being followed. He also mentioned that we had not yet handed in our petition. William Waggott offered the first instalment of the petition at this point and said that it was still ongoing. He also asked if the independent petition from Jesus was with them but received no answer.

Response from Councillors of the Central, South and West Area Committee
After this, each councillor present had the chance to speak. The overall feeling expressed was that Environmental Health’s approach had not taken into account much that was contained in our report. The following is a selection of their responses.
· Cllr Paul Sargent mentioned that the 50 yard rule was being frequently broken and that changes in approach had to take place as soon as possible.
· Cllr Bob Price emphasised that ‘busking must not be intrusive’, so that changes did have to be made.
· Cllr Sushila Dhall, who was absent through illness, sent a message in support of achieving a balanced solution to the problem and voiced her ‘shock’ at the antisocial behaviour of some of the buskers.
· Cllr Colin Cook agreed that better enforcement was needed but pointed out that a total ban on amplifiers was not necessary as certain acts needed them and a volume limit would cover this. (William Waggott then pressed for the ban to be kept and it was agreed by everyone that this would be simpler)
· Cllr Susanna Pressell was also very sympathetic to our position and stressed the need for better communication with us in future.
Most councillors present voiced concern the present situation was unacceptable and that the codes’ rules and amendments had to be enforced. Due to a concern about resources, however, the feeling was that Option 2 should be accepted, relying on the anticipated increased presence of street trading monitors to police the code. Should this prove ineffective, however, Option 3 should be seriously considered upon review.

The Committee’s Decisions
The following code modifications from Option 2 were decided on:
· No amplification
· Restriction of buskers to just a single play per day on any street (1hr/ 30 min)
· List of restricted instruments to include didgeridoo in addition to bagpipes and drums, although there was some confusion as to what the restriction is. A total ban or limitation to 30 min (to be clarified)?
· The code will be under review and effectiveness will be monitored and amended further. The council will keep option 3 on the table if modified code fails.

Unexpectedly, Heath Richardson (The Bagpipe Man) wasn’t present after all. Also, there seemed to be no sign of a ‘battle of petitions’ that some of us have feared.

Campaign Update: Report Submission and Recent Publicity
Our report, 'Nuisance Busking in Cornmarket Street', was submitted to Oxford City Council last Tuesday, 22nd January. The report consists of a 24 page report body which covers:

1. The effects of Nuisance Busking
2. Efforts to Solve the Problem and the Results
3. Suggestions on How to Solve the Problem
4. Conclusion/Report Recommendations

followed by 6 appendices which contain transcriptions of interviews, letters to and from Council and Environmental Health officers, the busking policies of Oxford and several other councils in England, media articles and photographic evidence of disruption caused by nuisance busking and street performance on Cornmarket street.

Our request for regulation of the busking on Cornmarket street and the findings in our report will be discussed by the Central, South and West Area Committee in a public meeting on Tuesday 12th february, at 5.30, at the West Oxford Communmity Centre on Botley Road. It would be very helpful to our campaign if this meeting is well attended.

IMPORTANT: BE THERE IF AT ALL POSSIBLE!
Heath Richardson, 'The Bagpipe Man', handed in his own petition at the last Central, South and West Area Committee meeting last month and may well be attending the one on the 12th February. If this is the case, there may well be a public discussion/debate with him and this will be a good opportunity to show our strength.

In a series of articles in the Oxford Mail, during the run up to the festive season and beyond, Heath Richardson launched a 'counter campaign' (see last blog posting). The spin on this publicity was that he was a local folk hero who was being persecuted by intolerant and small-minded shop and business owners. The articles (with comments) are still up on the net and are listed just below.

http://www.oxfordmail.net/search/display.var.1907168.0.bid_to_silence_piper.php

http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.1913909.0.bagpiper_refuses_to_go_quietly.php

http://www.oxfordmail.net/search/display.var.1920406.0.piper_targeted_by_online_abuse.php

http://www.oxfordmail.net/search/display.var.1953409.0.lets_hear_more_of_the_bagpipes.php

http://www.oxfordmail.net/search/display.var.1960504.0.bagpiper_hits_back_with_own_petition.php
We would like to draw attention to the coverage we have received from Cherwell, the Oxford Student publication, for its quality of reporting. Especially noteworthy is the video which takes a close look at the Council's busking code of conduct. They rightly point out that, contrary to what has been widely reported, the Bagpipe Man has not been complying with the code. Thanks for that Cherwell. Please log onto Cherwell’s link at the bottom of this post.

