ROOSTING pigeons are still causing a problem in Cardigan – but town councillors are at a loss as to how to deal with the issue.

Business owner Ann Barlow, from the Crafters’ Cwtch on Pendre, wrote to the council to complain about the mess they cause.

Cllr Yvonne O’Neill told January’s meeting of the town council: “We have been through this all before and looked at every possible way of eradicating the problem.

“I think in the past we have been quoted £4,000 to get in birds of prey to try to solve it but we cannot afford that. It’s an environmental health issue but the birds are protected and there is little we can do.”

Cllr Graham Evans said it did not help that many of the gutters on business premises in town were blocked and that’s where the pigeons were nesting.

“We went round every business asking them to keep their gutters clear. It’s all very well for shopkeepers to complain but this does not help as the pigeons will keep coming back,” he said.

Cllr Morwenna Richards said pigeons had been fed birth control in Birmingham to try to curb the population, while models of birds of prey had also been used.

Councillors agreed to contact Ceredigion County Council to see if there was anything that could be done, though they were not hopeful as other towns throughout the county such as Aberystwyth and Aberaeron were experiencing similar problems.