Two neighbours say pigeons attracted to solar panels on nearby houses are ruining their lives. Jane Rice, 48, says she has to move bedrooms because of the chaos caused by the birds.
The 48-year-old says the bird build-up began during the pandemic when social housing firm Places For People installed solar panels on the roofs of homes on the street. The pigeons are attracted to the roof solar panels because of the warmth they can provide, making it an ideal nesting place.
However, their new nesting spot has not gone without notice as pigeon excrement is everywhere near the two homes causing a potential health hazard. The birds are also causing damage to the guttering of their homes by pecking on them, reports Derbyshire Live.
There are also parts of their guttering which appear to be overgrown with grass due to the pigeons nesting there. Both residents have urged Places For People to take action but claim their pleas have fell on deaf ears.
Miss Rice said: “During Covid they brought in the solar panels and in turn pigeons are coming – hundreds of them. The pigeons are nesting underneath the solar panels. There’s more pigeons here than the River Gardens.
“There’s loads of pigeon excrement and feathers – it’s all over the place and it is getting ridiculous. The pigeons are nesting underneath the solar panels.
“My guttering has been broken (by the pigeons) and when it rains it is causing a drip, drip, drip on my windows and my front pathway. This is causing noise and mould issues.
"I’ve had to move bedrooms because I can’t sleep. It’s getting worse.
“All I want is for them to put some mesh around the panels to stop the pigeons coming and mend my guttering but they still haven’t done anything. I’ve sent pictures, emails and everything but I’m stuck at a dead end.
"I’m getting empty promises." The pair claim the problems have been ongoing all year but it reached a peak during the summer.
Mrs Holland, who lives just a few doors down from Miss Rice, says she is also at her wits end with the situation. She said: “There are about 50 or 60 pigeons a day.
"The housing firm say I’ve got to sort it and go up the roof. I’m 65 years old!
“I couldn’t have any of my windows open all summer because the faeces were just dropping constantly. The stench is horrible.
"I think they need spikes on the roof to stop this. I pay lots of money to rent this property.
"It is not good enough.” Derbyshire Live approached Places For People for comment on the ongoing pigeon problem.
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