Finally, just to show that it is not just shops and businesses who are being tormented by out of control ‘busking’ (as if we needed to!), here is a testimony from a student studying (or at least trying to) at Jesus College:


Oxford student statement:
“Imagine a warm summers day. In a library, tables are piled high with books and notes as students from every year frown down on them – many of them preparing for their final examinations. The air is thick with tension and heat: the room is stuffy and concentration is confounded by dull headaches. Yet the windows of the room remain tightly shut – an attempt to quiet the repetitive sounds of a bag-piping busker. Nevertheless, the students cannot help but be constantly aware of his presence: his sounds infiltrate the library, the IT room and even bedrooms in the depths of college, far removed from Cornmarket Street. This situation will be familiar to all who have spent a summer in Jesus College. At this particular time of year, stress levels are understandably running high, all libraries in the centre of town become crowded, and even more students are agitated by the persistent buskers. This continues even in winter, when a quiet half hour in the library is appreciated simply because of its rarity.

Undeniably, the University is the main attraction of Oxford and the students are an integral part of the town. Yet in this academic environment, a large number of unfortunate students are disturbed by noise from buskers. Last year, I personally found the volume and repetition of the buskers on Cornmarket Street so counter-productive to working that I felt I could no longer use Jesus college library. In addition, extensive building work on the Radcliffe Science Library (RSL) and the Social Sciences Library (SSL) meant that I and a number of other students had limited options in terms of study space and in fact had to endure this intrusion in the college library, or in our rooms in college where it could also be heard. Furthermore, on several occasions when I was in the RSL, I could still hear buskers, who I assume were on Broad Street. Add, on top of this, the sound of protest groups in the centre of Oxford.

I would be surprised if students from Exeter, Lincoln, Balliol and Trinity (in addition to Jesus) had not experienced similar problems. Also affected will be the even larger number of students using centrally located libraries, including the New and Old Bodleian Libraries, the History Faculty, the Islamic Studies Centre, the Taylor Institute, the Indian Institute, the Theology Library and even the RSL (where I have personally hear buskers despite it’s more remote location). Surely the students and academic staff of the University have the right to a suitable environment in which to carry out their studies?

Furthermore, Jesus College (and the others that are affected) is not only a place of study for students, it is our home. This means that we are even more badly affected by the noise of buskers than employees working in the centre of town – we are exposed to the disturbance for as long as it continues. In the case of the newly established saxophonist on Cornmarket Street, this can be until 9 or 10 pm. Even more serious problems will arise if this time becomes later. In my opinion, if residents outside of the town centre were being disturbed by the level of noise that we are, they would complain and their right to peace and quiet would be recognised. It should be no different for the students and the staff living in college.

The solution to these problems is clear: limitations must be placed on the location, number, volume and quality of buskers in the centre of town.”
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http://cherwell.larrytech.com/index.php?news=1943

The full report is available on request (PDF, MS Word [97-2003 compatible] or RTF) by emailing anbo.info@googlemail.com.

THE PIPER HAS STARTED A COUNTER CAMPAIGN AND IS PROTESTING HIS INNOCENCE!

Ridiculous comments by the piper in the oxford mail:

1. "Some bands come into Cornmarket and use loads of amplifiers and break all the council's busking guidelines but I stick to them and I think I should be allowed to stay." Heath Richardson, ‘Bagpiper refuses to go quietly’, Oxford Mail, Wednesday 19th December 2007

2. ‘He said: "I am astounded that people are actually being abusive online - it's totally over the top and it has to stop.”’ Heath Richardson, ‘Piper targeted by online abuse’, Oxford Mail, Thursday 20th December 2007

As far as the first comment is concerned, Mr. Richardson is breaking at least three rules in ‘Busking in Oxford’, Oxford’s busking code of conduct. That his volume level is high enough to be ‘intrusive or be a nuisance in nearby premises’ has been clearly established. His pipes are also heard clearly at a distance of more than 50 yards, as many instances of his pipes clashing with other instruments are recorded in our busking diary in Appendix 2 of our report. His abusive behaviour, also recorded in our diary below, clearly breaks rules 12 and 14. Not to mention the incident with the children’s choir, again.

This then leads us directly into his second comment. Whilst this claim is indeed true – the MySpace page is abusive and his description of it is accurate – , is he helping his own cause by making so much of a fuss about it after the abuse that he has given to others?

