Bird Feeding Ban Proposed for Kirklees Town Centers

The act of feeding pigeons and other wild birds may soon be prohibited in specific town centers, aiming to mitigate the draw of vermin to discarded food. This development follows a comprehensive review of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) within Kirklees, which currently regulate activities such as street drinking, dog fouling, and public urination. The borough council presently enforces nine PSPOs, and individuals found in violation of these regulations are subject to either a fine or legal prosecution. The newly proposed PSPO is designed to prohibit bird feeding within the central areas of Batley, Dewsbury, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Marsden, Ravensthorpe, and Slaithwaite. Existing PSPOs address a variety of concerns, such as dog fouling, mandatory leash requirements for dogs in certain zones, public urination, and the regulation of fires and barbecues. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reports that Kirklees Borough Council intends to modify several current PSPOs and introduce additional ones to address what it terms “emerging” issues. Orders pertaining to dogs will be unified into a single PSPO, and the regulation concerning street drinking will be reinforced to facilitate its enforcement. During a session of the council’s Environment and Climate Change Scrutiny Panel, Labour councillor Will Simpson stated that the authority maintains no “anti-bird agenda” and that the prohibition on feeding is exclusively aimed at reducing vermin. Additionally, a PSPO encompassing the entirety of Kirklees is under consideration to address issues related to nuisance vehicles and the associated anti-social behaviour. Further concerns to be addressed by new regulations include loitering, disruptive conduct, and the unauthorized erection of temporary structures such as tents and gazebos. While some panel members expressed apprehension that these measures might affect homeless or vulnerable individuals, council officers affirmed their collaboration with the authority’s rough sleeping initiative and various charitable organizations, emphasizing that enforcement would be employed solely as a “last resort”. The ultimate determination regarding these modifications rests with the council’s cabinet.