Residents unimpressed with pigeon mess response

Sheltered housing residents whose homes have been blighted by pigeon mess said they were unimpressed with the council's clean-up and response so far.

Residents at Mallard Court, in the Chantry area of Ipswich, told the BBC accumulated poo, dust and feathers were a health hazard since the birds began nesting under the roof's solar panels several years ago - and claimed nothing had been done.

Ipswich Borough Council has since carried out a clean and said it would find "long-term solutions to resolve the issue".

"It looks a little bit better, but every morning the birds are back, the mess is back - unless they get more done we will be in the same position," said Margaret Quinton, 94.

She told the BBC earlier this week she felt "shut in" and was unable to use her balcony because of the mess.

Netting had been placed across her windows so she could still open them without a bird getting in.

"You can't sit outside because there is so much bird mess everywhere," she said.

"It's affected my chest, my breathing."

She and her neighbours said any complaints about the issue had fallen on deaf ears.

When the BBC revisited on Friday, mess has been cleaned from next to the entrance, balconies were being cleared and temporary wind-powered bird deterrents had been put up.

It is understood a hawk bird-scarer will be added, along with further netting.

Quinton described a bird-scarer placed over her balcony as "nonsense".

"I told them it was a waste of time - the birds just come and look at it and more or less laugh at you," she added.

"Until the birds have cleared off we won't have any peace."

Her 76-year-old neighbour Karen Seymoure also had an off-limits balcony littered with bird poo, which she claimed set off an asthma attack.

When asked about the work, she said the cleaners were doing their best but it was "going nowhere".

A spokesperson at Ipswich Borough Council said: "We are very pleased that residents are satisfied that we have cleaned up the mess left by the pigeons.

"As we have said, this is not a one-off clean and we will continue to maintain the site and press ahead with the long-term solutions to resolve the issue.

"This always has to be mindful of keeping within the law to protect wild birds and their active nesting sites, as well as ensuring the health and safety of our residents."

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