Busker regulation would solve High Street's piper problems

Published on Monday 30 June 2008 10:40

Other cities license street entertainers. We could too, says Stefan Tymkewycz.

SITTING in my office on the 10th floor of the City Chambers, facing out on to the High Street, I have the "pleasure" of listening to the sounds of the Royal Mile drifting in through my open window.

Every day brings a variety of noises from the hustle and bustle of street life to the variety of buskers at the edge of the quadrangle. But above all, it is the sound of pipers which dominates.

Running from the Castle to the twin edifices of the Palace and parliament, the Royal Mile is one of the most iconic and historic streets in the world. This urban gem has been shaped by centuries of rebuilding and is rightly famed throughout Europe and beyond.

It is more than simply a street. The Royal Mile has become central to our national identity and, as a result, to our tourism industry.

Tourism plays an increasingly important role in the economy of Edinburgh, and therefore Scotland as a whole, with recent years having seen the industry go from strength-to-strength.

This should come as no surprise given the diverse range of attractions this wonderful country offers. From our ancient Capital and vibrant cities, to renowned golf courses, brooding mountains and verdant glens, Scotland provides an experience that is both unique and of high quality. Pipers on the High Street are a significant component of this experience and should rightly remain so.

It must be remembered that the High Street is not just a tourist attraction – it is part of a working city and, as such, consideration must be given to those who reside and work in it.

A compromise should be sought to balance the competing interests of the tourist economy and the Royal Mile's inhabitants. To achieve this, we can look elsewhere to see how other authorities deal with buskers.

In London, a 16-week trial was implemented some years ago which saw hundreds of buskers – from opera singers to didgeridoo players – performing at 12 key Underground stations.

Transport for London proposes to issue year-long licences at a cost of 20, which will allow "official" buskers to book slots at a marked pitch where they can perform during designated hours. Buskers who have not been approved by the London Underground will continue to face fines.

Birmingham, meanwhile, has taken a slightly different approach to those want to perform on the street.

Through its Busk Stop Initiative, buskers have to pass a quality test before they are awarded permission to play in certain areas of the town centre.

Regulation is central the strategies in both these cities. Some form of similar regulation could be considered here, if we are to protect and enhance one of Scotland's key tourism assets, while maintaining our city centre as an attractive residential and working environment.

&#149 Cllr Stefan Tymkewycz, Craigentinny/Duddingston Ward