For the record, there are a number of web pages on the internet abusing the piper which have nothing to do with our campaign and we strongly disagree with the way in which they abuse him. Our only web presence at this time is this blog and our own facebook group. ANBO is an above-board organisation, which is not anti-busking, and is striving for a resolution to the problem of nuisance busking which satisfies all parties, be they workers, students, residents or buskers.


'Busking in Oxford'
The Council's Code of Practice


DON’T:
5. Use mains or generator power for amplification. Busking must not be intrusive or be a nuisance in nearby premises (as prescribed in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 [as amended]). Music or voices should not be heard plainly at a distance of 50 metres.

12. Act in any way, or say anything that is likely to cause offence to a member of the public.

14. Act in any way that amounts to anti social behaviour and is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to members of the public or local traders.



Excerpts taken from Appendix 2: ‘Busking Diary’ (diary of busking activity over summer)


Wednesday 18th July
- 12:25 – 12:55 - Bagpipe Player
- 13:00 – 14:00 - Guitar Player – clashing with Bagpipe Player

Thursday 19th July
- 13:30 – 14:00 – Bagpipe Player – Outside Vodaphone but we can hear him clearly
- 14:15 – 14:50 - Bagpipe Player

Friday 20th July
- Raining!! No Street Entertainment!!!
- 15:15 – 15:45 - Bagpipe Player (in another spot but clearly heard.)

Tuesday 24th July
- 15:00 – 15:30 - Bagpipe Player – (not outside but clearly heard clashing with the harpists)

Wednesday 25th July
- 15:50 – 16:20 – Bagpipe Player
(Phoned Environmental Health because he was shouting abuse at a few people – including a boy who took a photo of him and he demanded money. Got through to Matt who said that he would notify the police)

Monday 30th July
- 14:00 – 14:30 - Bagpipe Player – Not outside but still clearly heard
- 14:40 – 15:10 - Bagpipe Player

Tuesday 31st July
- 14:45 – 15:15 – Bagpipe Player not outside but heard

Wednesday 1st August
- 12:10 – 12:40 - Bagpipe Player not outside but clearly heard clashing with recorder

Thursday 2nd August
- 13:15 – 13:45 - Bagpipe Player clashing with Harpist

Friday 3rd August
- 14:35 – 15:35 - Singers – Keyboard & Guitar Players
Clashing with Bagpipes who was outside Vodaphone
(Went to meet Mr Waggott to discuss a Buskers Action Plan)

Tuesday 7th August
- 13:20 – 13:50 - Bagpipe Player outside Vodaphone clashing with Harpists
- 14:45 – 15:20 - Bagpipe Player
(At 14:15 he started shouting very aggressively at passers by – He shouted ‘I can’t believe people are so rude’, ‘Only £4!!’ and stamped his foot aggressively, he then shouted ‘Does this look easy?’ until a few reluctant people began to put money in his hat – I do not see how this is a positive portrayal of Oxford for tourists)

Thursday 9th August
- 16:10 – 16:40 - Bagpipe Player clashing with drums
(16:25 - He shouted at a man who took his picture – ordering him to “come back” when he started walking away)

Monday 13th August
- 14:40 – 15:20 - Bagpipe Player outside Vodaphone clashing with Harpist
- 15:25 – 16:00 - Bagpipe Player – right outside
(At 15:50 he shouted at someone for accidentally kicking the rug with his money on – he tried to help him pick it up but he told him to b*gger off”)

Friday 17th August
- 13:20 – 13:50 - Bagpipe Player – clashing with the Harpists

Wednesday 22nd August
- 14:30 – 15:00 - Bagpipe Player
- 15:00 – 15:30 - Bagpipe Player
(Stopped to shout at William who was taking a photo of him)

Tuesday 28th August
- 13:00 –13:30 - Bagpipe Player – stopped to shout at someone who accidentally kicked his money


What do YOU think?

CAMPAIGN UPDATE AND SUMMARY OF LAST MONTH ADDRESS TO OXFORD CITY COUNCIL

The first part of this posting is a transcription of the briefing summary which we submitted to the Council prior to the meeting, which covers every item in our address, whilst the second part will outline the next phase of the campaign and introduce the publicity coverage, which remains on-going at this time.

