Public told pack in feeding pigeons

Residents are being asked not to feed pigeons in Spalding Town Centre amid a claim bringing in birds of pray to scare them away isn’t working.

For the past few weeks a pest control company has been bringing in a peregrine falcon in a bid to move the birds on, the Spalding Town Forum was told last week.

But Coun Angela Newton told the meeting: “I don’t think it’s been a great success.

“They’re pretty disgusting things and it’s a pity you can’t shoot them.

“A few years ago we used to be braver and send people in early in the morning at night and used to deal with them and we didn’t have this problem, but we have the Packhams of this world who are do-gooders or we could get on and keep our town cleaner. It’s sad.”

SHDC’s assistant director for strategic growth and development Matthew Hogan though, said: “I’ve heard more positive things and that it was making a difference.”

Coun Elizabeth Sneath added that there were still plenty of pigeons in the town due to people feed them.

“I’ve seen evidence of people feeding them outside Boots and it’s keeping them attracted to the town centre.

“We’ve got to stop people feeding them.”

Coun Roger-Gambba-Jones mooted a speaker system be installed where those operating the town’s CCTV could ask people not to feed the pigeons if they saw it happening, though also said “I’m sure that’s probably too much to ask”.

Putting in some kind of enforcement was also mentioned.

“It’s something Business Improvement Districts can fund but they can object in principle that they money they raise be spent on something they think other agencies should be doing.

“It’s one of these things, if we do get a bid it’s up to them how they spend the money to support the town centre and its businesses.”