26
Jun
Onlooker 'terrified' by pigeon shooting at Harrogate Convention Centre
Harrogate Convention Centre hired a contractor to shoot pigeons at the venue, North Yorkshire Council confirmed today.
A witness who works near the council-owned conference and events centre raised concerns to the Stray Ferret after spotting two armed men at the site on Monday evening (June 24).
The witness, who asked to remain anonymous, said a colleague alerted him after seeing a man carrying what he believed to be an assault rifle.
According to the witness, “nobody believed the colleague” until they saw the armed men themselves. They added:
I took the pictures and showed management. They then suggested calling security.
The witness told the Stray Ferret a colleague then called the convention centre's security.
They were told the armed men were “contracted to control pigeons”, the witness said, adding:
Despite the staff members’ fears, we were told the weapon was a scoped air rifle.
But, if this was the case, why weren’t we given warning? Why weren’t they in uniform?
I was terrified.
The Stray Ferret asked the council if it authorised the cull and, if so, why nearby residents and workers weren’t notified.
It issued a statement on behalf of the venue, which it owns. It quoted Michael Constantine, head of operations at the convention centre, who said:
We employ a contractor to control feral pigeons under the requirements of the ‘general licence’. This is where netting, spiking and other control measures are proving ineffective.
The areas controlled are not accessible to the public. Control activity is undertaken in periods when there is limited activity within the venue, as to ensure as far as is reasonably practicable a safe environment for the activity.
A council spokesperson said the local authority "does not commission anyone to use firearms for any purpose".
They added:
We have our own qualified pest control team in Harrogate who do not use firearms to carry out their duties.
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