Meeting of Full Council, Oxford Town Hall
Monday 19th November, 4pm

William Waggott, Kevin Elliot, Richard Wood and Jo Reid delivered five minute address to Oxford City Council and handed over an in-depth summary of our report to the Lord Mayor. During the short time-slot every item on our agenda was covered and the delivery was pretty impressive. What was particulary helpful was that the Lord Mayor, in the opening preliminaries to the meeting, mentioned the importance of Oxford's twinning with Bonn and a recent visit by various groups from Bonn to the city this summer - one off these groups was the childrens' choir which was ruined by the piper! Jo's message about this was scheduled for the end of our address for maximum inpact, so our address to the Council could not have gone better.



The next step will almost certainly be the consideration of our request, for effective regulation of busking on Cornmarket Street, by the West and South Central committee. The committee will be meeting next on 16th January (full details to be confirmed soon) and we will have the opportunity to deliver another five minute address. It would be most helpful if we could have visible Jesus student support at this meeting.




The first phase of the campaign came to an end last Monday with our address and presentation to Oxford City Council. The first section of this posting is a copy of the briefing document handed over to the Council the Friday before the meeting, summarising our address. The second section will deal with what happens, and what we need to do next.


1. BRIEFING SUMMARY: Summary/overview of address to Full Council, 19th November 2007.
Subject: Regulation of Disruptive Nuisance Busking/Street Performance on Cornmarket Street.


Speakers:
Dr. William Waggott, Medical Publisher (students and office workers)
Kevin Elliot (or Lucy Russell), YWCA administration (charity & office workers)
Richard Wood (on behalf of retail)
Jo Reid, Verger of St. Michael at the North Gate (place of worship/charities)


Introduction:

The introduction will cover reasons for effective regulation of busking/street performance on Cornmarket Street. We have carried out a survey in Cornmarket Street and found that in addition to the disruption the buskers cause from noise, secondary effects such as large crowds gathering impacts upon business negatively. In addition, we would like to draw the Council’s attention to the aggressive behaviour of some buskers to tourists and an incident involving school children visiting from Bonn, our twin partner city.

We would like the Council to support busking in Cornmarket Street, but in a regulated manner so as not to discriminate against Cornmarket Street workers and students. Pedestrians do not suffer the effects of constant and loud busking that students, workers and retail operations have to endure.

Effects of busking running amok in central Oxford. The human cost; stress, irritability, inability to work or study efficiently.

In addition to the effect of having ineffective workforce which is difficult to quantify, businesses have suffered direct financial loss as a result of uncontrolled busking.

Retail operations are unable to meet fully their disability access obligations as they have no control over the large crowds that obscure their shop entrances.


Students and academic staff:

High levels of background noise severely affecting Jesus College library and study bedrooms located on Ship Street, on the corner of Cornmarket Street

Busking often carries on late into the evening, rendering study almost impossible in the library and study rooms


Charities/business office staff:

High levels of background noise due to loud, often amplified, instruments

Frequently repetitive and discordant noise from buskers

This causes stress, tension, headaches and people having to work longer hours in order to catch up with lost time during the day

Meetings being disrupted and aggravated

Difficulty with telephone conversations, with prospective clients hearing the din over the phone resulting in bad company image

The noise in the offices is amplified by the acoustics on Cornmarket Street caused by sound reverberating across the two walls caused by the buildings on either side – double glazing has been found to be ineffective against this

Loud instruments are clashing with other instruments and, because of the acoustic effect mentioned above, office staff are being subjected to a ‘cacophony of sound’


Retail staff:

The obstruction of shop entrances caused by crowds forming around popular acts has caused access difficulties – breach of Disability Discrimination Act 1995 – and considerable loss of custom, thus revenue

The obscuring of window displays has prevented potential customers seeing sale information etc.

The smaller shops are also affected by the noise, making communication between staff and customers difficult

There is a discrimination element against retailers as policies, such as not being able to erect signs outside to make up for obscured window displays, are enforced robustly whilst the rules preventing buskers/street performers from obstructing the shops are ignored


Church staff and congregation:

Loud instruments ruining quiet and solemn services and choir concerts

The abuse that has sometimes resulted from asking buskers to play elsewhere for an hour or so is doubly unacceptable in a spiritual setting; this has also been found to be an issue with the retail and business community as well. As an illustration of both noise nuisance and abusive behaviour, an incident of how a childrens’ choir concert – that had travelled all the way from Bonn – was ruined by an abusive and severely inconsiderate busker

The verger of St. Michael at the North Gate is resident on the Street and has problems sleeping due to busking going on late


Conclusion:
A simple reiteration of our claim; that we have just cause to strongly insist that the issue of regulation and code enforcement is considered seriously this time, in view of the high level of suffering and aggravation outlined in this address.


