THE exterior of Ross-on-Wye’s library has been cleaned and the large amount of pigeon droppings on the pavements have now been removed.

The clean-up follows this newspaper highlighting the problem after concerned residents felt their pleas to the local authority were being ignored.

The residents said that the overgrown weeds and pigeon poop was everywhere, especially at the main entrance where people could inadvertently walk the mess into the library.

The staff at the library said at the time that the issues of dealing with the pigeon poop on the exterior was out of their remit and for it to be eradicated needs to be undertaken by specialists.

Last week specialist contractors from Herefordshire Council were brought in to clean up the area by and the local authority stated that it recognises the nuisance this situation is causing and has now taken steps to mitigate the impact.

Whilst the clean up has taken place, the problem of pigeons congregating around the building is still an issue.

A spokesperson for Herefordshire Council said: “Our property team are working on a permanent solution, though the works are complex due to the building’s location.

“In the meantime, we are continuing regular cleaning of the entrance area to keep it as clear and welcoming as possible.”

Elinor Kelly, chairman of the Friends of Ross Library said: “I’m happy now that the exterior has been cleaned and it has made a big difference.

“However, there is still a lot to do in preventing the problem reoccurring in the long-term.”

She added that the clean-up has given the Friends’ the inspiration to tidy up the areas surrounding the library and remove all the overgrown weeds and all the unwanted debris that has built up over time.