Pipers to be banned in Edinburgh

[Phil]

Looks like the tourists are not going to hear any pipers on the Royal Mile this year - http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/to...ipe.4178463.jp - don't worry though, the tartan tat shops will still be blasting out their version.

[12stones]

Hmmm... This would definitely be a touchy situation. I wouldn't care about good pipers playing on the street, but bad ones...? No thanks.

[JS Sanders]

Considering the "pipers" I've heard there, this isn't necessarily a bad idea. Too bad the innocent shall suffer alongside the guilty.

Slainte yall,
steve

[Ayin McFye]

A professional bagpiper can give you goosebumps and stir something inside of you.

A bad bagpiper can send a not so pleasant chill down your spine and make you cringe and spasm violently.

I've never been there, but I'm sure the businesses in the area are doing what they think is best.

The bagpipes are by far my favorite instrument but it's also one of the loudest. It'd be different if they were a bunch of guitarist. Oh well, best of luck to them though, because I'm sure it's how they make their living.

[Spc. Scott]

I like the idea of them organizing themselves and working with the residents of the area to set up times to play. If that gets off the ground it could solve the problem and both sides win.

[Colin]

Too bad the innocent shall suffer alongside the guilty.

Sadly that's the same as every aspect of life now.

[Jack Daw]

When I went up and down the Royal Mile, I don't remember any busking pipers. There was a piper at Blair Castle, which was just after my visit to the Killiekrankie Visitors Centre and then Battlefield (private property). The piper was a 10-year-old boy who was quite nervous when I told him I was a piper, too. He was not a master piper, but I was quite ready and happy to listen to him.

[beloitpiper]

From the article:

There has been a number of buskers coming in from outside and piping up and down the Mile at all hours of the day, and I think they've spoiled it for the rest of us. I think the only way forward is licensing. I'd like to see all of the responsible pipers on the Mile get together and speak with residents to discuss suitable times to play our instruments.

Agreed.

[george7]

It's probably for the best. There are plenty of other places to play the pipes.

[highlander_Daz]

Id like to see a piper taken to court and challange it, the police would be unable to privide any evidence of a breach of the peace


" 6. Persisting to the annoyance of others in playing musical instruments,
singing, playing radios etc on being required to stop - Section 54(1) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982"

one could argue that In Scotland a bagpipe is a weapon of war not a musical instrument.

and what evidence would the police produce to show that annoyance had occured.

If I made a sworn statement that i was "annoyed" by the Tattoo would it be cancelled?

I cant wait for a test case