People could be fined for feeding pigeons in Spalding if South Holland District Council introduces a new rule

People could be fined for feeding the pigeons in the town centre – if a new anti-social behaviour rule is introduced.

South Holland District Council will be holding a consultation next year on whether to bring in a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to stop people from feeding the pigeons in Spalding in a bid to prevent a return of previous problems caused by the feathered fiends.

Last year, the council brought in a pest control expert with a hawk to frighten away the birds after issues with pigeon poo persisted for several months in the town centre – including the Hole in the Wall Passage.

Spalding town centre already has a PSPO in place which is aimed to prevent anti-social drinking and other behaviours. While this order – which runs out December 21 and a consultation is currently running – is not a drinking ban it does make it an offence if a drinker does not comply with an officer’s request to stop.

Coun Gary Taylor, who is speaking in his capacity of leading the Spalding Town Centre Improvements, said it was important to find out what people think.

He said: “We don’t want anything in the town centre that puts people off or less attendance.

“We have to gather the evidence and if it is a priority for shoppers and traders that work and socialise in the town.”

The district council has stated in a report to the Performance Monitoring Panel that a consultation for a new PSPO ‘which would prevent people feeding the pigeons in Spalding Town Centre’ is expected to begin in January or February next year.

The council has confirmed that the pigeon PSPO would be enforced through the issuing of fixed penalty notices or prosecution for non-payment of those.

A council spokesman told this newspaper: “The council had previously committed to consider measures to prevent any future issues in the town centre associated with pigeons.

“If a PSPO was approved, it would allow for a fixed penalty notice to be issued to anyone feeding the pigeons. The detail of this has yet to be determined.”

Chairman of Spalding Town Forum Rob Gibson said he was not aware of the proposal but was somewhat sceptical.

He said: “We can’t seem to stop people from drinking so I’m not sure we can stop them from feeding the pigeons.

“Far more people want to get rid of anti-social behaviour and to do up the town centre. No-one has ever mentioned pigeons.”

Spalding Civic Society chairman John Bland said he would prefer to see an educational route adopted rather than enforcement.

He said: “Fining someone for feeding pigeons when there is a past track record of little visible enforcement of the current order concerning street drinking and other anti-social behaviour would seem unreasonable. However, fining someone for discarding litter including food waste that could attract pigeons and other vermin is not unreasonable. Littering is already included in the existing PSPO, so surely that aspect of the order could be used in what should be an absolute last resort.

“Few would put

pigeon feeding on the same level of seriousness as street drinking, even though potentially pigeons could cause more harm to the townscape by their droppings and should not be encouraged. I feel that an educational poster would be far more effective. One that sets out why feeding of pigeons is not desirable.”

He has called for notices advising of the rules in multiple languages should be installed in locations where there are known problems.

Mr Bland also called for leaflets advising of the rules go out with all the council tax bills to Spalding residents along with notices in some of the town’s factories – which would include a telephone number to report issues.

He added: “I would also like to see the area covered to include both railway footbridges and their approaches. These are both longstanding trouble spots that would benefit from greater intervention.”

The council is currently running a consultation on the current PSPO and people have until Friday, November 24, to have their say. To take part in the consultation go to: https://tinyurl.com/4zdfzzk2

The order covers the area from St Thomas’ Road north to West Elloe Avenue and from Spalding Railway Station to Commercial Road.