The historic City of York is known worldwide for its street performers. Last year the council held a 'Buskival' during which the city's streets were alive with the music and dancing of its buskers as the nation celebrated the Queen's Jubilee.

But the council's restrictive policies are placing its famous and vibrant street culture into jeopardy. Long waiting lists for auditions in front of civic Simon Cowells are preventing spontaneous grassroots expressions of art and culture. One performer, with a PhD in music, tried in vain for six months to get a permit to go carol singing, only to be told 'York is full, no more permits'. Musicians are charged £40 per day to make their music available on CDs, more then market traders pay for a prime pitch.

Across the centuries York has always been a place of pilgrimage for wandering minstrels and players . It is wrong for the council to be making life more difficult then it needs to be for its street performers. At a time when high streets are under pressure from economic forces and internet shopping, we need to protect their reputation as places for public performances of art and music. Please sign our petition to Keep Streets Live in York!