I’m a Liberal so I am pretty passionate about the principle of ‘live and let live’. As long as people aren’t harming others they should be allowed to get on with what they want – even if I wouldn’t personally make that choice. However, when people’s freedom to live their lives is disrupted by others that makes me really frustrated. And that’s why I’m campaigning to stop the ‘Pedi-bus’ going down narrow, residential streets in Riverside ward.

If you haven’t seen them they’re basically mobile bars, often used for stag dos . A group of people pedal together while drinking and playing music and sometimes throwing up! I know there’s always lots of noise and traffic in the city and there might be some suitable places for such activities. However, these things are not being regulated at all – they can go where they want and no authority seems able to control them.

I first had complaints from residents several months ago when they sold alcohol on these contraptions. I asked the council to look at the licensing policy as anyone selling alcohol should have a licence. The council looked into it and suddenly the company stopped selling alcohol – now people bring their own.

So with licensing unable to help I looked into whether anything could be done about these vehicles being driven by people under the influence of alcohol. However, the person doing the steering is apparently sober so that doesn’t apply to them.

The council say noise rules don’t work because the noise is intermittent – even though they can set off as much as once every half hour with blaring music and shouting. And they don’t have to register the vehicles because they’re not recognised vehicles!

So having had no joy from the council or the police, locals and I have decided that they simply have to be banned on narrow residential streets like those in Shad Thames. I have no objection to people drinking (I have been known to do it myself!), but I do object to residents having no say in putting up with constant noise and anti-social behvaiour while this company cashes in the profits. To do this we have to create a new bye-law which will take time but I am determined to give residents some control over where and when these things can cause their chaos.

***UPDATE***

I’ve now started a petition on this, calling on the council to review the use of pedibuses in Southwark and stop them causing excessive noise in residential areas. Please add your name!

http://southwark-libdems.org.uk/en/petition/stop-noisy-pedibuses-in-residential-streets