We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to recognise that music and dance should not be restricted by burdensome licensing regulations.

I fear I cannot support the petition because it fails to recognise that electric music (live or recorded) can be a powerful source of disruption.

The words used in any petition fail to recognise many things - mainly because they must be limited and cannot cover everything. But the words of this petition equally do not say that electric music cannot be a powerful source of disruption - do they?

When loud music becomes disruptive (along with all other sources of loud noise) - it must be dealt with effectivly. The past has shown us that licensing - in advance of the noise actually taking place - is not an effective method of dealing with a measurable problem as it also prevents much music making that is not disruptive noise.

But unless you are in favour of music and dance being restricted by burdomsome licensing regulations (and from your approach on this - it does sometimes appear that you are) - I see no reason why you feel you cannot support this petition.

We have been over this before - your concern is NOISE.

Those far more informed than I am have convinced me long ago that other legislation has made the attempt to additionally control loud noise through licensing pointless. And since then even more legislation has been introduced to address the problem of noise - has it not?