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Asbo threat in the war on feathers
A HARDCORE of pigeon activists have vowed to flout new restrictions banning them from Trafalgar Square.
The renegade group have, since the pigeon feeding ban came into effect in 2002, exploited a legal loophole allowing them to meet at North Terrace by the National Gallery.
They now face a £500 fine, and a possible anti- social behaviour order, after the council secured a byelaw criminalising pigeon feeding in Trafalgar Square.
A spokesman for the Save the Trafalgar Square Pigeons Front, said: “Westminster City Council, which does control this land, has suceeded in criminalising pigeon feeding, both on the North Terrace and in the streets around the square, threatening the birds with starvation.
“To add to the birds’ plight, the Mayor has employed sadistic bloodsports fanatics to bring hawks onto the square to terrify and kill the pigeons.”
Environment chiefs had unsuccessfully applied for a byelaw three times since 1993.
A council spokesman said a “hardcore of individuals and animal rights groups threw “bread, cake, biscuit and corn” to an estimated 400 birds.
Councillor Alan Bradley, lead member for pigeons, said: “It is not uncommon for three carrier bags of pigeon feed – up to 20kg – to be left on the North Terrace at any one time.”
The National Gallery said: “The pigeons pose a serious health hazard for our staff who have to walk through them every day and they are an unpleasant nuisance for many of our visitors.” |
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