Reprieve for pigeons as landlords offer compromise

Family and friends have united to help a Newton man save his beloved pigeons from destruction, but his landlords have offered him a compromise.

As first featured in the Reporter earlier this month (October 3) Ross Leigh has been battling with landlords New Charter to keep his pigeon lofts in his back garden - the same place they’ve been for the past 34 years. The lofts are so old they were constructed before New Charter Homes was founded, when the house still belonged to Tameside Council.

Now, one of his brothers has returned from Spain to support his brother after his mental health was adversely affected by the dispute.

James Leigh, who lives in Spain and Scott Leigh say the whole affair has took an awful toll on their brother.

Scott said: “It’s had a big affect, a real big affect - he’s not the person he used to be. Every morning when he woke up all he thought about was his pigeons. Now when he wakes up, well he doesn’t want to wake up because of what New Charter are doing to him.

“It’s persecution, what they want to do is look around the estate and see what it’s like. There’s drug addicts moving in, they’re not bothered who has the flats above or underneath as long as they’re getting the rent. This estate used to be beautiful at one time and now I’m ashamed to walk on it because its that bad.”

James echoed Scott’s sentiments, saying: “I’ve just come back from Spain to give him some support. My mums a bit poorly, she’s really ill and this is making her worse. He’s had his garden immaculate all the time, ever since he’s been here.”

New Charter still want to see some of the lofts going over an extended period of time. New Charter say they’re willing for Ross to be in control of the process, with a slow reduction to take place on his own timescale. Officers from the housing company have asked Ross to come to them with a plan that both parties will agree to over the coming week. Following a meeting with him at his home on the 8th October, Ross agreed that he would begin a plan to remove the lofts, but later retracted that saying he wouldn’t feel comfortable with doing that.

An upset Ross said that New Charter had proposed that the lofts be taken down one by one over a period of time, until he was left with one 16ft loft that he had applied for permission for 34 years ago. He said: “I explained if that was the case the birds would still have to be slaughtered. It just seemed water off a ducks back to him. I explained my family help do the gardens all around. He didn’t seem concerned about that.

“When he came in [to visit] he said it was neat, tidy and clean so I thought whats the problem?

“It’s set me back again because all I’ve thought about is this. When I wake up early in the morning its in my mind and I cant get back to sleep, it’s all ticking over and over.

“I think its so unfair that they’ve been here all this time and I’m having these issues now. It’s not doing my mental health any good - I’m going backwards.

“I thought afterwards, even though I agreed I just can't do it. These have been my life and my recovery.”

Whilst New Charter say that the garden is a ‘communal garden’ shared between a number of flats, Ross says that none of his neighbours are bothered by the presence of the lofts. Two people living next door have even written letters to New Charter asking them to reconsider their stance. Steve Day has lived next to Ross for 17 years and finds it hard to believe that it has gotten this far. “I support Ross a lot” he said. “I just cant believe the stupidity of all this. They’re kept clean, theres not a problem. I enjoy watching them fly around, they’re not like normal street pigeons.

“It’s his life, this could make him seriously ill, they’re taking everything away.”

Whilst New Charter say they wouldn’t grant permission for this number of pigeon lofts under normal circumstances, due to the length of time they’ve been in place they’re ok with them remaining for the time being, as long as a plan is in place for the number of them to be reduced over time.

In a statement, Ivan Wright, Assistant Director, Neighbourhoods said: “It is not usually our policy to discuss individual cases, however, we can confirm that we have met with Mr Leigh and with his cooperation we have come to a compromise which allows him to keep some birds on his property whilst also reducing the structures in the communal garden to a size we would deem acceptable. We believe this compromise reaches a satisfactory resolution for Mr Leigh, his neighbours and ourselves. We will continue to assess the situation.”