COUNCIL watchdogs have pulled the plug on a free-play, music-on-the-beach idea for Worthing seafront.
The Beach Joanna was the brainchild of Worthing musician Andrew Walker, who was inspired by artist Luke Jerram's touring exhibition of street pianos, Play Me I'm Yours, when it came to London in June.
See video of Andrew playing the piano when it was installed in July.
Stefan Sykes, owner of the Coast café near Splash Point, thought it would be great to plonk a piano outside the café, for anyone to tinkle the keys to their heart's content.
But Stefan had reckoned without the Men from the Town Hall.
Along they came, and told Stefan that although the café had a music licence, it was the wrong sort of licence for just anybody to play the Beach Joanna impromptu.
"I was told I had to have a licence for 'public provision of a musical instrument'," Stefan told the Herald this week.
"So they gave me literally five minutes to remove the piano from the beach."
Stefan was told the musicians had to be professionals – not amateurs – and announced 48 hours in advance.
"Now, I'm just allowed to have someone playing the piano on the beach for a maximum of one hour a day.
"It is a shame, though, because the entertainment brought a smile to people's faces, and it was there for anyone to play.
"But it seems there were complaints to the council. I do agree, though, that sometimes youngsters were just banging the keys!"
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