Fined for feeding ducks in park

A PERSON from West London was fined £150 by a council for feeding ducks.

Asha Asha was in Walpole Park last Wednesday afternoon when she saw Ealing Borough Council enforcement officers speaking to two people next to the pond in the centre of the park.

She was shocked when one of the people received a £150 fine for apparently emptying out a bag of bread on the grass to feed the birds.

Taking to a local Facebook group for Hanwell and Ealing residents, Asha wrote: “Warning. Enforcement officers are fining people for feeding the ducks in Walpole park”.

Residents were furious with the decision, with one saying that ‘surely Ealing Council have bigger fish to fry.’ Another fumed: “How do we register our contempt for this insulting extortion of £150 a time – with Ealing Council?”

Another joked: “Good to see the council have ample funding to punish the perpetrators of this serious crime. Them duck feeders really bringing down the tone of the area!”

A spokesman for Ealing Borough Council said: “We have spoken with our contractors and they confirmed a single fixed penalty notice was issued to an individual who tipped a bag of bread onto the grass in Walpole Park and then walked away. This type of behaviour attracts vermin, so it is discouraged.

“Although throwing food in the water is also an offence under Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, we have spoken to our contractor to ensure they don’t fine people for this unless it is clearly littering.

“The Wildfowl Wetlands Trust provides advice on the feeding of water birds, as an over reliance on a ‘bread’ diet can cause physical harm to the wildlife.”