Canada geese causing a flap in Wednesbury

Canada geese are taking over a pool in Wednesbury, ruining the grass and leaving their droppings everywhere.

Friends of Hydes Road Pool chairman Terence Green says there used to be no more than 12 of the birds around Hydes Road pool at any one time.

But he says their numbers have exploded after passers-by started feeding them fast food and now there can be as many as 85 on certain days. "It is getting worse and worse and it's becoming a tip down there," said Mr Green.

"People are feeding the birds everything from ciabatta to curry. The geese used to go away and come back but because people are feeding them 24/7, now they're by the pool permanently.

There is no grass any more — it is just mud. The floor is filled with droppings. Something has to be done."

Mr Green has called on the council to start culling some of the birds around the Woden Road South-based pool or at least put up signs telling people not to feed them.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds says any cull would need official approval.

Sandwell Council's cabinet member for safer neighbourhoods Cllr Derek Rowley said: "I would ask these residents to contact the council to discuss the problem if they haven't already.

"These geese do cause a lot of mess and they take over whole pools to the detriment of other birds.

"I would urge people to resist from feeding the geese because it just encourages them to stay in one particular area."