A petition to the council has questioned the use of sound amplifiers for buskers and preachers in Sheffield city centre.

Buskers and preachers are a common sight on The Moor in Sheffield’s city centre, but a recent petition has asked for limits to be put on the volume of speakers being used.

The petition, titled: ‘Recognise Impact of Amplified Preaching and Music on The Moor, Sheffield’ states that ‘there is no reason to use amplifiers at all for preaching – people can hear each other perfectly well using their voices, if they want to listen.’

Organisers said that the aim of this petition is to gain recognition of the ‘disturbing and often earsplitting noise levels on The Moor’.

Trudie McCarthy, a 53 year old teacher from Grimsby said that it’s ‘too loud’.

She said: “It doesn’t make me want to stop and listen, it makes me want to move faster.

“You don’t actually want to get into a religious conversation when you’re out shopping and drinking your coffee.”

The petition asks for further regulations to be put into place.

It said: “There is no place for loud amplifiers in public spaces. If they are against the by-laws of parks, why not our pedestrianised high street, where people want to sit, eat and chat outside in peace?”

Alex Mclean, who started the petition, wrote: “This year’s Christmas market brought huge crowds of shoppers to our city centre, with The Moor coming alive following the heart of the city investment.

“With the market and rides gone, this space is once more being taken up by amplified preaching and busking.”

It added: “There is no place for loud amplifiers in public spaces. If they are against the by-laws of parks, why not our pedestrianised high street, where people want to sit, eat and chat outside in peace?”

Shoppers have said that although street performers may not directly deter people from going into certain shops, they may still disrupt the trade in local businesses.

Trudie McCarthy said: “My eyes are distracted from the shops they’re next to, so I’d carry on moving.”

The petition closes on the 31st March 2026, for further information visit https://democracy.sheffield.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=10394&RPID=19645448&HPID=19645448