Buskers from Leicester Square are accused of the 'tease of' staff of some of the largest radio stations in the UK – where some are forced to work in cupboards to get away from the noise.
Employees at Global – a media company that owns the heart, capital and classic FM – claim that the Westminster city council does not tackle the 'nuisance' caused by loud musicians and singers on the famous square.
Based on 30 Leicester Square, employees have complained that they can hear Buskers' set lists play on a loop, with music that has been blown from speakers, directed directly to the building.
A hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court was played by the 'Fast Car' of 'Fast Car' by Tracy Chapman and 'Somey Like You' by Adele as proof of the daily interruptions with which they are confronted.
“It's incredibly distracting,” said Charlotte Jacob, an employee. 'Yesterday at the office, in the afternoon, I was unable to have a conversation with a colleague of two agencies, probably three meters maximum, because someone sang very hard Hallelujah. '
Michelle Gammon described her surprise at the volume and said she could even hear singing while she was in the bathroom: “I heard the vocals in the toilet at the back of the building.”
Gareth Andrewartha added: 'The sound penetrates the windows so that I can hear any text and element. It is difficult to concentrate, “he said, explaining that he had to dive into a cupboard for rest and silence.
“We are more willing to tolerate heat than the noise,” he continued, referring to how staff is reluctant to open windows in the summer for fear that the noise will get worse.
Employees of Global Radio, located at 30 Leicester Square, have reported that the Setlists of Buskers are played on a loop, with music planned of speakers, focused directly on the building (stock image)
Global Radio, which owns popular stations such as Heart, Capital, Classic FM, Smooth and LBC, has accused the Westminster city council of not tackling the 'nuisance' caused by loud musicians and singers on the famous square
William Padfield called the sound 'invasive', and said to the court: “Many of us wear noise -suppressing headphones and can still hear the buskers.”
Alison Jones described the noise as 'overwhelming', while Simon Thomas said that the radio staff was 'plagued by noise that prevents us from working'.
Lydia Clinchart even complained that “sometimes the poor quality of performance makes it distracting.”
The dispute is part of a legal fight Global Radio fights the city council of Westminster. The company continues the Council under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and accuses the authority of not tackling the continuous noise nuisance.
This is supposed to be the first case of its kind, usually used for problems such as fly-tipping.
Jonathan Manning, a lawyer who represents the council, argued that Busking's noise is not a legal nuisance.
He claimed that Global's evidence did not support the idea that the local government should be held responsible.
“Their evidence proves the opposite,” Manning said, pointing out that the staff was able to call buskers and sing along with their sets: 'Witnesses of Global have made it clear that they know some buskers so well that they have every word to their sets can sing. '
The council also disputed the claim that the busking volume was loud enough to qualify as a noise levy, in which one expert testified that the music, when audible, was not overly intrusive.
The dispute is part of a legal fight Global Radio Vecht against Westminster City Council (Stock Image)
Global's lawyer, Melissa Murphy KC,, however, argued that reinforced music, in particular from Pitch Negen in the northeastern corner of Leicester Square, led to 'oppressive volume'.
She explained: 'It is difficult to have a conversation about the noise. It is disturbing, distracting. '
Murphy added that the constant sound – every day was long periods – made working conditions unbearable.
“It feels inevitable. It significantly undermines Global's assets to use their property in accordance with their lease, “she said. “It's a thorough nuisance.”
The company has claimed that the Council has not taken action despite months of complaints, so that the Westminster city council accused of allowing the situation by not controlling the buskers.
District judge John Law, who supervises the process, is expected to make a verdict next month.
