Saboteurs free pigeons trapped behind anti-vermin netting on a Wigan bridge
Pigeons have been saved from starving to death or being shot after they became trapped behind new netting under a Wigan motorway bridge.
More than 20 birds were freed by saboteurs after being ensnared beneath the structure which carries the M6 over Gathurst Road, Orrell, when well-meaning measures were taken at the beginning of the week aimed at keeping them off it.
Locals had complained to local councillor, Anne Collins, about the mess the pigeons made on the pavements when roosting on the girders, both with carcasses and droppings, the latter of which they said made surfaces slippery and unhygienic.
But the process of installing the giant net by a Highways England subcontrator Ecolab led to this secondary problem and one that had arisen before.
Resident Sarah Keenan first hit the headlines four years ago when the same measure was taken with the M6 bridge passing over nearby Spring Road.
She said: “On that occasion pigeons were trapped behind the netting for so long that some of them starved to death and those that survived long enough were eventually shot by a pest controller.”
She feared that this was going to happen again.
But, after several days of being trapped, the birds were liberated, presumably by someone with either a cherry picker or a very big ladder, when the netting was wrenched off.
And it has since emerged that Highways England had had a re-think after complaints, were going to take it down anyway and try to think of another way to solve the issue.
The netting does have “escape pockets” but, it seems, most pigeons aren’t bright enough to suss them out.
Ms Keenan said: “I’m glad this has happened. I'm so grateful to everyone for supporting wildlife. The measure of a society, I believe, lies in the compassion it shows to those who are voiceless and voteless.
"Pigeons are right at the bottom as far as most people are concerned.
"There is no malice intended in putting the netting, up but it is impossible, when trying to get it up there to cover such a large area, that you won’t get pigeons, getting stuck during installation.
"Frankly I walk under that bridge all the time and never thought there was much of an issue in the first place. Yes, there is faecal matter but it's hardly in snowdrifts."
Coun Collins said: “I responded to a complaint about the state of the pavement under the bridge. John Rigby College students and people with prams were stepping into the road to avoid the mess.
"I approached Highways England to see if they would assess the bridge for netting and left it with them. I was then contacted the other day by the original complainant to see the net was up.
"I’m animal lover and don’t want to see any birds, animals or humans come to any harm.”
A National Highways spokesperson said: “We have completed cleaning works under the bridge including the footways to address excessive pigeon excrement and have installed netting to prevent roosting.
"Bird escapes have been installed at each end of the structure.
"We are aware of an issue with the netting and are in the process of removing it whilst pigeon deterrent measures are considered.”