Council ban ruffles Brian the cockerel's feathers
SuppliedA ban on keeping cockerels at an allotment has got a family in a flap.
Under current rules, the birds are not allowed on Durham County Council allotments due to noise nuisance and the changes announced by the local authority last month will remove any remaining exceptions.
Tom, 14 and from Bishop Auckland, has kept cockerels all his life and said they helped his mental health, with his favourite a three-year-old bird called Brian. He started a petition in a bid to scrap the ban.
The council's neighbourhood protection manager, Ian Hoult, said: "We can confirm we have received this petition and that it will be considered and responded to in line with our normal process."
Tom said cockerels had always been in the family with his dad, also called Tom, 41, owning them since he was young.
"I've had cockerels since I was born and my dad had them before I was born as well, and there was no problem with them," he said.
The teenager said the family had more than 10 cockerels and was worried they would be euthanised if homes were not found.
'Part of our family'
He said he had written to the council to ask them to stop the ban and his online petition had attracted more than 600 signatures.
"I would be very sad and angry if I had to get rid of them," he said.
He said the birds were "not just animals", but a part of his life and helped him with his mental health.
Tom's father said his son used to have geese at the allotments, which he had to get rid of.
He said: "This time he is determined to fight his corner, supported by his dad, because it's the right thing to do for people who can't voice their opinions.
"I had cockerels when I was little and no-one ever complained - these changes are a shock."
He added the birds were "a massive part of our family" and he felt angry and disappointed by the council's decision.
The Reform-led council approved the total ban in March and said there would be a transition period of a year.
