Hordle pigeon keeper Alan Pidgley faces criminal charges over noise nuisance birds
A HORDLE animal lover is facing the prospect of court action over claims he broke a noise abatement order against 15 pigeons he keeps in his garden.
Animal enthusiasts Alan Pidgley and his wife Tara stepped in to rehome the birds two years ago after their former owner became unwell.
The couple, who also keep rescue chickens, tortoises and rabbits, converted a shed at their Pinewood Road bungalow to become the birds' new nighttime home, but allow them out to fly around the neighbourhood during the day.
Mr Pidgley has been warned that if NFDC concludes he has committed a criminal offence by breaching the order, he could face a magistrates' court appearance and an unlimited fine.
He said: “It is quite worrying to have this hanging over me. Other than a gentle cooing sound the pigeons make very little noise – wild birds singing make more noise.”
Mr Pidgley explained: “They were trained as homing pigeons by their previous owner – but they are just pets to us. I let them out each morning at 8am when I feed them and they fly around a little but spend most of their time on our roof.
“I have always loved animals and I find caring for them is a nice way to spend my time. My wife is extremely fond of them as well and she would be incredibly upset if we were forced to get rid of them.”
Mr Pidgley (70) a retired New Forest District Council street cleaning supervisor, was first contacted by NFDC last autumn following complaints from a neighbour.
He said: “I was asked to do various things to minimise the noise. I moved the pigeons' home to another area of my garden so it was further away from the neighbour who complained.”
Mr Pidgley claimed he also complied with requests to remove the pigeons' eggs so they could not breed, and to keep them shut inside at night.
He said: “The whole situation has been quite stressful and I really don’t know what the outcome will be.”
But despite his efforts, on 15th December 2020 Mr Pidgley was served with a noise abatement notice giving him eight weeks to resolve the issues.
He claimed he complied with the advice he received from an NFDC environmental health officer, apart from a suggestion to move the pigeons to the front garden.
He said: “I would need planning permission to build them a home in the front garden and it is really not suitable, so I did the best I could and moved them as far away as I could from the neighbour who had complained.”
However, on 5th May Mr Pidgley received a further letter from NFDC asking him to attend Appletree Court in Lyndhurst for an interview under caution, warning that it was suspected he had not complied with the abatement notice it could be a criminal offence.
Mr Pidgley claimed the pigeons make “virtually no noise” when they are kept inside at night, and rarely stray far from his garden during the day.
He said: “You sometimes hear a gentle cooing sound from the pigeons – but my chickens make far more noise. Many people keep chicken and pigeons in their gardens without any problems or complaints.”
In defence of his pets, Mr Pidgley has been provided with a statement from his immediate neighbour Gillian Waring, whose house adjoins the birds' home, stating that she has never had any disturbance problems.
She added: “I would like to state that I have never had any problems with the pigeons they house. They always stay on the roof of their own property and I have never had any noise or mess problems caused by them.”
The A&T has asked NFDC for comment.
