Ban buskers from using amplifiers in Keswick or risk violence, warns musician

A busker has warned there is going to be violence in Keswick unless the plug is pulled on street musicians playing their amplified anthems.

Philip Lowe, who travels from Penrith to play the clarinet in the town, mainly for charity, told the August meeting of the town council that some buskers can be “maliciously and violently aggressive” if asked to turn down their ear-drum bashing tunes.

“There is going to be violence down here if you (the town council) don’t do something,” he appealed and described amplification as “the tool of bullies”.

“All they have to do is turn it up and if they are asked to turn it down then all hell breaks loose.”

He said that the revised code of conduct drawn up by the town council in October 2022, which said no amplification was allowed, was “meaningless”.

And businessman Roy Johnson, who runs Ewe Tree Ltd, said he had been raising the issue of buskers causing a noise nuisance in town for the past 15 years and asked: “How long have we got to wait before this council takes responsibility for this town.

“There needs to be a stronger voice against what has been happening for the last 15 years.”

He said the route of health and safety to tackle the problem should be explored as his employees have been complaining about the excessive noise.

“Keswick is like a built up amphitheatre and the sound just bounces off these buildings and comes right through my front door and has nowhere to go,” he said. “I sometimes wonder if there was a busker outside that window right now how you (councillors) would all feel conducting your business.”

And during the debate Lake Road resident Claire Peat turned to Mr Lowe and said: “You are fighting to give the gift of music. I would love to have the gift of peace once in a while.” 

It was a reference to the noise she hears from buskers playing in the underpass.

Cllr Sally Lansbury said: “Please don’t think nothing has been happening about this issue over the last five to 10 years. We have been banging heads together. We are just not the right conduit.”

Town clerk Vivien Little said that although the council had drawn up the voluntary code of conduct, it did not have any powers to enforce it. She added that the council was doing its best but what was needed was a co-ordinated approach to the problem involving Cumberland Council and the police.

She said in a report to councillors that council staff had attempted to talk to buskers who used amplification but had been subjected to verbal abuse. 

A decision was taken that council staff would no longer confront buskers, although Ms Little did speak to them on occasions when complaints had been received about their loud playing.

Council chairman Steve Harwood assured those present that the council was “really, really trying on this now”.