Bus chiefs find way to Handel the yobs

COMPOSITIONS by Beethoven, Bach and Mozart are helping bring peace to bus stations across West Yorkshire.

Bosses at transport body Metro believe that classical music creates a better atmosphere but also tends to drive away young yobs who create problems by hanging around the entrances.

A pilot at Huddersfield bus station was considered a success and is now being rolled out to manned bus station across West Yorkshire.

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The composers who have been chosen will include Mozart, Vivaldi and Handel, as well as Beethoven and Bach.

A Metro spokesman said: “Our customers will soon be experiencing the magic of Mozart and beat of Beethoven being played in all our bus stations following the successful trial in Huddersfield where classical music has been played at the bus station entrances since February.

“Feedback from our regular passenger surveys have shown playing live or recorded music is appreciated and comments from Huddersfield have been very positive with passengers commenting on the ‘soothing atmosphere’ while waiting for their bus.

“And our surveys have shown the initiative does act as a natural deterrent to people gathering at the entrances.”

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But Dr Simon Walker, a lecturer in popular music at Leeds University, has doubts about the deterrent aspect.

He said: “I find the idea of music being used like a weapon a little bit sad. If it is effective, then it might be justified. It has been tried elsewhere and anecdotally it seems it may have worked.

“It’s still a shame, though, that something that can be such a positive element of everybody’s lives is being used as a form of social control.”

It is not the first time that music has been used as a form of social control. The Local Government Association said in 2008 that councils had played operatic music and “unfashionable” music in a bid to disperse groups of youths.