Status unknown
Overgrown tree causing bird droppings to block access to property
Reported in the Trees category anonymously at 15:33, Wed 28 June 2017
Sent to Warwick District Council 2 minutes later. FixMyStreet ref: 1062297.
I first contacted Warwickshire Council nearly 12 months ago regarding a council owned tree that overhangs my property. In the past 12 months the tree has obviously grown again and the problem of pigeon droppings has got worse. Last time it was mentioned that the budget had to be focused on Health & Safety maintenance work. In my eyes Health & Safety is not solely categorised by trees that are about to fall down or have already fallen down. I have a 5 year old daughter and 10 month old daughter living in my property. We have to walk through these droppings to get onto our property so are inadvertently bringing this mess and possible diseases into our house. So i think this qualifies as a Health & Safety issue.
Is there any way that we can have this tree cut back so that any excrement falls onto the grass below and not onto the pavement/driveway of our property? Ive included images of the tree from last year. As you can imagine it has grown again since then so the spread of bird droppings is even worse. Ive also researched diseases associated with pigeon (and other birds) droppings. Diseases i'd like my children not to catch because the council will not control their trees.
Examples of transmissible bird diseases associated with pigeons, geese, starling and house sparrows: Histoplasmosis is a respiratory disease that may be fatal. It results from a fungus growing in dried bird droppings. Candidiasis is a yeast or fungus infection spread by pigeons. The disease affects the skin, the mouth, the respiratory system, the intestines and the urogenital tract, especially the vagina. It is a growing problem for women, causing itching, pain and discharge. Cryptococcosis is caused by yeast found in the intestinal tract of pigeons and starlings. The illness often begins as a pulmonary disease and may later affect the central nervous system. Since attics, cupolas, ledges, schools, offices, warehouses, mills, barns, park buildings, signs, etc. are typical roosting and nesting sites, the fungus is apt to found in these areas. St. Louis Encephalitis, an inflammation of the nervous system, usually causes drowsiness, headache and fever. It may even result in paralysis, coma or death. St. Louis encephalitis occurs in all age groups, but is especially fatal to persons over age 60. The disease is spread by mosquitoes which have fed on infected house sparrow, pigeons and house finches carrying the Group B virus responsible for St. Louis encephalitis. Salmonellosis often occurs as "food poisoning" and can be traced to pigeons, starlings and sparrows. The disease bacteria are found in bird droppings; dust from droppings can be sucked through ventilators and air conditioners, contaminating food and cooking surfaces in restaurants, homes and food processing plants. E.coli. Cattle carry E. coli 0157:H7. When birds peck on cow manure, the E. coli go right through the birds and the bird droppings can land on or in a food or water supply.
I should also add that if somebody comes out to see the tree in person, they will notice the 3 trunks that form the tree are all rising upwards and outwards. There is quite an angle on the trunks leaning out. So eventually they could fall into the councils category of Health & Safety whereby a tree must be about to fall down or has fallen down.
Updates
-
The image above shows how much the tree also overhangs the public highway. Not a problem in most cases but as pigeons are using it as a main location to roost the number of droppings that can build up is quite excessive. It is a main route for children walking to Telford Infant and Telford junior School.
Posted anonymously at 16:57, Wed 28 June 2017
Provide an update
Please note that updates are not sent to the council. Your information will only be used in accordance with our privacy policy