SKIPTON’S newly elected mayor has hit out at Network Rail for failing to clean up ‘Pigeon Bridge’ at the Keighley Road entrance to the town.

For the second year running, the railway bridge and problems with pigeon droppings, dead pigeons, and accumulated rubbish, was brought up at the annual town meeting.

Marie Hickman said although the number of pigeons had gone down, the area was looking increasingly shabby with ‘rubbish, dead pigeons and I don’t know what else ‘ and asked if something could be done to persuade people not to throw rubbish over nearby low walls.

Cllr Peter Madeley, who later in the evening was to be elected town mayor, told the meeting there had been issues with the bridge going back 12 years and that he had had numerous phone calls with Network Rail and Craven District Council.

He said Network Rail had closed Keighley Road for two nights last year and had re-painted part of the underside of the bridge, but had left before it was finished and had not fitted anti-pigeon netting.

He added the bridge was a both an eyesore and a health hazard and that he was working with Skipton Business Improvement District (BID) and Craven District Council to sort out what he described as an ‘unacceptable situation’ which had gone on for far too long.

Following last week's meeting, Cllr Madeley said; “It is a disgrace. A third of the bridge remains unpainted and nothing has been done to deter the pigeons.

“There have been cases in Scotland where it has been shown that pigeon droppings are a serious health hazard, but nothing has been done to tackle the problem i Skipton on a route that is used by many residents on a regular basis.

“The road is the only route into and out of town for many residents in my ward but it is clearly something that Network Rail think they can ignore or just try to cover over with a pot of paint.”

Geraldine Thompson, Skipton BID manager, said: “Concern over the unsightly nature of rail bridges on the approaches to town was raised with us during the period leading up to the recent renewal of Skipton BID – and we have included some funding within our new business plan to assist with the potential cost of any work required.

“We will be very happy to work with partners to see what can be done to resolve the issue.”

Network Rail said its position had not changed from a year ago when it told the Craven Herald it owned a huge number of railway bridges and it was not possible to install pigeon netting to each bridge, bearing in mind it was a tax-payer funded organisation with a limited amount of funds which needed to be prioritised on keeping the railway running safely and reliably.

A spokesman confirmed work had taken place towards the end of last year, and that it had never been the intention to paint the full structure.

“We have worked closely with Craven District Council on this issue and in September last year, Network Rail engineers carried out work to clean the underside of the bridge as well as the footpath. Network Rail engineers also painted a section of the bridge.”

A spokesman for Craven District Council said: “We have been in discussion with Network Rail for some time regarding this issue and we continue to press the matter with them. We remain hopeful that we will be able to ensure that action is taken.”