street performing consultation phase 1 results

Report Written: January 2014

Street Performing Consultation Phase 1 Results 1. Methodology 1.1 A two-phase process was adopted to the consultation. Phase One was to seek

general views on how much of an issue busking is in the pilot area, when it is an issue, where it is an issue and which types (if any) of street performing were acceptable.

1.2 During November and December 2013, Phase One of the consultation process

commenced. The following groups were identified as the key people to consult:

• Group 1: Residents (519 out of 2467 responded)

• Group 2: Businesses (72 out of 711 responded)

• Group 3: Ward members (2 out of 12 responded)

• Group 4: Resident Associations (10 out of 27 responded)

• Group 5: Market Traders (89 traders)

• Group 6: Buskers (3 responded) 1.3 For residents and businesses the fieldwork method was postal surveys. They all

received a letter with a hard copy of the survey and pre-paid envelope. In addition they all received a link to the electronic survey should they have preferred to complete it online.

1.4 12 Ward Members for Golborne, Colville, Pembridge and Campden received an

email with an electronic survey. The chair of 27 resident associations representing the 4 wards received a letter with a hard copy of the survey and pre-paid envelope, this also included the online link.

1.5 For groups 5&6 the fieldwork method was face-face to interviews. Interviews were

conducted by officers over a course of two weeks over six days, comprising of a Wednesday (1), Thursdays (1), Fridays (3) and Saturday (1). In order to increase the sample size surveys were also left in the market office for traders and buskers to complete at the office.

1.6 All respondents had 6 weeks to complete the survey, with the deadline being Monday

30th December 20131. 1.7 With regards to the distribution of the questionnaire, a catchment area of a 50 metre

buffer was used. This is not unusual as a guideline catchment for when undertaking this type of consultation process. This comprised of 2467 resident properties and 711 businesses. However, it is to be noted that during the consultation process officers took on board some additional views from respondents outside of the catchment area. The intention is that should we enter Phase 2 of consultation a wider catchment area will be used.

1 Responses received up until Tuesday 7

th January 2014 were included

ELRS Business Improvement Team

2. Profile of respondents 2.1 The table shows a breakdown of who responded to the consultation. Where possible

the response rate is calculated.

2.2 The response rate for market traders cannot be calculated as a questionnaire was not given to all market traders. However, there are currently 135 casual traders and 220 permanent traders. We have received responses from 12 casual traders and 72 permanent traders.

2.3 Majority of the business response come from the retail sector 32%, followed by 19%

from restaurant/pub. Table below shows the full breakdown.

2.4 Of the 89 market traders, 72 (81%) were permanent traders, 12 (13%) were casual traders and 2 (2%) were Representative of Traders Organisation. 92% (82) of market traders that responded were from Portobello Road and 7% (6) were traders on Golborne Road.

2 In order to keep anonymity the responses from the ward members has been merged with the

responses from resident associations. 3 These 7 respondents either did not specific if they were a resident, RAs, or ward member/Councillor

or ticked multiple options.

Who No of surveys

received Response Rate

Residents 519 21.0% Resident Associations 10 37.0% Ward Members2 2 16.7% Businesses 72 10.1% Market Traders 89 N/A Buskers 3 N/A Did not specify3 7 N/A Total 702

Nature of Business %

Retail 32%

Restaurant/Pub 19%

Office 13%

Antiques related 10%

Health and beauty 6%

Charity 2%

Other 18%


2.5 Map 1 shows where the respondents live or own a business in. Map 2 shows the

market pitch location of the respondents.4

4 This is only mapped if the full valid post code or pitch location has been given


Map 1

Map 2 2.6 Both maps show a reasonable spread of respondents from the catchment area.

However, there are some respondents that have provided a postal code outside of the catchment. These total 109 (101 residents and 8 businesses), and are included in the consultation results.5 The reason for including these respondents is that they are fairly close to the catchment area.

5 There could be a range of reasons for this, second homes, recent moves, residents passing surveys

to their neighbours and friends.


3. Key themes from the consultation 3.1 Respondents were asked various questions on how much of an issue street

performing is in the area that they live in, have a business in, have a market stall in or represent as association or a ward member.

3.2 Key questions asked

General questions around street performing:

• How much of an issue is street performing in your area?

• Do you think there is a need for the council to control street performing? (respondents were asked to explain their answers)

• In which areas would street performing have a positive or negative impact

• The day and time of day which street performing is an issue?

Should the council decide to license street performing specific questions related to what would be acceptable were asked:

• If the council were to allow street performers at allocated times, which would be suitable options

• If the council were to allow street performers what time slots would you like the performers to have?

