Singer-songwriter Frank Turner urges Gov't to save live music pubs

11-Sep-2014 - Last updated on 15-Sep-2014 at 08:20 GMT

Frank Turner: '12 venues are already under threat, an avalanche will follow if we don't take action'

Musician Frank Turner has urged the Government to introduce legislation to protect live music pubs in order to prevent an “avalanche” of venues closing down.

In an open letter to culture secretary Sajid Javid, the singer-songwriter has called for the Government to adopt the agent of change principle, which means the responsibility for minimising noise disturbance would fall on new residents or developers rather than pubs and clubs that have hosted live music for a long time.

The campaign is in collaboration with Music Venue Trust, which has been lobbying to protect music venues since January, and is supported by Musicians Union, Music Industries Association and UK Music.

'Meltdown'

“Music venues are fighting off noise complaints, abatement notices and planning applications; 12 venues are already under threat, an avalanche will follow if we don't take action,” Turner wrote.

“You, as the Culture Secretary, are genuinely facing a meltdown in the British live music circuit.”

Beverley Whitrick of the Music Venue Trust said: "The Agent of Change Principle is not complicated or controversial, it's simple common sense: the person or business responsible for the change is responsible for managing the impact of the change.

“This means that an apartment block to be built near an established live music venue would have to pay for soundproofing, while a live music venue opening in a residential area would be responsible for the costs. A resident who moves next door to a music venue would, in law, be assessed as having made that decision understanding that there's going to be some music noise, and a music venue that buys a new PA would be expected to carry out tests to make sure its noise emissions don't increase."

View the petition here