Netting trapping pigeons in Shrewsbury is removed
Netting under a railway bridge which was trapping pigeons and leaving them starving to death in Shrewsbury has been removed.
Shropshire Council contractors have been at work at the bridge, which is near Shrewsbury Railway Station, tackling the problem.
Now the netting has been removed – but due to budgetary constraints it is unclear when, or if, it will be replaced.
The netting had been put in place to deter the birds from roosting high in the eaves of the bridge and leaving mess on the pavements, roadways and passing traffic. Wildlife experts have now urged people in the town not to encourage pigeons in the wake of the issue.
Shropshire Wildlife Trust spokesman John Hughes said: "In terms of the welfare of the pigeons this is a good thing. No one wants to see them in distress.
"If we as a society want to deal with the problem of increasing numbers of pigeons we have just go to be cleaner. We leave too much food around and that attracts the pigeons.
"They are thriving in towns and cities and its a very difficult problem to solve. Everybody has to be involved in the solution. We are dirtier than the pigeons. They are the fine example of adapting, thriving and surviving. It is evolution in action."
Although the bridge is owned by Network Rail, the former Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council entered into an agreement with them to maintain the underside of the netting. When Shropshire Council was created in 2009 they agreed to maintain the responsibility.
Tim Sneddon, environmental maintenance service manager at Shropshire Council said: "Much of the netting has now been removed allowing for better access and exiting for pigeons.
"Due to demands on our limited resources, we have to prioritise accordingly, so we cannot at present, conduct any replacement of netting."
