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Pigeon deposit slammed by bank customer
Pigeon poo on the HSBC
A LEIGHTON bank customer is calling for action over the amount of pigeon poo caked onto the town’s streets and businesses.
Diana Davis, of Chamberlain Gardens, had to dodge fresh droppings as she attempted to use a cash machine outside the HSBC in Leighton High Street. When she complained in the branch she was told that staff were unable to deal with the issue because the droppings were toxic and had to be removed by specialists.
She said: “As the ATM was occupied when I arrived, I had a few moments to view the architecture of the bank’s building and it’s surrounds.
“To my horror every part of the building adjacent to the cashpoint was covered with pigeon droppings. It was more than an inch thick in some cases. The food market stall was less than 10 metres away.
“Why isn’t something being done to rid the town centre, of this vermin or at least some effort made to control the numbers of pigeons?
“We really have to think about culling them. I know that will upset some people but the health of the majority is more important.
“Each year we put ourselves forward for the Best In Bloom competition. How can we be taken seriously if the town centre is covered in pigeon mess?
“I was so nauseated I went into the HSBC branch and was greeted by an immaculately dressed young bank official. After I had described the appearance of the outside of the building he reluctantly came outside to look, at the same time he stated that I was not the first person to complain about the pigeon faeces.
“He went on further to explain that the mess could not be cleared by the Leighton Buzzard bank staff. As the droppings were toxic the bank had to wait until a specially trained cleaning company could come to remove the debris.
“I visited the bank a week later and nothing has been done and there are even more pigeon droppings.”
Mrs Davids, who is a former nurse, added: “Two days after withdrawing my money at my first visit I developed a stomach bug. I don’t know if it is connected but you have to wonder.
“As the captain of a ship is responsible for the safety of his passengers, why isn’t the bank manager responsible for the welfare of his customers and those using the bank’s facilities?”
A spokesman for Central Beds Council, who are responsible for street cleaning, said: ““Officers visited Leighton Buzzard High Street this morning to investigate the levels of pigeon droppings. They have found some accumulations that will now be dealt with with standard cleaning.”
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
Comments
There are 5 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
RappaBlue
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 04:11 PMTime to Clean-Up Your Act The public and shop owners have complained, to the Council, at the proliferation of pigeons resident in Leighton shopping centre. I have witnessed a passer-by being “bombed” by one of these pests. The Council response.....to do nothing. Is that snow on the ground? NO! Its’ pigeon mess abound, Leaving their “droppings” everywhere, With never a feathered care, We’ve become targets from the air, The Council couldn’t care less, About this filthy and unhealthy mess, Shop owner’s scrape it off the path, Council act? .....don’t make me larf! It falls on your head and coat, The “flying rats” circle and gloat! Town is a cess-pit, Ankle deep in pigeon “deposit”’ Covered north to south in pigeon poo, Leighton has become their favourite loo, The Council.....they’ve better things to do. Rappa Blue
seveoxbotty
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 08:37 PMPigeon excrement is unpleasant and unhealthy but not really toxic and when cleaning it off you should use protective measures. What the bank staff obviously meant when blameng 'elfin safety' was It's not my job mate! Basically the problem is that pigeons find our town with handy perches and a plentiful food supply a great environment to live in. Just like rats. Perhaps the most effective measure would be to restrict the food supply by not dropping food waste all over. As for the deranged whose sole amusement is to feed them they need help.
Tresil
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 05:14 PMI have seen worse crap on ATM Machines in such cases vomit . Being a sexual health nurseI have seen worse diseases. Pigeons do do not spread aids!!! There are far more diseases spread by humans in your streat and the things you touch on a daily basis. A Microbiologiest has concluded that there is no scientific evidence that pigeon poop spread disease.
arnieismybaby
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 04:34 PMAs always its a pity that a member of the public has to seek financial reward from submitting pathetic news stories. Strongly suggest that Diana Davis educates herself concerning pigeons and their droppings, and the bank clerk similarly educates himself. Pigeon droppings are not toxic! True an accumlation proves an unsightly mess but as for being toxic and giving this woman a stomach bug - absolute rubbish! Humans are far more disgusting!!! For humans we have a special little room that we can use when nature calls, it is called a TOILET!!! Funny how so many disgusting humans think using the street and public building walls is the place to go. Funny also how you never find a newspaper article slamming how disgusting it is to stand next to an ATM machine with the stench of urine assaulitng your senses!!! If pigeons had a designated room you can b sure they would use it. Pigeons are extremely clean birds!!! FYI - humans also harbour and pass on far more germsdiseases ... its my guess that Diana Davis used the ATM machine after some dirty excuse of a human who never washed their hands after going to the toilet and who possibly still have urine and faeces on their hands!!! Funny how we do not talk about culling the filthy humans!!! but whenever there is a problem with wildlife - no matter what it is be it foxes, pigeons, badgers ... the first and apparently only solution is to cull them!! Its about time that people reaslised this is not the solution!
styne
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 03:09 PMIt might be undesirable, but is it really toxic? Probably not. You can't go around culling animals just because of this, how about deterrents such as spikes on ledges to stop them?
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