'Frankenpigeon' warning you to stop feeding the pigeons

Don't feed the pigeons and don't feed the rats...that is the urgent appeal that's gone out today (15th Oct).

Aylesbury Town Centre Partnership has relaunched its campaign and plea to town centre visitors not to feed the pigeons.

Not only is it unnecessary or helpful to maintaining a sustainable and healthy pigeon population, surplus food not eaten by the birds becomes a food source for rats.

Posters have started to appear across the town centre - featuring 'Frankenpigeon' and reinforcing the message that feeding pigeons is in fact also feeding rats.

A new leaflet has been produced that outlines all the reasons why you shouldn't feed pigeons and this will be given to anyone who is found feeding the birds: and they will be asked to read it and to stop feeding them in future.

Councillor Julie  Ward, AVDC Cabinet Member for Civic Amenities said:

"Not only can it be potentially harmful to the pigeon population it is unhygienic - with the typical pigeon depositing up to 25lbs (11kg) of droppings each year! Also, any surplus food will be scavenged by rats.

"We are working hard with local business to ensure they dispose of waste responsibly and we provide rodent proof  waste bins across the town centre that the public can use to dispose of litter.

"Our street cleansing teams work hard to ensure that Aylesbury town centre is an attractive and clean environment for residents, shoppers and other visitors - but we need the public to play its part and help us in this endeavour".