Local groups and pub chiefs to give views on planned changes for live music

MUSIC professionals, venue operators and residents are to be called to a hearing about plans to bolster live music in Edinburgh.

Groups including community councils, musicians’ representatives and the Scottish Licensed Trade Association are to be asked to argue their case over the plans to change licensing rules. They are aiming to keep and nurture live music without causing a nuisance to neighbours.

A consultation in the city found 501 out of 526 respondents want the rules changed.

It comes after more than 2,600 backed a petition calling on Edinburgh City Council to rethink its enforcement of licensing rules they claim is forcing many to stop staging live events. Some premises halted live music nights after red-tape wrangles.

A task force convened by the council called Music Is Audible involving music professionals, councillors and officers proposed a change of the current rules that state “the (licensing) board will always consider the imposition of a condition requiring amplified music from those premises to be inaudible in residential property”.

The proposal is to change the wording to: “Amplified music shall not be an audible nuisance in neighbouring residential premises.”

Groups from areas including Morningside, the South Side, Broughton, Inverleith, Tollcross and Stockbridge will be asked to take part.