Put the pipes down and step away from the bag!

These words may be heard soon on Edinburgh's Royal Mile. You might expect a drug dealer or a pipe bomber to be the target of them, but no it will be the humble piper.

Bagpipes Banned

Bagpipes have been banned from Edinburgh's Royal Mile. No longer can tourists see, and hear, the bagpipes being played under Edinburgh Castle's watchful gaze.

The ban is to be enforced by Lothian and Borders Police. As reported by the BBC pipers playing despite the ban face arrest, confiscation of their instruments and anti social behaviour orders (ASBOs).

Who silenced the pipes?

Lothian and Borders Police are quoted by the BBC as saying they receive up to 100 calls a day about the noise from nearby residents.

The Sunday Times puts the blame at the feet of the EU, citing health and safety laws. Interestingly these laws would appear to be for the protection of the pipers and not the general populace.

The EU in turn pass it back to the UK government. They state The Control of Noise at Work Regulations which were made in the UK.

What do you think?

To help you decide we have a small clip of a piper in action under David Hume's statue on the Royal Mile. Please be careful with the volume, we take no responsibility.

We would love to hear your opinion, are the pipes too loud? Who should be blamed for their banning? Should pipers be allowed to play?

08 Jul 2008
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Comments

Mon, 07/28/2008 - 21:30 — Anonymous

Typical UK government policy

The pipes are a massive part of the culture and a huge alure to tourists (the primary income for the area). Bagpiping banned in any part of Scotland? Sounds like a joke in the Sunday paper comics... I suppose nothing surprises me after having backpacked the country for 30 days and finding that the criminals have more rights than the populace the government is supposed to protect. Ban guns... crime goes through the roof, band pocket knives (that'll help... the criminals are called criminals because they obey laws afterall), remove the traditional music from the one place it is most prolific (the college of piping is not far from the Royal Mile)... sounds quite a bit like something thats been imposed by English rule for hundreds of years... take away the ability to protect your own life from tyrany, chip away at your culture... there, there, your much easier to rule now.

Wed, 07/09/2008 - 00:36 — Anonymous

Next: NO KILTS!

OK, when one thinks of Scotland, images of bagpipes, kilts and castles come to mind. If pipes are banned, even just on the Royal Mile (a MASSIVE tourist area), it would be the end of something that brings joy to many and killing some of the area's charm.
What the article fails to mention is that the pipes have been around the area for far longer than any of the residents have been alive, let alone lived there. Did the people not hear the pipes when buying their property? It is comparable to someone buying next to an airport and suing to have it moved due to the noise.
The only JUST reason one would have is if there are far too many pipers, all playing different tunes, then there would be a case. Instead of banning the pipes, how about licensing their locations? Then there would be a sort of noise control and a fairly reasonable compromise for all.
It has happened before: Take away one thing, feel the power and go for more - hmmm....kilts are perverted, they show legs and how they are worn, oh my! Let's ban them too.

Tue, 07/29/2008 - 15:54 — Anonymous

Political Correctness BS

BS liberal thinking.
What happened to the Scotland pride on free market thinking.
I am a piper and have been to the Royal Mile a couple of time, I have heard some both good and bad playing there. But I would not suggest stopping the playing.

I bet this same crowd will not want the stop the fringe theater people from the streets.

Tue, 07/08/2008 - 18:14 — Anonymous

Keep the pipers

Of course the pipers should stay. The primary income for the city over the summer moinths comes from tourism. This affects all of the local business. If tourists stay away from the royal mile, then every business around the area will suffer from it.

As a resident of Edinburgh, and also as someone who works just off of the royal mile I am against this decision.

Tue, 07/08/2008 - 15:09 — Anonymous

Good!!

Culture, my hairy kilt! The pipes make my ears bleed. The racket never ends. These so-called musicians should find a lonely glen to practise, or better yet should practise on the bottom of the forth.

Tue, 07/08/2008 - 15:02 — Anonymous

Yes to the pipers!

What would the Royal Mile be without William Wallace, the Mary Kings Close characters and especially the world famous pipers?

Don't just ban them! Rather allocate specific times for when they can play.

Keep the Scottish heartbeat alive!

Tue, 07/08/2008 - 14:57 — Anonymous

Absurd

The bagpipes are a tradition which thousands of people come to Edinburgh every year to experience. Yes, they may seem like dulcet tones on the corner of Princes Street gardens and indeed on the Royal Mile but personally whenever I hear them played a great feeling of pride takes over. I will love the sound forever and think it proposterous that anyone should have control over their ban. What next? Prima Nocte?

Thu, 08/07/2008 - 11:27 — Anonymous

and what about sleep!

Someone can tell me....

If u live in royal mile...

and let's say that u want to relax in your beautiful bed and have a nice dream...

and maybe your flat is on the first floor...

actually u couldn't do it!!!!

24h of singing under your beautiful window (maybe) just in front of that amazing cathedral!!!

I'm not saying that was the right decision... but u also need to think about that u could live in taht flat one day!!!

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