Dear Editor

Our Member of Parliament’s letter that was published in the last issue of the Ross Gazette encourages me to comment that mankind is the greatest threat to mankind at present, for example when great nations ignore scientifically and carefully researched and predicted future calamities that are being caused by climate change.

However, mankind also has to protect itself against overpopulation by some of the other living creatures of this earth, as instanced by Jesse Norman regarding feral wild pigs and boar.

Knowing another who was lucky to survive after he had misfortune whilst driving very early to work, to have a car collision with a wild boar in the darkness, it is quite evident that they need to be culled.

I have never known another that has been infected by them as disease carriers but I am sure that Mr Norman would not have so stated without first checking facts.

Similarly, I do not know of anyone that has been affected by a disease carrying feral pigeon, but accept that such is possible.

Yet Ross-on-Wye is the home of these pests, and both the County Environmental Health Manager, and the Ross Town Council and their Town Clerk are intimidated by a letter from a Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner stating that they have to put up notices telling us not to feed pigeons, prosecute restaurateurs for putting waste for collection, and other impractical ideas in these cash strapped times before they can cull.

I would wager that the letter has not been seriously challenged by either authority, in spite of Hereford having culled feral seagulls in the past; it is much easier for them not to bother.

A letter in your paper two weeks ago suggested the use of birds of prey.

I believe that this would be good exercise for falcons, but their use will only drive the pigeons to another part of our town - is anyone prepared to accept a flock of 500 or more birds if only a temporary basis?

As with the wild boar, a pigeon cull is the only solution we have now that the authorities have allowed their unfettered growth.

Maybe they do not have a statutory duty to try and prevent them from breeding in such large quantities, but morally they do.

I am forwarding a copy of this letter to Mr Norman in the hope that he may also consider Ross-on-Wye’s feral pigeon problem.

G. D. Lodge

Ross-on-Wye