• On a scale of 1-5 which type of street performing would you support in the area?


3.3 The following tables and charts show the responses for the above questions.

How much of an issue is street performing in your area?

1- A very big issue

2 3 4 5 - Not a very

big issue no

reply n

Residents 21% 10% 11% 9% 47% 2% 519

Resident Association

25% 8% 0% 0% 67% 0% 12

Businesses 11% 17% 13% 8% 50% 1% 72

Market Traders 28% 9% 25% 7% 26% 6% 89


3.4 As can be seen from the chart and table above majority of the residents (56%),

resident associations (67%) and businesses (58%) think that street performing is not a big issue (score of 4&5). However, more market traders (37%) think that street performing is a big issue compared to 33% that think it is not a big issue. What kind of impact do street performers have on your business?

Count %

1- Positive impact 16 22%

2 9 13%

3 6 8%

4 3 4%

5- Negative impact 15 21%

No impact 19 26%

No response 4 6%

Total responses 72

3.5 Businesses were asked what type of impact, street performers have on their

business. 26% said that it had no impact, 35% said it has a positive impact, whilst 25% said it has a negative impact.

3.6 Businesses were asked to explain their answer and 51 businesses provided an

explanation. There was a range of comments with the majority of them being positive comments, below are some examples: “Brings charm to the area and people seem to respond well to music.” “Performers are part of the atmosphere and history of portobello rd.” “Crowding stops, flow of people + creates blockages. access + view of shops blocked. noise - so loud, distracting to customers can't hear or engage in conversations + do not feel comfortable to stay around (busking has been so loud at times windows have shaken)” Do you think there is a need for the council to control street performing?

Yes No Unsure No reply N

Residents 53% 27% 18% 2% 519

Resident Association 33% 25% 8% 33% 12

Businesses 49% 33% 15% 3% 72

Market Traders 73% 17% 3% 7% 89


3.7 All groups of respondents felt that there was a need for the council to control street performing.

3.8 53% of residents said that there was a need for the council to control street

performing compared to 27% saying that there isn’t a need. 73% of traders said that there was a need for control compared to 17% saying that there isn’t a need. 49% of businesses said that there was a need for control compared to 33% stating that there is no need. Market Traders (56%) and residents (26%) have the greatest gap between yes and no.

3.9 Residents and businesses were asked why they felt that there was or wasn’t a need

for the council to control street performing. In total 368 residents and 50 businesses provided an explanation. Some stated that street performers do not affect them; however others said there is a need for regulation on noise levels and quality of the performers. The issues of congestion and obstruction caused were mentioned along with the disruptions that the noise causes to their customers.


In which areas would street performing have a positive or negative impact?

Residents

Resident Association

Businesses Market Traders

Positive impact 29% 8% 39% 26% Notting Hill Gate Negative

impact 32% 42% 22% 6%

Positive impact 20% 8% 33% 21% Pembridge Road Negative

impact 34% 33% 18% 4%

Positive impact 40% 42% 51% 20% Portobello Road (South of Westbourne Grove)

Negative impact

22% 17% 15% 21%

Positive impact 43% 33% 51% 18% Portobello Road (Westbourne Park Road to Westbourne Grove)

Negative impact

18% 25% 14% 30%

Positive impact 44% 42% 51% 19% Portobello Road (Westway to Westbourne Park Road)

Negative impact

14% 17% 13% 18%

Positive impact 43% 42% 54% 18% Portobello Road (North of Westway) Negative

impact 12% 17% 10% 13%

Positive impact 36% 42% 44% 17% Golborne Road Negative

impact 14% 17% 14% 8%

3.10 Residents (32%) and resident association (42%) felt that street performing in the

Notting Hill Gate area would have more of a negative impact, where as more businesses (39%) and traders (26%) felt that it would have more of a positive impact for the area.

3.11 Pembridge Road shows a similar picture, residents (34%) and resident associations

(33%) feel that street performing will have a negative impact for the area and businesses (33%) and market traders (21%) feel it will have a positive impact.

3.12 For all the sections of Portobello Road, residents, residents associations and businesses feel that street performing will have a positive impact for the area. Businesses have the largest positive percentages (54%-51%), resident ratings range from 44% to 40% and resident associations’ rate from 42% to 33%. Market traders were more likely to state that street performing will have a negative impact to Portobello Road, with the highest negative rating being 30%.

3.13 All four groups, Residents (36%), resident association (42%), businesses (44%), and

traders (17%) felt that street performing in the Golborne Road6 area would have a positive impact for the area.

