Protestors hit out at Nexus after pigeons get caught in netting at a North Tyneside bridge

Members of North East Animal Rights are campaigning for Nexus to work with them after reports that pigeons have died after being trapped in netting at the Waterville Road rail bridge, in North Shields.

The group held a joint protest with Pawz for Thought at the site just before Christmas an in effort to raise public awareness about the issues caused by the netting.

Anna Malia, founder of North East Animal Rights, is calling on Nexus to work with her organisation to avoid problems caused by netting.

Anna told NewcastleWorld: "Since we were first made aware of issues around pigeons at Whitley Bay station earlier in the year we have tried on several occasions to proactively engage with Nexus to resolve what they see as a problem.

"All of our offers have been rebuffed and they continue to put in place measures which injure and kill wildlife. They use spurious health and safety reasons as a way of justifying continuing to harm birds. 

"At Whitley Bay, 18 birds were needlessly killed, in South Shields several birds have been injured, here at this bridge many birds have died slow agonising deaths, and continue to be injured.

"Members of the public are rightly outraged and appalled at this perceived indifference and casual cruelty to living breathing beings. 

"Their only mistake is to be in the wrong place for these humans who manage Nexus.

"Children have been left traumatised by the sight of so many bird bodies and dying birds as they walk to school and some of them have been represented today in posters they have made.

"And we also know that Nexus were made aware of this issue long before we were so birds have yet again needlessly died.

"Pigeons are not pests – in World War II they were the most decorated animal for their contribution to the war effort, and are incredibly intelligent birds. 

"We ask again that Nexus work with us and properly investigate humane alternatives like many businesses who are waking up to the problems netting causes."

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Nexus has confirmed that it has already replaced the netting at the Waterville Road bridge with a new type that provides birds with escape routes.

A spokesperson for Nexus commented: “The pigeon netting at Waterville Road bridge was recently vandalised, which allowed a small number of pigeons to get caught in it.

"The damage that was caused has been reported to Northumbria Police.

“The netting has since been replaced and this is a new type which has humane escape routes built into it.

"It is in the interests of public health that we have bird netting fitted to the underside of Metro bridges which people walk beneath.

“It prevents droppings from accumulating on the bridges’ structure, and from building up on the footpaths below, which in this case is close to a local primary school and is a popular walking route for local residents.

"The health and safety of the general public is our top priority.”