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User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
Felipa UK Petition re right to play music (17) UK Petition re right to play music 18 May 23


https://chng.it/g5XFmXRNVF
on a petition site called "Change.org":

Petition started by Fiona Fey:

Environmental Health officers (EHO) across the country have come to misinterpret the law on statutory nuisance. Statutory nuisance was meant to deal with matters such as people living next door to dog kennels, car racing tracks and night clubs - not domestic music playing.’

Can the law around music practice be made clearer so this doesn’t continue to happen?

Last week I was served a noise abatement notice by Lewisham Council that forbids me to play any musical instrument in my home at any time.

I am a musician, it is my job to practise.

If I do Lewisham Council can force entry, confiscate all my instruments and fine me £2000.

The hours I was practising were usually between 11 and 3 - not early morning or late at night, the instruments I was practising regularly were guitar, singing and low whistle (70-80db - the volume of a conversation)

Others have now been in contact to say the same has happened to them.

The Lewisham Environmental Health Officers (EHO)s stated that volume and time of day is irrelevant, any music noise that can be heard by someone else can be classified as a nuisance.

The EHOs told me TV and radio are ’living noise’ but that the playing of an instrument is not.

Why on earth isn’t the playing of musical instruments considered living noise?

It is not only people who make their living from music, it is so important to protect this as simply a form of enjoyment, self expression and relaxation and it should not need any further justification.

Over the past few years the music industry has got so much harder. Now governing bodies show that, not only are they doing little to help, they are actively penalising musicians who are trying to make a living.

This is particularly shocking from Lewisham- after being the London Borough of Culture 2022

Situations of this nature should have an official definition - decibels, time of day etc

They should not be left up to the opinion of whichever EHO officer is investigating.
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I find this case incredible; that Fiona has been ordered not to play musical instruments in her own home at any time of day. And she plays mild-sounding accoustic instruments, which she usually practices in the middle of the day. I'm not so sure that noise regulations of this nature can always be strictly defined by volume and time; sometimes specific agreements need to be brokered between the person who makes a complaint of noise and the person accused of making the noise.

You can give your support to the petition via the link above, aka
https://www.change.org/p/defend-the-right-to-play-musical-instruments-twitter-com-fionafeymusic-status-1655140847870935040

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there is a comment on the site from someone who claims "Lewisham council have a slightly different version of events re petitioners failure to engage and dialogue" Do you know anything more about this case?


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