Media centre

Thursday 4 Mar 2004

NETWORK RAIL GIVES PIGEONS THEIR FLYING ORDERS

Region & Route:

 Pigeons are making a nuisance of themselves underneath several structures throughout the North West and it is time for them to move on.  Network Rail has started a £37,000 project to put a stop to pigeon mess under bridges in the Manchester and Cheshire areas.  The work started at the beginning of February and it is planned to be complete by early March.   Two methods are being used to deter our feathered friends; bird netting which will line the underside of each structure to prevent birds from roosting on ledges, and a repellent paint system will also be tested in certain areas to measure its success.  The repellent causes the birds to have a harmless allergic reaction creating a conditioned response to the paint. It is hoped that they will want to stay away from it and therefore will stay away from the structures.   The scheme will involve some half-road closures and walk way closures whilst the work is taking place.  Workers will be on each site for no more than nine days between the hours of 09:30 and 15:30hrs to avoid rush hour traffic.   Network Rail’s scheme project manager, Robin Ellis said: “The netting installation work will hopefully benefit many communities in the Greater Manchester and Cheshire area.  Network Rail takes this issue seriously and it is hoped that this friendly approach to removing the birds will be a success.”