Hull veterans' call to stop pigeons fouling war memorial

Hull's veterans are angry pigeons are being fed at the city's war memorial

Pigeons are fouling Hull's city centre war memorial, earning the ire of the city's veterans.

Barry Medhurst, a former city parade marshal, said: "We are all absolutely sick of it. It's become a big problem.

"We often see a man, with a rucksack on, feeding corn to the pigeons. The birds then mess all over the memorial."

The Hull branch of the Royal British Legion said it was aware of veterans' feelings but said it was powerless to intervene.

Some of the plaques around the memorial have pigeon mess on their inscriptions

Mr Medhurst devoted 31 years to organising Hull's annual parades at the memorial prior to stepping down in 2018.

He said it is important to veterans the memorial, off Ferensway in the city centre, is kept immaculate at all times.

"That memorial stands for everything," said Mr Medhurst, who is president of the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire. "It's to remember those who gave their lives for this country."

Peter Grundy, who served with the Royal Engineers from 1959 to 1971, said veterans are concerned about the condition of the memorial ahead of a gathering on 6 June to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day - the allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France during World War Two.

He said: "The plaques that are placed around the memorial always seem to have bird droppings on them.

"It's not just people feeding them; people sit around the memorial eating and drop food. That attracts the pigeons and seagulls."

People are also said to eat around the memorial which is also attracting the pigeons

Ken Simmonds, president of the Hull branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "It is an issue. Veterans aren't happy that pigeons are being fed at the memorial. Unfortunately, there is not a lot we can do about it.

"We did speak to one person who often feeds them and were told we should be thankful for pigeons because they carried messages for us during the war."

In a statement, Hull City Council said: "We would discourage the public from feeding pigeons in the city centre, however they are wild birds and we are limited in action that can be taken. There are currently no plans to fine members of the public."

The authority said the memorial is cleaned annually, usually around Remembrance weekend.

It added "overcleaning" can result in "premature erosion" of the soft stone used to create the Grade II listed memorial.