Dead pigeons 'left hanging from nets' in bid to prevent roosting on railway bridge in Yorkshire

Hull councillors Marjorie Brabazon and Abhi Singh said nets put up on the Chanterlands Avenue railway bridge had left dead pigeons hanging from them while spikes had also not worked. They claimed in a letter to residents that ‘disinterest’ from Network Rail which owns the bridge was the ‘biggest stumbling block to getting rid of the birds’.

However, a spokesperson for Network Rail said it would continue to work to try and tackle the issue and would work with Hull City Council to find a long term solution. Pigeons have been roosting in the framework of the bridge above the road since at least 2014, when a net was installed to try and ward them off.

People have complained about bird poo dropping on them while they walk underneath the bridge and maggots believed to be from their rotting remains have also fallen down. A joke sign dubbing the structure ‘Guano Bridge’ in February this year as the issue has become notorious locally.

Coun Brabazon and Coun Singh said little progress has been made on trying to tackle the issue since they last met with Network Rail officials in 2021. In their letter, they said nets tore and left dead birds hanging from them when they were tried.

Fake birds of prey were also floated but experts said the pigeons would just get used to them, with the flying of real hawks beneath the bridge unfeasible. Spikes were also tried but they either fell off or the pigeons found ways of roosting around them.

The councillors wrote: “We all know the iussues the pigeons and their mess create. Network Rail own the bridge and are responsible for maintenance of the bridge, we cannot install anything on the bridge without their permission.

“We cannot install anything on the bridge without their permission and Network Rail said that they would not allow us to affix anything to the bridge that could not be removed annually for the bridge inspection. We resolved to increase the cleaning schedule under the bridge and we believe this has led to an improvement.

“Efforts to improve the situation continue. We will not make promises we cannot keep and nobody can promise to completely solve the issues with the bridge, only commit to do all they can, which we will continue to do.”

Network Rail’s spokesperson said it works closely with the council to maintain the bridge despite it being their asset.

The spokesperson said: “We are aware of the ongoing situation regarding pigeons roosting on the bridge and have worked with the council previously to put up netting and look at implementing other preventative measures. “We will continue to assist with work to alleviate this issue and are keen to find a resolution to this situation alongside the local council.”