A COUNCIL has urged people not to feed the pigeons in two of the borough's town centres.

Pendle Borough Council is urging people not to feed the pigeons in Nelson and Colne over concerns about the number of birds and the problems infestations cause - from risks to public health, damage to buildings and attracting other pests.

The amount of food being left in the town centres is being described as "excessive".

Pendle Council’s corporate director, Philip Mousdale, said: “People may think they’re being kind feeding the pigeons but it’s creating a real problem.

“Pigeon poo carries a range of diseases including salmonella and E Coli which can be spread to humans and because it’s so acidic, it’s damaging our buildings.

“The excessive amount of food being left is also attracting pests such as rats, which bring a host of other problems with them.”

Leader of Pendle Borough Council, Councillor Nadeem Ahmed, added: “We understand people like to feed wild birds but they probably don’t understand the problems they create.

“We want our town centres to be pleasant places to visit rather than somewhere to avoid.

“They will not starve if we don’t feed them. Pigeons are wildlife and are not dependent on us to feed them. They will just breed less often.”

Problems associated with pigeons:

  • Diseases and parasites spread quickly among pigeons
  • Droppings and leftover food can cause people to slip and injure themselves, especially during wet and cold weather
  • Pigeons carry mites that can cause skin diseases among humans
  • Nests, dropping and feathers block air vents and gutters