Dear Editor

On October 19th last I wrote a letter to Harry Bramer, our Mayor, on behalf of the many neighbours, nearby residents and shopkeepers near the junction of High Street, Edde Cross Street, and Wilton Road, which is plagued with increasing numbers of feral pigeons.

The letter lamented the Council’s continuing disregard of our concerns after petitioning them in previous years, and briefly set out alternatives for controlling their numbers, currently in excess of 500 birds, and the reasons for advocating culling as the most effective method.

Feral pigeons are migratory and neither Ross, nor any other town, can expect to eradicate them completely, or probably want to, but in large numbers they are a physical hazard to persons and properties from their droppings, and recognised as disease carriers.

Some years ago, Hereford had a similar problem with urban seagulls, and their Council embarked on an annual cull which has been noticeably successful.

It had to be undertaken by a Council, for no local group or individual can cope with the birds removing from one part of a town to another.

The letter expressed our belief that the Ross Town Council should deal with the matter and do so urgently since baiting, capturing, and culling must be humanely carried out by authorised companies when natural feed for the birds is scarce - early winter. It also advised a cost for the first cull, expecting future cull costs to be lessened as bird numbers reduce.

Having been informed repeatedly that ‘the Council has no money’, I offered to reimburse the full cost of the first cull, provided the Council allowed for future culls in future budgets, and accepting advice that a single cull was likely to be a waste of money.

Now, I have been told that the Town Clerk considers that my financial offer was personal so as to render it illegal as far as HMRC is concerned, and cannot be accepted unless I am prepared to add VAT to my offer - local authorities are exempt from this tax. Also, that I instruct the work instead of the Town Council.

I have already stretched myself financially, and just cannot afford any more, and restore the facades of my property.

Thus, Ross-on-Wye will have to suffer longer, unless some leadership emerges from the Mayor and the Town Council to act and place an order with a suitable contractor, and those I represent are given the opportunity to examine all tenders before acceptance, to ensure that the money will be well spent.

G. D. Lodge

Ross-on-Wye