Building boss urges souvenir shop to pipe down in nuisance noise row

AN Old Town businessman has called on the city council to strictly enforce its crackdown on nuisance noise caused by tartan tat shops, claiming he can't even open his windows because of the bagpipe music.

Allan Cumming, who runs a firm of building and consulting engineers based in an office on North Bridge, said his windows remain firmly closed because of the noise coming from speakers outside the Victor Scott Kiltmaker shop below.

The council launched a crackdown this week that aimed to ensure tartan souvenir shops do not cause unreasonable nuisance to residents, businesses and shoppers. It included extra officers on patrol to enforce new guidelines agreed with traders, who have the power to confiscate excessively large pavement displays or even cut the cable of speakers that are blaring music too loud.

Despite the crackdown, Mr Cumming said that the volume remains a problem.

He said: "In this weather, we have to open the window for a bit of cool air but we can't because of the noise of this annoying music.

"It is not such a big problem in the winter because we have double-glazed windows, but even then you still hear it. There is just this constant annoying drone and it really grates on your nerves.

"I would be surprised if there are not health and safety issues for their staff."

He has complained to the council in the past but said there has been little improvement.

He admitted that, since the latest crackdown started on Monday, the amount of time that the volume is too high has "vastly" reduced but says that it remains a problem.

He added: "I just worry that this will soon be forgotten about again and it will be back to being as bad as always."

A member of staff at Victor Scott, who did not want to be named, defended the music.

He said: "We have kept an eye on it and not kept it too loud to annoy customers. If we play it too loud customers will not come in.

"If we do not play the music we will lose 50 per cent of our trade because that trade comes from people hearing the music. We sell the CDs we play and we sell thousands of them because they love the music.

"This music is actually annoying for us. It gives us a headache but what can we do? It is part of the business. I've worked here for eight years and I've only heard three CDs."

Mike Penny, the council's neighbourhood manager for the city centre, said: "I am pleased with the response of traders. Most have made a genuine effort to follow the guidelines."Clearly our decision to meet with traders and to involve them in the process has helped, but it is still early days and our officers will continue to enforce where necessary."