Pigeon mess leaves flats residents feeling trapped

People living in sheltered housing said they felt trapped in their flats due to the building being covered in pigeon mess.

Residents at Mallard Court in the Chantry area of Ipswich told the BBC they were concerned for their health due to the issue which had been ongoing for several years.

Margaret Quinton, 94, said nobody was listening to her despite her complaints.

A spokesperson for Ipswich Borough Council said it was aware of the issue and was investigating a long-term solution.

Quinton said she was unable to go out on her balcony and had to have netting put over her windows so she could still open them despite the mess.

"The problem is you can't go out and sit in the garden," she said.

"It's supposed to be an old people's home where you're supposed to be able to rest and get out of your flat.

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

"It's affected my chest, my breathing, not only myself, my neighbours, her balcony is full of poo and the old gentleman below me in the downstairs flat, he is suffering as well.

"I'm trying to complain, but nobody is listening."

She added that she felt "shut in".

Resident Karen Seymore, 76, also said the mess had been a problem since solar panels were installed on the building roof about five or six years ago.

"It's bad and the stink and flies that come from it is nobody's business," she said.

"I can't open my patio doors, I can't sit on my balcony, I had line up there where I used to put my washing up, I can't do that anymore.

"Because every time I go out on the balcony the bird poo causes me to have an asthma attack."

Ian Shipp, of 999 Pest Control based in Suffolk, said it could be difficult to deter pigeons from an area.

"The trick really is prevention rather than cure," he explained to BBC Radio Suffolk's Wayne Bavin.

"Once you've got them and they're nesting under solar panels they can be quite difficult to move on.

"Ideally when you put the solar panels up, you put guarding around the panels so they can't be nesting underneath them."

He explained that pigeons liked to nest together underneath solar panels which offer safety and protection.

To help the issue he suggested the panels were cleaned and then guarded so the birds could not nest under them.

"I have seen the images of the problem [at Mallard Court] and it looks dreadful, it does need resolving," he added.

A council spokesperson said the authority understood the affect the issue was having on the residents' comfort and wellbeing, "particularly during warmer weather".

"The council has previously arranged for the affected area to be cleaned, and we are now taking further action in response to recent reports to ensure the area is cleaned again," they said.

"We are currently investigating a long-term solution to prevent pigeons being present which includes appropriate netting around the nesting areas.

"We take reports of environmental health risks seriously and will continue to work with relevant services and contractors to identify appropriate measures to manage the issue effectively."

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