An on-line petition has been launched after an expert musician was pressured to go away her London dwelling resulting from noise complaints for practising her instrument.
Fiona Fey — a member of classical choir Mediaeval Baebes — acquired a letter from the Lewisham Council following a string of complaints from one in every of her neighbours.
The type in query was a noise abatement discover, which prohibited her from enjoying any devices in her dwelling. It additionally threatened that the council may power entry into her property, confiscate her devices and situation a effective of as much as £5,000 if she was heard practising.
According to the BBC, the discover got here regardless of her reaching a compromise together with her neighbour, the place Fey agreed to “stop playing almost all of [her] instruments other than a guitar and a low whistle that is the same volume as a vacuum cleaner”.
She additionally recalled contacting the council to query whether or not she was breaking any legal guidelines by practising her devices at dwelling — to which she was reportedly instructed: “You sound guilty to me or you wouldn’t be calling”.
Following the discover being served, Fey determined to maneuver out of her flat and instructed the BBC: “This has had taken a huge emotional toll and placed an enormous financial strain on me. I was made to feel self-conscious and anxious every time I played my music.”
“I had almost finished recording an album but now I can’t use my recording equipment as it is in a storage unit,” she continued. “I am currently living with friends and I don’t know how I will find a new place to live as there’s nowhere I can afford.”
In response to her story, Fey launched a petition on-line, which seeks to “protect the rights of musicians to practise”. At the time of writing, the petition has already acquired an enormous wave of help, and has over 68,000 signatures.
“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,” she writes within the description.
“This night time is Hallwe’en Janet
When fairy folks moun trip…”– Tam Lin, Mirabilis#halloween #fairyqueen #october pic.twitter.com/Lejq3Fd7eC
— Mediaeval Baebes (@mediaevalbaebes) October 31, 2017
“Can the law around music practise be made clearer so this doesn’t continue to happen?” She continued: “I am a musician, it is my job to practise.”
As per the BBC, a spokesperson for Lewisham Council justified the choice made the serve Fey with the discover. “We have been aware of noise issues at a residence since November 2022 involving loud music, playing of instruments and singing, resulting in numerous complaints,” they mentioned. “The tenant refused to agree to a good neighbour agreement or rehearsal times to prevent further concerns.”
They added: “Lewisham Homes instructed a professional witness who attended the complainant’s home in February 2023 [and] the report confirmed that the music from the residence was audible within the complainant’s home and was at an unreasonable level.”
In different information, final month a petition was launched on-line to avoid wasting London’s O2 Academy Brixton, following hypothesis that the venue could shut for good.
The way forward for the house was thrown into hypothesis after an Asake gig final December, when guests pressured their manner into the present — resulting in overcrowding and the gig being cancelled midway by means of.