Friday, 29 August 2008

Oh Dear Jai , you must try harder !!!

To: "Jai Restal"
Subject: RE: Pigeon Muck on Hemel Market 


Hello Jai , 

Thanks for your email , 

Yes I have seen the hawks in action , yes the pigeons do fly away for about an hour and then return , totally cost ineffective .

The pigeon Muck on the Market has not been cleaned in at least the last two years , if you think it has please produce the cleaning log copy !!

You clearly have never visited the market or you would know the level of broken glass , empty bottles , take away meals , cigarette packs , butts and other rubbish that accumulates . I suggest you go to the market area next Wednesday at 6.00 am and see for yourself 

Regards Mike 



From: "Jai Restal"
To: "'Mi
Subject: RE: Pigeon Muck on Hemel Market 


Dear Michael,

 

Thank you for your e-mail today.

 

I am pleased to say that the pigeon situation in Hemel town centre is being managed.

 

The council is taking a proactive approach to deterring pigeons and their by-products from the town centre by introducing a natural predator to the area. 

You may see our hawk flyers van’s parked up in the town centre from time to time while the hawks are patrolling the sky’s above scaring away a vast number of pigeons. You may even be lucky enough to see one of them in flight (the hawks that is not the vans?).

If you get a chance to see one of the birds up close or in action I would take the opportunity as they are fascinating creatures! 

Obviously there will be the odd bird which will inevitably “slip through the net” but the numbers of pigeons in the town centre is dropping!

With regard’s to cleaning up the by products of pigeons we do have a regular cycle of cleaning which takes place in all areas of Dacorum. 

The length of the cycle is dependent on the use/general cleanliness of that particular area, although I am not entirely sure how regular the market place is cleaned. 

I will endeavour to find out for you and I have passed your e-mail on to the relevant contacts to investigate this matter further for us.


I am sorry that you feel this way but I hope that my e-mail has gone some way to reassure you that we do care about this and we are working for a cleaner, safer Dacorum for all to enjoy.
 
Kind Regards 

Cllr Jai Restall

Councillor for the ward of Gadebridge

Dacorum Borough Council

Thursday, 28 August 2008

Pigeon Muck , Why is it never cleaned up ?

The pigeon muck on Hemel Market is never cleaned up , if anyone were to slip on it and injure themselves , I guess they would make a claim against Dacorum council , preumably Dacorum's insurers would refuse to pay out as the council haven't maintained the property ( bearing in mind Insurance companies will always try and get out of paying if there is the least reason not to ) . This would leave the Council to pay the bill , ie from the council taxpayers revenues , if this happened , I guess it would be open to any local taxpayer to get the councillors to pay themselves , as they are clearly not getting the executive to act !!

Pigeon faeces

The presence of feral pigeons and most especially their faeces represents a potential health hazard to employees and to the general public. This is particularly so when large accumulations of filth build up inside a building. They are commonly carriers of a number of serious human diseases including salmonellosis, psittacosis and pseudo-tuberculosis. Their faeces provide an ideal environment for the growth of the organisms causing such diseases as histoplasmosis, aspergillosis, cryptococcis and listeriosis. Although the risk of infection from pigeons may be relatively low, the diseases are severe and may be life threatening. Pigeon faeces represent a health and safety hazard for employees who have to remove them or work in their vicinity. They are thus a special problem in the renovation of buildings where large accumulations have been allowed to build-up. Dealing with such accumulations can be expensive and time consuming because of the protective equipment and procedures that may be required. Health and safety problems are also caused by the build up of faeces due to the slippery and unsafe footing it provides on walkways and ledges hindering proper maintenance

http://www.handr.co.uk/literature/feral_pigeons.htm

Other councils apart from Dacorum seem to take a more robust approach !!

http://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/ccm/content/clacs/street-scene-services/feral-pigeon.en;jsessionid=CB832AE7BBEC7598D0F8D5BA711DFAF4

http://www.tameside.gov.uk/pestcontrol/pigeons/infosheet

How Do Birds Pass on the Infection to Humans?
Humans can become infected with Chlamydia psittaci ( Newcastle Disesae ) by breathing in the organism when the urine, respiratory secretion, or dried faeces of infected birds is dispersed in the air as very fine droplets or dust particles.

All birds, both domestic and wild. Most susceptible are domestic chickens, turkeys, pigeons and parrots. Milder disease is seen in ducks, geese, pheasant, quails, guinea fowls and canaries.

Easily spreads by contact with infected or diseased birds. The virus is excreted in manure and is expired into the air. Other sources of infection are contaminated equipment, carcasses, water, food and clothing

http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/health/3950.html

http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/safety/legislation/psittacosis.asp

Pigeon Muck , Why is it never cleaned up ?

The pigeon muck on Hemel Market is never cleaned up , if anyone were to slip on it and injure themselves , I guess they would make a claim against Dacorum council , preumably Dacorum's insurers would refuse to pay out as the council haven't maintained the property ( bearing in mind Insurance companies will always try and get out of paying if there is the least reason not to ) . This would leave the Council to pay the bill , ie from the council taxpayers revenues , if this happened , I guess it would be open to any local taxpayer to get the councillors to pay themselves , as they are clearly not getting the executive to act !!

Reply to letter from Mr Peter Hamilton

Dear Mr Hamilton ,

Thank you for your letter of the 22nd August ,


Frankly I find your reply disingenuous .


I know that the Town and Country market manager picks up some of the rubbish left on the Market from the day before , but how you can say that this is the responsibility of Town and Country Markets is beyond me , the rubbish has nothing to do with Town and Country , it is deposited there the evenings and nights before the Market starts and surely is the councils responsibility and you should ensure that the Market is cleaned beforehand.


With the regard to the pigeon mess most of it is underneath light fitting and other structures which have never been pigeon proofed , and why can't you clean the foul tables ?


I am taking the matter of the pigeon mess up with the environmental health department as it is definitely unhealthy to have to work in such surroundings


Regards

Why won't the council clean the market area .

Why won't the council clean the market area . The stalls are filthy the whole area is run down why don't they do something about it ?? The redevelopment of this area must have been put on hold as who wants new shops in Hemel , there are empty shops all over the place , still 12 of the new shops by Debenhams are empty , empty shops in the Marlows , in the Old town etc etc .

Pigeon muck market

The Council states that the pigeon muck problem is due to " vandals removing pigeon proofing " , not true most of the pigeon muck covered areas are under lamps and other fitting which have never been protected .





Dacorum Borough council NOT working with the community

The Council state that " cleaning the Market on a Wednesday is the responsibility of Town and Country Markets " , this beggars belief how can the Market operator be resposible for rubbish dumped in and around the market on Tueday evening and night , the council should clean the Mraket before it opens , including the spilt alcohol and vomit from the stalls .




Hemel councils response to a rubbish Market


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