Townspeople are calling on the council to turn an area of the town centre into a no pigeon zone amid fears the birds are out of control.
Droppings and feathers from pigeons in Peach Street are causing a health hazard say Wokingham residents
The Rose Street Residents Society is appealing for Wokingham Borough Council to take action as it says droppings and flyaway feathers are posing health problems to residents.
Joint chairman Hazel Guile and secretary Myra Robins said: “At a recent meeting of this society concerns were expressed by residents over the ongoing problem of droppings from pigeons nesting above the row of shops in Peach Street.
“Not only is the pavement area below covered with their droppings but also nesting material, eggs and feathers, hardly a healthy issue for those walking on the pavement below.
“Also the birds fly so low to reach their nests which is frightening particularly for children.”
In a letter to the borough council’s environmental health team the society called for action and suggested making the area a pigeon-free zone.
Councillor Gary Cowan, executive member for environment, said he would be looking into the issue to see if there was a viable way to keep pigeons out of the area.
He said: “It’s a very difficult situation because I think it would be quite emotive.
“I will get on to the officers and look into it but the problem is if you move them they will go elsewhere.
“The only realistic way is to kill them all off and I do not think I could live with that.”
The Rose Street Residents Association has suggested a method to solve the problem which involves using a non-toxic bird repellent gel to stop the birds from nesting in the area.
The gel, known as Bird Free, is an invisible liquid which is put on roofs and buildings and looks like fire to birds, causing them to stay away from surfaces covered in the product.
The gel also contains natural oils which release a smell that helps repel the birds.
But traders in the street say stronger measures are needed to keep the birds away.
Michael Flint, owner of Wokingham Decor, said: “The gel is rubbish. What you need is pigeon spikes.
“If you looked you would see all these spokes on ledges and things where they cannot perch. All the traders need to do that. We have got that and we don’t have any pigeon trouble.”
Mr Flint said the pigeon problems had been going on in Wokingham for a decade and he said the problem was so bad you could see them breeding outside shops and restaurants in Peach Street.
Mary Glome, principal environmental health officer at the council, said the council would be working with town centre businesses and the residents association to try and find a solution to the pigeon problem.
Source: Getwokingham
