Don't feed birds in city square, says council

Kevin Shoesmith
BBC News
Richard Madden/BBC Water is spraying out of fountains in Queen Victoria Square in Hull, as people walk by. The fountains are flanked by stone buildings, including City Hall - a grand building with a balcony supported by columns.Richard Madden/BBC
The council says it wants to protect water quality in Queen Victoria Square

Signs are to be put up to discourage bird feeding as part of efforts to spruce up a city centre square.

Hull City Council said its team of pest-control officers were working on the "most suitable long-term strategy for managing birds" in the area around fountains in Queen Victoria Square.

Workers are due to remove three benches closest to the fountains later.

A spokesperson said the benches would be refurbished and reconfigured in a bid to "reduce litter build-up and discourage bird feeding", in order to help protect water quality.

Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure, said: "Queen Victoria Square is a focal point of our city centre and the fountains are a much-loved feature.

"Therefore, we want to make sure they stay clean, safe, and running smoothly throughout the summer.

"These bench improvements are proactive step toward ensuring that, and they are part of a bigger plan to make our public spaces more inviting and better cared for."

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