Buskers in Altrincham have been banned from plugging in their amps as part of a new code of conduct drawn up by Trafford Council.
The new standards, which came into force on April 1st, are intended to balance the needs of “musicians, residents and businesses”.
Buskers are now only allowed to use a battery-powered amp, and must not cause any obstruction.
They must also keep a 50-metre gap between one another and be prepared to change location should they impact on people in the area.
Buskers who wish to collect for charity must also apply for a street collection licence.
A spokesperson for Trafford Council said: “We want to ensure that the centre of Altrincham is a thriving, prosperous and secure environment for everyone who lives, visits or works around the town.
“Buskers can really enhance the atmosphere of a town centre but we want to make sure they don’t have a negative impact on the surrounding area.
“Therefore, we are asking buskers to abide by the new code to ensure that live music can continue to be part of the life of the town, without interfering with other users of the town centre.”
The new code states: “Whilst it needs to be audible above the ambient noise, excessive noise is likely to be a source of annoyance. You should not amplify instruments unnecessarily, and you should only use a battery powered amp if this is required”.
It does not however include a requirement for buskers to move to a new location every hour, as had been originally proposed last year.
The new code will be reviewed after September 30th.
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