Towns in a flutter over pest pigeons
Apr 1 2008 by Brian Daniel, The Journal
PEOPLE in two Northumberland towns which are suffering from pigeon plagues are calling for action to curb the problem.
Alnwick and Amble have historically been beset by large numbers of the pests, whose droppings are an eyesore and a potential health hazard.
Alnwick District Council held annual culls in the towns up until 2001 when they were abandoned amid concerns that shooting the birds was cruel.
Since 2003, complaints have been referred to an agency which offers free control advice. At a meeting of the council’s operations scrutiny and overview committee tonight, members will be told that the problem has flared up again in recent months and will be asked to discuss alternative methods of control.
Kevin Dixon, manager of Greenwoods menswear shop in Paikes Street, Alnwick, last night called on the authority to make the matter a priority.
Birds roost on the roof of his premises and their droppings block up the guttering or solidify and blow on to the pavement below in wind.
He has carried out regular cleaning of his guttering, on one occasion unearthing a dead pigeon, and sweeping of the path. However, he says action needs to be taken to tackle the problem itself, not deal with its consequences.
Mr Dixon once managed the company’s shop in Berwick, where the local council would put down poison pellets, but now agrees that culling is not the answer.
He would favour putting spikes on his property to tackle the problem. Mr Dixon said: “I would just like them to address it and give it a better priority.”
Coun Susan Bell, a district councillor for Alnwick, called for regular cleaning and maintenance to address pigeon mess, and agreed culling is not the answer. She said: “The pigeons have been cleared out in the past and caused great controversy. There are as many people in the town who would throw up their hands in horror at the thought of a cull.
“This is one of the difficulties and it is not the answer because more pigeons seem to come in from somewhere else and take over.”
Tonight’s meeting will hear the council has approached owners of affected buildings to ask them to clean up their premises and that the authority has stepped up its own street cleaning to deal with droppings.
It is also considering introducing a £10,000 fund whereby property owners and tenants can apply for grants to make their premises pigeon-proof.
