Pigeons still causing a flap in Warminster (From This Is Wiltshire)

A call for action, including using hawks and putting out bird contraceptives, has been made in the battle to stop pigeons blighting Warminster town centre.

The pigeon menace is an ongoing nuisance, according to Warminster Town Cllr Paul Batchelor, who plans to ask colleagues to take the lead and work with Wiltshire Council to find a resolution.

Cllr Batchelor said the issue was much wider than just around the Old Town Hall, where any preventative action would be the responsibility of a private owner.

Under the Public Health Act, the onus is on a building’s owner to remove noxious matter. This has seen pigeon guano removed in the past, but no pigeon-proofing has been done and the birds return.

Cllr Batchelor said food sources needed to be identified and removed, to keep down pigeon numbers.

He said: “My focus is the town centre and not just the Old Town Hall. I want to completely get rid of the pigeons.

“I was hoping we could go down a humane route to get rid of them, using a hawk a couple of times a week to scare them off, or the additive of a contraceptive feed.

“There are other possible options, but I think the best way is to do it humanely. It’s a problem that affects many towns and there are people putting down seed and bread for them, which doesn’t help.

“I will speak with the environmental officer. It is something I want to sort before the mating season. There would have to be a significant health impact on passers-by from the droppings for them to act and expert advice from the consultant indicated the risk was low.”