Help stop pigeons from "ruining chapel" (From Brentwood Weekly News)

Help stop pigeons from "ruining chapel"

7:30am Monday 9th July 2012 in Local news By Ryan McCarthy

A HISTORIC part of Brentwood is plagued with pigeons and residents are being urged to help solve the problem.

Brentwood Council and the town centre’s business group, Brentwood Renaissance Group, have come together in a bid to raise awareness of the problem and appeal to people not to feed the pigeons.

Mark Reed, chairman of the council’s retail, community and culture panel, said there has been an increase in the time council workers are spending around the chapel ruins, in the centre of the High Street, clearing up after pigeons.

The pigeons have made the chapel ruins their home and Mr Reed said their presence is damaging the fabric of the Chapel of St Thomas a Becket, which was a stopping point for pilgrims on their way to Canterbury.

Mr Reed said: “The council has received complaints from residents and shoppers who have said the amount of pigeons ruins the feel of the area and can make it quite messy at times.

“It would be great to open up the chapel where it is closed so people could walk through the arch, but it is just too filthy.

“Also, more worryingly, there is a high acidic content in the droppings of pigeons and it is already beginning to affect the ruins.”

Mr Reed said he had spoken at length with Nick Abbott, chairman of the Renaissance group, about the issue as both Renaissance and the counicl is keen to improve the image of the town centre.

Mr Reed said the council does not want to have to resort to signs or bringing in a hawk to scare the pigeons away but the council and Renaissance is desperate for residents and shoppers not to feed the pigeons.