Hi All, Having seen in SHP that three premier clubs have banned the horn,should the bann also be considered for music / street festivals? As a volunteer,I have the daft task, forced on me (Licensing act 2003) to measure the noise at a narrow street festival.Having battled to modify the out of date Pop Code (1995) we now use the sensible criteria of 15dB(A) above crowd noise level with a peak of 98dB(A).One metre from the nearest noise sensitive residence(the complainer).But that was before the Vuvuzelas !!! No idea of their noise output,but should annual festivals like mine,liable to be shut down by residents complaints attempt to bann the dam things?(Vuvuzelas checkpoints) Or should we hope the noise will die down ? Regards,Paul

Thanks Chris, I have no intention of banning the festival far from it it is only because,I do what I do that the musicians can play. This,I have done for the last 4 years.For 16 years no need. I do not want our resident that complains to have a Vuvuzela of an excuse.Unlike football stadia we operate in a narrow street.My voluntary job is daft enough. One hope,I have is that if these things are played the music listening public will take their own action. I understand the Vuvus play at 113dB-130dB. Regards,Paul

In all that debate and on-going criticism of Vuvuzelas during the World Cup, I don't recall anyone mentioning the fairly widespread use of compressed-air horns in European Football Grounds. I don't imagine the noise levels would be so different.

Football clubs are banning them on safety grounds so i guess if you can put a system in for banning them then why not maybe a message on any advertising stating they will be confiscated if people use them. you may need legal advice as i assume you can't necessarily just take property of people especially in a public place???? http://www.shponline.co....las-over-safety-concerns Phil

You can certainly take things from people in Scotland, Phil - Safety at Sports Grounds Legislation. It only has to be deemed as capable of use as a weapon!

I have one of these vuvus and I cannot get it to play at 100dbs or anywhere near it!! That fact that you are on a public street and the blowers would not be artists and could simply be passing members of the public might make it very difficult for you to confiscate these items. Maybe a local bye law enacted by the local council could be your answer.

Not sure about a 'lethal weapon' bit, but on noise grounds there might be some substance under 'elf & safety. Are the authorities also going to ban whistles, trumpets and drums? I dislike the damned things as they add little value to the ambience of a game. Okay, some of the chanting and signing at football grounds leaves much to be desired, but give me blue is the colour... anyday.

Once again I am happy to be utterly indifferent to football, however, I was a bit puzzled to read that one of the clubs banning them is doing so partly on the grounds that they could be used as a weapon. 'You come over here and say that mate and I'll belt you with my... er, flimsy polythene trumpet thingy' Does anybody else see the absurdity in that, or is it me??? A rolled up newspaper would be about as useful as a weapon, John