THOSE pesky pigeons which are causing messy problems on the footways in the town centre, particularly Cornhill, can rest easy for no action is currently being taken to get rid of the 30 or so birds which can often be seen perching on the roof of the old Toc H building in North Street.

It is a problem that the town council has been wrestling with for months but no-one is prepared to bite the bullet.

Town clerk Greg Dyke reported that he had visited the site with someone with birds of prey. He had confirmed that the use of birds of prey would only deal with the problem if they were used on a regular basis – once or twice a week.

He did suggest he could carry out a more permanent solution – shooting – if it was something the council was prepared to do.

“You can scare the pigeons off but they would come back again,” he said. “You can take more drastic action to get rid of them but I am not sure if the council wants to go down that route.”

The mayor, Bob Bowrah, felt more netting should be put up on the roof of the Toc H building where most of the pigeons gathered but it was pointed out that the building was not the council’s property.

Cllr John Thorne said that pigeons were making a mess of the pavements in the town centre area, particularly Cornhill and residents were stepping in it.

It was reported that Cornhill was still being pressure-washed every two weeks to get rid of the pigeon droppings.