Don't feed the pigeons in Havant '“ or you could be fined £80

A CRACKDOWN on feeding time for town centre birds has been announced.

Havant Borough Council is advising residents and shoppers not to feed pigeons that congregate in town centre areas across the borough.

If the warnings are not heeded, the council will be seeking to issue Community Protection Notices (CPNs), effectively banning the feeding of birds in certain areas.

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Breaches of these CPNs can lead to the issue of £80 fixed penalty notices.

Officers are seeking to persuade those currently feeding the pigeons up to four kilos of bird seed twice a day, to stop doing so.

Cabinet lead for environment, councillor Tony Briggs, said: ‘Pigeons are a real nuisance because of the way their droppings make a mess on shops, street furniture, and sometimes it lands on people too.

‘We have also received reports these birds are roosting on residents’ balconies, which is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the area.

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‘We want to discourage anyone who deliberately feeds them in any way.’

Joining forces with Waterlooville town centre businesses and residents, Havant Borough Council is about to launch a poster campaign which advises visitors about the ‘perils’ of attracting birds to the area.

Cllr Briggs added: ‘Our officers have seen for themselves the shocking impact these birds are having on residents’ lives. It is simply not right that people should have to put netting over their windows to keep them out.

‘Dealing with the nuisance caused by pigeons in the London Road precinct area is also the number one issue for retailers.’