COUNCILLORS don’t often get much sympathy but this one really has been dumped on - literally.
Coun Phil Lofts has spent 18 months trying to persuade Network Rail to fit anti-pigeon netting to the railway bridge on Summer Lane near town end due to the number of people getting ‘pigeon bombed’ - including himself.
“It got me right on the shoulder, which was pretty unpleasant,” he said.
“The pavement under there is quite narrow, and as people try and avoid walking in all the mess, they end up stepping out into the road, so it is quite dangerous.”
A Network Rail spokesman said “Network Rail owns a huge number of railway bridges and other structures. Due to the vast number of these structures, it is not possible to install pigeon netting to each one.
“We would be more than happy to work with Barnsley Council to organise for an independent assessment of the bridge to be carried out, which would provide recommendations to minimise the risk of this type of incident happening again.”
