Feeding pigeons could be banned in town centres

Feeding birds could be banned in Dewsbury, among other places

Feeding pigeons and other wild birds could soon be an offence in some town centres to reduce the risk of vermin being attracted to the food.

It comes after a review of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) in Kirklees, which cover activities like street drinking, dog fouling and public urination.

The borough council currently has nine PSPOs in place, with people who breach the rules facing a fine or a prosecution.

The proposed new PSPO would prevent bird feeding in the centre of Batley, Dewsbury, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Marsden, Ravensthorpe and Slaithwaite.

The current PSPOs in place deal with a range of issues including dog fouling, dogs being required to be on a lead in some areas, public urination, and the control of fires and barbecues.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Kirklees Borough Council plans to amend some of the existing PSPOs and create some new ones to tackle “emerging” issues.

The PSPOs around dogs will be brought together as one, and the order addressing street drinking strengthened, making it easier to enforce.

Tent ban

Labour councillor Will Simpson told a meeting of the council's Environment and Climate Change Scrutiny Panel the authority does not have an "anti-bird agenda” and that the feeding ban is purely about reducing vermin.

A PSPO covering all of Kirklees is also proposed to tackle problems around nuisance vehicles and the resulting anti-social behaviour.

Other issues to be tackled by new rules include loitering, nuisance behaviour and temporary structures like tents and gazebos being erected without consent.

Several members of the panel raised concerns this would impact homeless or vulnerable people but council officers said they were working with the authority's rough sleeping initiative and various charities and that enforcement would only be used as a “last resort”.

A final decision on the changes will be down to the council's cabinet.

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