AN ANIMAL welfare campaigner claims Gravesend's pesky pigeon problem could have been solved years ago.

Gravesham Council has launched a £300 poster campaign asking town centre shoppers to refrain from feeding the birds but the News Shopper can reveal it was offered expert help to control them almost four years ago.

Mark Johnson, of North Kent Animal Welfare (NKAW), helped draw up proposals to erect nesting and feeding sites away from the town centre after Gravesend's traders called for a cull in 1998.

But despite Councillor Lee Croxton's promise he would "personally look into the nestbox suggestion," the scheme was never carried through.

Mr Johnson worked with a national charity called Pigeon Control Advisory Service (PICAS) to identify appropriate sites for nest boxes in Gravesham. Once the pigeons roost in the nests, their eggs are collected and destroyed.

He said: "People will always feed pigeons and drop food on the floor. Where the nesting method has been adopted elsewhere the pigeon population has been halved."

PICAS founder Guy Merchant said he was never contacted by Gravesham Council to discuss the scheme but would be "delighted" to help in the future. The public can feed the birds in designated areas and the problem of pigeon droppings on buildings and pavements is solved.

Public education is crucial but it is not always a permanent solution", he added.

PICAS says nestboxes, or dovecotes can be built cheaply and regularly attract commercial sponsorship.

Cllr Croxton said: "We did look at alternatives at the time, even including feeding them contraceptives.

"But I was not convinced nestboxes were cost effective. I would invite Mr Merchant to contact us and I would be more than happy for him to come and speak on the subject."

Visit www.picas.org or call 01353 667230 for information.