Pigeon culls under Blackpool's Central Pier spark anger from animal lovers

The birds are legally culled to protect workers carrying out structural repairs to the attraction.

But Blackpool wildlife rescuer Mustafiz Rahman, questioned the necessity of shooting the pigeons in daylight, upsetting visitors to the beach who find the bodies.

The 27-year-old said: "What preventative measures have been tried to deter pigeons first before resorting to shooting these pigeons who just happen to unfortunately perch under the pier

for some safety - doing no harm to anyone?

"Shooting pigeons and having them slowly die is not 'humane', never mind the upset it has caused numerous people finding their washed up bodies on the beach.”

Martine Hagel, manager of Blackpool's piers, said the birds’ excrement posed a “real risk to human health” and their numbers had to be controlled for the safety of employees working on

the pier’s steel structure.

She added: "An officially licensed firm is called in to carry out this work under strict guidelines. The removal work and collection is carried out before 8am in order to minimise any

disruption or cause harm to anybody who may be on the beaches as dog walkers are not permitted in this period.

"When battling the elements of the Irish Sea, it is vital for health and safety, we take all reasonable care of the steel works and in doing so we have to protect the workers who carry out

considerable work beneath them.”

She said previous efforts to tackle the problem, including installing spikes and netting, had proved ineffective.

“There is simply no other way,” she added. “The risk factors and health and safety of people has to be our priority."

The culls are carried out by a private firm contracted by the Piers, and are not connected to Blackpool council.

Dog walkers have reported finding several birds on the beach but the company contracted to cull the birds, B T Pigeon Services, said the bodies are taken away wherever possible.

Owner Brian Ingham, 75, said: "I always carry the birds back to my van and they are usually sent to reptile owners or birds of prey centres, where they are used as feed.

"On the occasion in question where dog walkers have come across the bodies, I managed to retrieve about 80 per cent of the birds, but seagulls were taking them after they were shot,

and carrying them off.

"The bodies left on the beach were no fault of the Pier, and it was completely accidental. They fall into deep puddles sometimes and I'm unable to get through the soft sand to get them.

“The Pier does everything it can to protect its workers and the public from picking up illnesses from the parasites in pigeon faeces. I'm a last resort, it's spent so much time and money

trying to use netting but it was either destroyed or fell into the sea."

Lancashire Police's rural crime officer, Lorraine Ellwood, confirmed that the culls were carried out with the correct licences to keep beach visitors and Pier staff safe.

She said: "This licence allows 'to kill or take certain species of wild birds to preserve public health or public safety' and pigeons are covered under the licence.

"Pigeon droppings can lead to several diseases, including a flu-like illness called psittacosis. There is also a fungus called cryptococcus which can be caught from bird droppings.

"The police are kept updated by when the culls are taking place, and the licence under which they are operating."