StEPH BRAWN LOCAL DEmOCRACY REPORtER
Families STILL plagued by droppings and dead pigeons ... two years on
Dead pigeons and piles of bird droppings at a block of flats are still making residents’ lives a misery – two years after complaints were raised.
Renfrewshire Council chiefs have been slammed for failing to address the grim situation at Paisley’s Williamsburgh Court, where pigeons have been nesting between wooden panels at the front of the building ever since it underwent a £2.4million renovation a few years ago.
The Express exposed the issue last October and the local authority pledged
to find a solution, but residents are still suffering.
Droppings are now covering the handrails and concrete at the entrance to the block and rotting bird carcasses can even be seen stuck on spikes installed to try and prevent the vermin from getting in.
Declan Docherty, 24, has been complaining about the problem since he moved in with his partner Kerrie Burns and their children two years ago.
And he insisted he hit breaking point recently when his four-year-old son grabbed the filthy handrails before going to touch his face, leaving the dad-of-two fearing for his kids’ health.
“It’s just absolutely miserable for me and my family,” Declan told the Express.
“My son put his hand in the poo the other day because it is all over the handrails.
“He then went to touch his face before I managed to catch him.
“There’s also dead pigeons between some of the panels.
“I have been here for two years and I been raising this the whole time. I did not move here for this.
“It makes you feel horrible. “They spent £ 2.4million renovating the place and it’s just made it ten times worse.”
The overhaul of the Lacy Street tower block included extensive repairs along with new cladding, roofing, double glazing, and balconies for some.
It was part of a £138million programme to ensure all council homes met strict
Scottish Government standards by 2015.
But the wooden panels which stretch right up the middle of the building have been branded a major design flaw.
Resident George Mylett highlighted the “bird haven” to the Express last October, at which point the council said it was investigating preventative measures to tackle the issue long-term.
However, it is understood no action has yet been taken.
And, despite previous efforts to regularly clean up the mess around the entrance area, housing bosses are now reportedly not doing this.
Declan added: “The caretaker was cleaning up the entrance, but he is refusing to do that now because it is such a health and safety concern for him as well.
“No one is cleaning it now and there are piles of the stuff.”
A council spokesman said: “We understand the mess is unsightly and wish to reassure residents our housing officers are aware of the situation and are cleaning the affected areas as quickly and as often as possible.
“The building was last cleaned on Thursday, February 11.
“Our housing officers have instructed contractors to survey the building and provide options to fix the issue in the longer term.
“In the meantime, residents are encouraged to report any cleaning requirements to us by emailing paisley. hps@ renfrewshire.gov.uk or calling 0300 300 0222.”