Birds have been found entangled in safety netting situated beneath a railway overpass in the seaside city. Local inhabitants have raised concerns after numerous pigeons were discovered unable to free themselves from the protective mesh positioned beneath the New England Road rail bridge. A nearby resident named Lynne reported observing multiple pigeons struggling to break free from within the netting material.
Lynne noted that over time she has encountered both living and dead pigeons ensnared in this particular netting system.
A spokesperson for Network Rail indicated that the organisation received notification regarding pigeons trapped within the netting beneath the New England Road bridge on the specified Wednesday. The road passing beneath the bridge was subsequently closed temporarily to allow staff to remove the birds and conduct necessary maintenance on the netting.
The representative emphasised that the company takes its responsibilities toward animal welfare very seriously, stating that this remains a key focus for both the organisation and the wider railway industry.
The company affirmed its dedication to safeguarding wildlife across its rail network in the communities it serves, while also thanking members of the public who highlighted this specific issue.
Images showed the pigeons discovered within the netting beneath the New England Road rail bridge in Brighton.
This incident follows a similar occurrence in Hove where pigeons became caught in netting on a rooftop.
In August 2020, dead and dying pigeons were discovered caught in netting positioned above the entrance to the Tesco store on Church Road in Hove, which resulted in protests by animal welfare advocates.
Vicky Martin, a Hove resident, described how she first noticed the netting was covered in droppings and was informed by a security officer that pigeons were trapped inside and were being devoured alive by ravens that had made their nest there.
She stated that they witnessed this happening as they left the store and subsequently reported the matter to customer services.
She added that several weeks later she noticed four pigeons caught in the netting.
Tesco has since carried out repairs to prevent birds from accessing the roof section.
An RSPCA Wildlife Team representative explained that there are circumstances where netting can successfully stop birds from reaching buildings, however it is vital that any netting is properly installed and maintained and undergoes regular checks.
The representative warned that without inspection and maintenance, there is a risk of birds suffering and dying from injuries or starvation.
Members of the public who see live birds caught in netting were advised to contact the charity is cruelty and advice line on 0300 1234 999, providing location information so an officer can be dispatched to help the birds. The representative noted that callers may be advised to contact fire and rescue services if an officer is unavailable to attend.