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LOUDSPEAKER. DAY 3906: SATURDAY FEBRUARY 11TH 2012.  From: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it To: babs tucker Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:54:21 +0000 Subject: FW: Use of Loudspeaker Speaker in Westminster Dear Barbara Tucker I acknowledge receipt of your application by email dated 9 February 2012 to use a 25 watt loudspeaker in Westminster. Please can you immediately advise me if it is your intention to use the loudspeaker on the footways adjacent to the central garden of Parliament Square? Yes, only on the footpath opposite Parliament, not the Abbey. If you want to use the loudspeaker in the central garden itself, you will need a separate authorisation from the Greater London Authority. If your application does relate to the footways, the Council will process your application as soon as possible and in any event within within the statutory time limit of 21 days from the receipt of your application. The application will be determined by one of the Council’s Licensing Sub-Committees. You will be notified of the date in due course but it is likely to be Thursday, 23 February. If your application does relate to the footways please provide some further details so as to enable the Sub-Committee to give full consideration to the matter, as follows: · Are you seeking an authorisation for your own use only? No, I am notifying on behalf of our Parliament Square Peace Campaign. (Only one member of the campaign would use the loudspeaker at any given time.) · Can you provide any further details about the noise amplification equipment that you propose to use as any authorisation must specify the kind of equipment to which the authorisation applies? 25w loudspeaker. For what period of time do you wish to apply for the authorisation? Two years. · Please state the exact purpose for which you wish to use the equipment To publicise the fact that the State are/have been brutally murdering innocent civilians in illegal wars of aggression. To explore ways that people can respect life and work for justice. To publicise a new political party we are starting alongside the campaign. · During which times of day due you wish to use the equipment? Varying times... We intend to run an open mic and invite people to join in on Wednesdays (for an hour) when most MP's deign to visit Parliament. · Do you want to use the equipment between the hours of 9 pm and 8 am on the following morning? Yes, briefly between 10 - 10.30pm on occasion on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening. Please note that it is an offence to use such equipment anywhere within Westminster during those hours without an express consent from the Council. · What measures do you propose to take to ensure that nuisance is not caused to other persons in or in the vicinity of Parliament Square by the operation of the equipment? In legal terms, the 25 w loudspeaker is not considered a noise nuisance, (particularly given the five lanes of traffic and when compared with the noise generated by the Abbey Bells.) I have always used the loudspeaker facing Parliament/the roadway anyway, so that noise is not directed at anyone sitting behind in the Square. · Please provide any other information that you think will assist the Sub-Committee in determining your application. I am notifying of our intention to use a 25w loudspeaker. What we would like/believe is proper/lawful is that "consent" is given for our use of a loudspeaker in a manner that is consistent with the political exemption from restrictions/conditions in the rest of the country. We think it would be seriously improper/unlawful for members of any political party to censor the use of a 25w loudspeaker by our campaign. Please bear in mind that an authorisation is not guaranteed and any authorisation that may be granted might be subject to conditions which restrict the use of the equipment. In the absence of an authorisation, you will commit an offence if, without reasonable excuse, you use the equipment contrary to any Direction that may be given to you by a police constable or authorised officer. ? Nichola Stratford Street Licensing Team Westminster City Council 020 7641 7828
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