AS a relatively responsible Herefordshire Council tax payer and a resident of our city, I cannot but wonder exactly how much more tax payers money the council intend to squander in their efforts to eliminate pigeons homing and nesting under and around the old railway bridge crossing the Belmont Road.

To date, we have frequently seen, possibly council staff attempting to discourage the birds perching and nesting in this area by placing nets under the bridge, this work at the extra expenditure of Sunday payment rates.

More recently, we have seen on a number of occasions, operators with ladders and hydraulic lifts, again on Sundays, again at extra costs no doubt.

I wonder, as a bird lover, why on earth did the responsible Herefordshire Council employee instruct labour to get rid of these pigeons at the commencement of their nesting season. Did the council employee not think that after the nesting period would possibly have been more suitable, if at all, time to attempt such a practice all to eliminate a small amount of bird droppings on the pavement.

Did the council employee not think that pigeons either tame or wild have a homing instinct and would make every effort to return to their nests and nesting area where their nests were now being torn out.

I shudder to think what the expenditure has been in this in my opinion, pointless operation.

GRAHAM J WHITING

Member RSPB.