Network Rail must tackle ‘disgusting’ Shenfield pigeons say Brentwood council
'Sort this mess' urge Pidgeon-poo-plagued townspeople
Last updated 29th Sep 2023
Brentwood Council has issued a unanimous call for Network Rail “to get their chequebook out” to deal with the worsening situation of toxic pigeon mess under Railway bridges in Shenfield.
The council has now unanimously passed a motion agreeing that Brentwood Council engage with Network Rail and other parties to deal with the “totally unacceptable” situation under Shenfield railway bridge. The council heard the one resident had to “wipe down” her eldest son on a trip to London because he had been covered in droppings as they went under the bridge.
A revised motion now additionally includes two neighbouring bridges suffering similar problems in nearby Alexander Lane along which children walk every day to get to and from Long Ridings primary school.
The birds and their droppings under the Shenfield railway bridge have remained a longstanding problem. The council heard that some pigeons nesting there and the roof of Shenfield railway station have “legged it” to Alexander Lane in the face of other deterrence. Pigeon droppings contain harmful fungal spores which can lead to respiratory disease and can corrode metal at bridge-bearing zones.
Network Rail says it is aware of the problem – anti-pigeon protection is already in place in critical areas of the Shenfield rail bridge to prevent birds nesting on the abutments. Repairs to the pigeon protection were made in June. The council heard this has not worked.
Councillor Roger Hirst (Cons, Hutton Central): “It is absolutely filthy and disgusting. Network Rail need to put the netting properly perhaps not just back. I would love to see an improved version. It was an awful lot better for a few years. Its rubbish now.”
Councillor Tom Heard (Cons, Shenfield) who proposed the motion said “I would like to thank members from across the chamber who came together last night for the sake of Shenfield and Hutton residents. We were very happy to accept a number of requested amendments from colleagues and we were delighted that this allowed the debate to conclude with a cross party call for action to resolve the problem.”
Seconding the motion, Councillor Keith Barber (Cons, Hutton North) said : “We should basically be cleaning up the area and engaging very constructively with Network Rail, saying you need to get your cheque book out and you need to pay for the necessary measures to clear that up and make the area safe.”
Network Rail says it is aware of the problem – anti-pigeon protection is already in place in critical areas of the Shenfield rail bridge to prevent birds nesting on the abutments. Repairs to the pigeon protection were made in June.
The motion set to be discussed on September 27 said: “The situation regarding pigeon droppings under the Shenfield Railway Bridge has deteriorated badly over the summer months and has become totally unacceptable. Such waste material contains harmful fungal spores which can lead to respiratory disease.”
A Network Rail spokesperson had earlier said on the motion: “Anti-pigeon protection is already in place in critical areas of the Shenfield rail bridge which prevents birds nesting on the abutments as nests and guano can have a corrosive effect and prevent effective drainage which causes accelerated deterioration to metallic elements at bearing zones. We responded to a report by Brentwood Council earlier this year by making repairs to the pigeon protection which were completed in June.
“We understand the council’s concerns and we are willing to have further conversations about the condition of the bridge.
“As Network Rail is publicly funded, the value of installing any additional protection would need to be balanced against the practicality and additional cost of maintaining inspection access and undertaking repairs to the structure itself.”