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Busking

Busking and other forms of street entertainment are welcomed in Salisbury.

Good street entertainment can enhance the vitality of the city centre and provide pleasure to residents and visitors. You do not need a licence or permission to busk or provide street entertainment in Salisbury. However there are certain restrictions and you are expected to follow a code of practice.

Restrictions

Busking is not permitted at any time in the Library Walk. It is also not permitted in Fish Row when a Court is sitting.

The Old George Mall, Cross Keys and The Maltings shopping centres are privately owned and prior permission should be sought from the centre managers.

Code of practice

Buskers and street entertainers must follow the Code of Practice for street entertainment:

• Music or voice shall not be amplified to a level or to be so loud that either can be plainly heard at a distance of 50 metres. Mains or generator-powered amplification is not permitted. Busking must not be intrusive, a nuisance in nearby premises or affect the public or the use of public telephones
• Private land apart (please see 'Restrictions'), entertainment is restricted to a maximum of two hours in any one place (pitch) and shall not be repeated in that place or within 50 metres of it within two hours.
• Entertainers shall not obstruct the highway. Entertainers are also responsible for ensuring that the highway is not obstructed by people gathering to listen or to watch the performance (note: Highway includes any footpath, pavement or open pedestrian area or place)
• Entertainers shall not make use of the street furniture, such as public seats, lampposts and railings
• Pitches chosen shall satisfy the above criteria and must not be within 50 metres of another busker
• Entertainment is only permitted between the hours of 10.00hrs and 20.00hrs (10.00hrs and 22.00hrs in June, July and August)
• No sign shall be displayed inviting payment (except where a collection for charity has been authorised by the council or the charity commissioners).
• Entertainers shall not perform in a manner which is dangerous to themselves or to the public
• Entertainers shall not dress, act, or say anything which is likely to cause alarm, distress or offence to a member of the public
• Entertainers must stop performing immediately when requested to do so by a Police Constable or council officer

Nuisance

On occasions, busking may become a nuisance, particularly for people living or working in the city centre. As a result both the local authority and the police receive complaints about the volume and sometimes the nature of busking and street entertainment and about obstruction of the public highway caused by gatherings.

Legal

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, noise in the street from musical instruments may be a statutory nuisance and the local authority is able to take legal action to abate the nuisance and prohibit or restrict its recurrence. This may include the seizure of musical instruments.

Additionally, there are byelaws that address the issue of busking and noise. The police and the council will not normally institute legal action where the Code is observed. However breaches make an offender liable to prosecution. It should also be noted that persons other than the police or the council may institute action under the same laws whether or not the Code is observed.

If you would like a printed version of this information please contact Salisbury District Council at enhmail@salisbury.gov.uk.