How Covent Garden 'is forcing out the piazza musicians'

The opera singers, string quartets and instrumentalists who entertain shoppers fear they are being forced out of the market after the landlord cut the amount of time they can perform from two hours to one.

They claim Covent Garden London is pursuing major chains to move into the area and does not want their performances to distract customers.

Viola player Beatrice Anderson, 29, from Archway, said the new rules - due to start next month - would halve performers' income.

Miss Anderson, who performs regularly with a string quartet, said: "On paper they are not getting rid of us but in reality such a massive reduction of performance time makes it financially unsustainable for us musicians to continue playing there.

"We feel we are a part of the historical, cultural and social hub that is London's West End but [under] constant threat from corporate developers. We are the little people who make Covent Garden a big place on the world map."

The musicians, who include six string quartets and 15 singers, have launched a petition to save the "only dedicated classical music pitch in the world". More than 700 people signed it in its first 36 hours.

Miss Anderson said: "We have people every day telling us how they came to London just to go to Covent Garden to listen to the music."

At the moment, a weekly rota of musiciansis organised by Covent Garden London. Singers can give a maximum of eight shows a week and groups can perform 10 times.

Performers state how many shows they want to give each week and names are drawn out of a hat to decide who gets what slot. The performers are not paid but make money in donations from the watching crowds.

Miss Anderson said: "Visitors will notice the changes. At the moment, if you come at pretty much any time of day there will be something on. But with these changes there will be half-hour gaps and if someone can't make their show there could be two hours without music."

Beverly Churchill of Covent Garden London said the company wanted to stop performancesoverlapping and creating a "sound clash" or "repetitive use of material". She said: "We are looking to slightly reduce the number of hours that performers will be able to perform and also introduce breaks between performances during the day so that there is a respectful break from music.

"Street performance is a significant part of Covent Garden's rich heritage but it must be of high quality and programmed appropriately for everyone."