News
Noise limiter petition reaches 70,000
Rob Hughes Jan 23 2009, 11:26am
Petitioner concedes that rumours of noise limiter proposals are unfounded
The petition against compulsory noise limiters in live music venues is now number one on the Prime Minister’s petition website, with over 70,000 signatures.
This comes as the petitioner himself, Warren James, admits on his website that it is a false alarm: “It is great to see so many people supporting the comments made on the e-petition on the Downing Street website which started early in 2008, all of you seem to agree with the issue raised. Although the issue that I was angry with and petitioned against in late 2007 never actually came to fruition. It is a fact that this never happened in 2008, thus allowing live music to continue 'reasonably' un-interrupted.”
Andrew Bishop owner of amp and PA manufacturer Carlsbro noted: The petition has more than double the number of signatures of the petition calling on the PM to impose an arms embargo on Israel following its Gaza offensive. Once again, public concern about the regulation of live music proves to be greater than the either the government or the media appreciate."
Bishop also added that the rumours were indeed unfounded: “The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) confirmed last week that the government had no plans for new noise limiter legislation, and that the petition was unfounded. It would seem that rumours in early 2008 about the end of a two-year moratorium of enforcement of Noise at Work regulations at entertainment venues were the petitioner's starting point. But even under that legislation noise limiters cannot be forced on a venue.”