2. The Next Steps and Recent Publicity

As there was no other item on busking and street performance on the agenda, there was no discussion after our presentation. The report summary we handed over will be considered over the next two months and this will almost certainly be the job of the Central, South and West Committee, which meets on the 16th January. At this meeting we will again be able to deliver a five-minute address, and hope to have a strong student presence.

The issue of disability access also came up during our research earlier this year, with the manager of 'The Works' voicing concern over serious congestion in front of the shop caused by crowds attracted to the more popular street acts. After consulting the Council's disabled access officer on the matter, I am relieved to say that the shops are not in danger from the Disabilities Discrimination Act (which says that premises must work to ensure reasonable access to the disabled) as they will not be held responsible for the crowds. The busking code places this responsibility with the buskers.

The letter writing campaign has now started, with residents writing to the carfax Councillors and those who come from outside Carfax ward to work writing to both the carfax Councillors and their own local Councillors. This is planned to continue after the festive season, in the run up to the West and South Central committee meeting.

Finally, many of you have probably noticed the recent publicity which started with the articles in the Oxford Mail and is escalating, with the piper starting his own campaign (and petition). It shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that we are being made to look like a lynch mob who are trying to run the piper out of town. We are setting the record straight (today on local BBC radio and tomorrow on jeremy Vine), by pointing out that our petition and report are calling for regulation, and therefore aimed at the Council, and not aimed at the piper. Indeed, the piper is not even mentioned in our petition, and if he appears frequently in our report, it is because he has drawn so many complaints by his noise and bad behaviour.

There is quite a lot happening at the moment so watch this space for an update on the media situation during the next few days.

Anti-Nuisance NOT Anti-Busking, Oxford

ANBO (Anti-Nuisance Busking Oxford, formerly HUSH!) is a coalition of people from many professions, on and around Cornmarket Street, who have united against the effects of the unregulated busking/street performance there. Among the members of ANBO are students, churchpeople, shop and office workers, charity workers, local residents and businesspeople who, in common, have had to put up with:

• Very high background volume levels as they try to work or study


• Discordant, repetitive and even tuneless playing from many buskers


• Anti-social, aggressive and even threatening behaviour from some buskers


• Headaches, extreme irritation, stress and damaged livelihood due to all the above

And just to show you how bad things can really get, here is an incident that happened this summer, involving a well known local bagpiper (pictured right >>):

"On 27th August, a childrens’ choir from Bonn was performing a school choir at St. Michael at the North Gate church at lunchtime. As verger of the church I approached the bagpiper and requested that he take a break or relocate during the performance. The bagpiper told me to f**k off, that his busking was paying his f***ing bills and that it was his job. I left, not wanting to be involved in an argument, and hoped that his conscience would get the better of him and that he would move on. On the contrary, the piper continued to play throughout the childrens’ performance and could be heard while the children were singing. Poor parents and tourists with camcorders probably had a third rate busker on tape to take home instead of what would have been enjoyable memories for them and the children. " Incident reported by Jo Reid, verger of St. Michael at the North Gate Anglican church, Cornmarket Street.

The aims of ANBO are to bring an end to all this unnecessary suffering whilst greatly enhancing the entertainment experience of Cornmarket Street. We therefore ask that those busking/entertaining on Cornmarket Street are able and prepared to:

• Play a fairly wide selection of tunes at a reasonable volume level


• Play with sufficient skill to entertain


• Follow the Council's own busking code of conduct


• Behave in a polite and pleasant manner

Because most people who enjoy the busking and street performance on Cornmarket Street are only passing through, few people are aware of how unpleasant the street can be for those who have to spend the whole day there. It only takes a minority of bad buskers to ruin significant chunks of time for people working and studying on Cornmarket Street.

Perhaps because of this, Oxford City Council and Environmental Health have failed to take any significantly effective action. Many people have also said that they think a vibrant pavement culture on Cornmarket Street is a really good idea. So do we! The vast majority of people we have spoken to in our research are very much in favour of busking and street performance in general. Let us work together to achieve a pleasant and enjoyable pavement/cafe culture on Cornmarket Street.