Ben Lowry: ​I hope that Belfast bans noise pollution from blaring buskers in the city centre, not preachers

(Click here for Ben Lowry’s main column about there being no sign of a unionist realignment)​

It is going to make it harder to use amplification in the city centre.

The key streets have been almost destroyed by blaring music. The council has been seeking views on proposed new byelaws which it says are aimed at “reducing noise nuisance in the city centre”.

It says: “The council has encountered issues in recent years relating to loud busking, religious preaching and various other activities involving the use of amplification devices and/or the display of graphic imagery.”

This means the plans have been presented as a ban on preaching. I hope that it is not even a subtle attempt to ban preachers. I rarely agree with their message but I have no objection to them if, like the Rev Ian Paisley used to do outside City Hall, they can project their voice without microphone.

The big problem in Belfast is the horrendously loud busking that could for example at times be heard in our office more than 100 metres away, on a fourth floor. It has made walking to and from shops a misery. Music should be allowed of course, so long as no amplifier is used to destroy the ambience for the many people like me who want to be able to walk around and collect their thoughts, or just enjoying being outside without noise pollution.