Blackpool Council agrees carol singing ban

A ban on carol singing and festive music in Blackpool town centre in the run up to Christmas has got the go ahead despite claims both traditions would help boost morale.
Salvation Army musiciansSalvation Army musicians
Salvation Army musicians

Councillors voted to revoke street collection permits for the Salvation Army Band and addiction recovery charity Betel after hearing performances would attract crowds and encourage the spread of Covid.

Coun Peter Hunter told a meeting of the council’s public protection sub committee he believed the risk was “not significant”.

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He said: “At this festive time I think we all need to keep up our spirits and a band playing in a town centre street is conducive to that.”

Coun Hunter added: “It’s not just a fundraising issue, it’s a morale issue. It’s the playing of the music and it is Christmas time.”

He told the committee: “I have never seen people gathering, they tend to listen as they walk past and people drop a donation as they walk past.

“A handful of musicians with a barrier round them does not create a lot of problems as long as they do not have someone rattling a tin.

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“Just have a tin where people can leave donations. I don’t think that will cause significant problems.”

Sub committee chairman Coun Adrian Hutton admitted the decision to ban the Christmas traditions “was harsh” but said members had to make the choice “to protect the people of Blackpool.”

Lee Petrak, the council’s trading standards and licensing manager, warned the performances would be like allowing “a mini event in the town centre”.

He said the council was discouraging all gatherings in the town centre but did not want to stop fundraising.

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He added: “We’re suggesting face-to-face physical fundraising is perhaps not the best route to take at the moment.

“Fundraisers can look at alternative, more remote ways of raising money.”

The committee revoked permission for the Salvation Army Band to play outside Marks and Spencer in Church Street on the four Saturdays before Christmas and on Christmas Day itself.

Betel also had its licence withdrawn for performances in the town centre and collections between December 7 and 12, despite pledging to replace its eight carol singers with a backing track, with volunteers present just to collect donations.

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Councillors also agreed to suspend future applications for street collections until the end of March next year, although this could be lifted earlier if restrictions are “significantly relaxed.”

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