Bid to overturn town's pigeon feeding ban

A bird enthusiast has made a plea to end a Lancashire town's ban on feeding pigeons.

The local council ruled six years ago anyone caught feeding the birds in Blackburn could be fined £75.

Brandon Hardman, who has a pet pigeon, has called on Blackburn with Darwen Council to "end the punitive ban".

He has started a petition which has attracted more than 1,000 signatures. The council has been contacted for comment.

When it brought in the ban, the council said it was to keep the town centre clean and tidy.

Councillor Jim Smith said at the time: "Not only can [feeding] be potentially harmful to the pigeon population, it is very unhygienic especially as it leads to increased pigeon droppings."

Hardman said the "ban misrepresents pigeons as pests, ignoring their rich history as messengers, companions, and working allies in the times of war".

He added: "How a society treats its most vulnerable, including the animals that share its spaces, speaks volumes about its core values."

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