6 However, only 6 market traders from Golborne Road responded.


3.14 Overall, residents and RAs feel that street performing will have more of a negative

impact in Notting Hill Gate and Pembridge Road area, and more of a positive impact in Portobello Road and Golborne Road. Businesses feel that it will have a positive impact in all areas. Market traders feel that it will have more of a positive impact in Notting Hill Gate, Pembridge Road, Golborne Road area and more of a negative impact in certain areas of Portobello Road.

The day, and time of day which street performing is an issue?


3.15 The chart above shows when street performing is perceived to be an issue. Of those

that responded to the consultation a large proportion felt that street performing is not an issue at any point in the week. However, a fair proportion of respondents have ticked that Saturday is an issue, 21% stating Saturday mornings, 20% stating Saturday all day, and 19% stating Saturday afternoons.

If the council were to allow street performers at allocated times, which would be suitable options

Morning Afternoon Evening All day Never

Monday-Thursday 12% 26% 7% 21% 20%

Friday 14% 32% 9% 24% 16%

Saturday 19% 36% 10% 30% 16%

Sunday 11% 25% 8% 23% 23% 3.16 The chart and table above show when street performing would be suitable, should

the council allow the activity. 3.17 As expected a fair proportion of respondents have said that it would never be

suitable within the week to allow street performing, with Sundays and evenings being the least preferred choice. There is still a fair proportion of respondents that have selected their preferred suitable times, with afternoons, particularly Saturday and Friday being popular choices as well as all day on Saturday.


If the council were to allow street performers what time slots would you like the performers to have? 3.18 Many respondents did not answer this question, so the percentages have been

calculated based on only those that have responded to this question.

3.19 Residents, businesses and market traders’ preferred time slot for jugglers, musicians,

mime artist and standing statues is 30-60 minutes. For painters, residents and businesses preferred choice is 90-2 hours. However, market traders preferred choice is for painters is 30-60 minutes.


On a scale of 1-5 which type of street performing would you support in the area?

3.20 Generally residents were more supportive of all types of street performing then

against it (i.e. the proportion of residents that stated that they would support a type of street performing was higher than those that stated that they would not support it. Musicians (55%) and painters (51%) were the most supported followed by standing statues (38%). Jugglers and mime artists (45%) were the least supported.

3.21 Resident associations7 shared the similar views as residents with painters (58%)

being the most supported, followed by musicians and standing statues (50%). Jugglers and mime artists (42%) remain the least supported.

3.22 Businesses were supportive of painters (65%) and musicians (58%), with jugglers

(46%) and mime artists (53%) being less popular. 3.23 Traders shared a different view to residents, resident associations and businesses.

Traders were least likely to support any type of street performing. In the other 3 groups, more respondents were supportive of a particular street performing type than against it; however, amongst traders the gap between those that were supportive and not supportive is small. 36% of traders said that they would support painters; however 20% said that they wouldn’t. The least preferred type of street performing was jugglers, 33% against it and 19% supportive of it.

7 Resident Association percentages should be treated with caution due to the small sample size


Comments and views from street performers 3.24 In addition to residents, RAs, businesses and market traders, street performers were

also consulted. 3.25 There were only 3 responses from street performers and it is not possible to make

conclusions from just three responses but results show that:

• Three performers are keen to perform in the evenings and weekends, with preferred timing slots of 30-60 minutes or 60-90 minutes.

• Two of the respondents perform in another local authority and one has a licence to perform in another local authority.

• One respondent said that they would pay a reasonable fee to perform in the borough, and two respondents said that they would be willing to pay a fixed additional fee to sell their merchandise.

General comments 3.26 At the end of the survey there was an open question should anyone want to write any

additional comments concerning street performing. 194 residents, 17 businesses, and 43 market traders provided extra comments. This question generated mixed views, both positive and negative, on street performing in the area. Noise from amplification and formation of crowds and traffic were frequently mentioned again. On the other hand, residents also said that street performers were an attraction and part of the culture on and around Portobello Road. A few examples of comments from resident are shown below:

“I like street performers as they add energy and personality to the area” (Resident) “May cause congestion on pavements and road if a crowd gathers to watch and prevents pedestrians getting through. Could be dangerous.” (Resident) “Don't see the need for shepherding, either let them do it or if it causes obstructions and interferes with the flow & access them don't.” (Business) “I'm all for street performers. good for tourists + adds a bit of an extra vibe to the area!” (Business)

street performing consultation phase 1 results

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