Save the Trafalgar Square Pigeons

Infobox Non-profit
Non-profit_name = Save the Trafalgar Square Pigeons
Non-profit_
founded_date = 2000, London, England, United Kingdom
area_served = Trafalgar Square, London
focus = Environmentalism
method = Lobbying, Feeding Pigeons
homepage = [http://www.savethepigeons.org/ Save The Pigeons]

Save the Trafalgar Square Pigeons (also known as STTSP) are an organisation that claim to oppose cruelty to wild birds, especially pigeons, in Trafalgar Square, London, England since their creation in 2000.

History

The group was formed in 2000 when Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London tried to reduce the number of pigeons in Trafalgar Square. These reductions were to be made via a number of techniques. These had included the removal of the ages-old Trafalgar Square bird food seller’s licence, and local WEST END EXTRA press coverage indicates that while feeding was still perfectly legal feeders alleged that they were subjected to a period (late October through to early December 2002) of intimidatory harassment (“Feathers fly at battle of Trafalgar” Nov 22. “Ken: why I am getting tough on city pigeons” p4. and “In a flap over feathered future” p6 Nov 29. “Tarred and feathered” p6. Dec. 6) during the course of which a Harris's Hawk was also introduced. During this latter period pigeons were also brutalised with water hoses and at times swept up live into industrial hoovers. In addition these tactics caused pigeons to starve and/or where possible find other food sources.

Argument

The main point in this debate centred around the number of birds in Trafalgar Square and their feeding.

For feeding

STTSP argued that completely removing the bird's food was cruel and would lead to a large number of animals dying of starvation. They pointed out that reducing the bird's food source over a longer time scale would result in the reduction of the population as they would have to find an alternative food source. [cite web | url=http://www.savethepigeons.org/background.html | title=Save The Trafalgar Square Pigeons - Background | accessdate=2007-09-13]

Against feeding

Livingstone claimed that the reduction in bird in the Square was to give it a "...more pleasant environment." In the run up to the ban Trafalgar Square had undergone a £25 Million renovation and £140,000 worth of damage had been caused to Nelson's Column as a result of bird droppings. [cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3275233.stm | title=BBC News Online - Feeding Trafalgar's pigeons illegal | accessdate=2007-09-13]

Agreement

Following the period of STTSP harassment referred to above STTSP eventually went into an agreement with the Greater London Authority in that there would be a reduction in bird numbers so long as this was carried out through non-cruel means, via food reduction instead of starvation.

The group were then allowed to feed the birds at 0730am once a day. This approach saw a reduction in bird numbers in Trafalgar Square from 4000 to around 200. [cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3275233.stm | title=BBC News Online - Feeding Trafalgar's pigeons illegal | accessdate=2007-09-13]

This restriction was to last until October 2008.

Agreement rescinded

In 2003 Ken Livingstone and the GLA rescinded their agreement with STTSP and made it illegal for anyone to feed the birds in Trafalgar Square, the penalty for doing so was set at £50. [cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3275233.stm | title=BBC News Online - Feeding Trafalgar's pigeons illegal | accessdate=2007-09-13] To get around this ban STTSP members moved an area of the Square not under GLA jurisdiction, but that of the Westminster City Council, thus not covered by the relevant bye-laws and continued to feed the birds. [cite web | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=480971&in_page_id=1770 | title=Daily Mail Online - Now you risk £500 fine if you feed Trafalgar Square pigeons | accessdate=2007-09-17] On 10 September 2007 bye-laws were secured that ensured bird feeding was banned throughout the entire square and surrounding areas, with a higher fine of £500 if this law was broken. [cite web | url=http://www.24dash.com/localgovernment/27299.htm | title=Pigeon feeding banned in Trafalgar Square | accessdate=2007-09-17]

Court case

In January 2007 it was announced that STTSP were taking the Mayor of London to court over his breach of contract. [cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6309021.stm | title=BBC News Online - Trafalgar's pigeons 'will starve' | accessdate=2007-09-13]

References