Parts of Devizes town centre will be closed off so that the problems caused by the large pigeon population can be dealt with.  

This comes after signs were put up in July to dissuade the public from feeding the pigeons in both the Little Brittox and near the Market Cross.

Little Brittox will have to be closed off for three Sundays for a contractor to assess how the buildings are affected by the pigeons and how pigeon preventions can be installed.

Market Cross will take a further three days to complete.   

The days when this will happen have not yet been decided. 

Devizes Town Councillor, Jonathan Hunter said: “Clearly these pigeons are an issue. It is clearly a health concern and unsightly for residents, businesses and tourists but we should pursue all non-lethal means measures first and not pull the trigger every time nature is in our space.

"We should put our foot on the accelerator for non-lethal measures first and foremost.”

Councillor Iain Wallis said that the pest control contractor he spoke with said some limited culling may be required.

The council all voted in favour of the final proposal to pursue non-lethal methods first but to reduce the numbers should those methods fail.

Devizes Town Council Officers reported that Wiltshire Council has in the past taken action against individuals who continually drop large quantities of bird seed.

The report added: “In Devizes there are only a few people who continually drop bird seed and whilst at this stage their names are not known, they are regular in their times so it should not be too difficult to identify them.”

Because spikes and bird wire are considered unsightly and impractical by the council they will not be used.

Instead, a new system that appears to pigeons as little pots of flames will stop them from returning to the ledges of buildings.   

Case studies have shown that this method had a 4‐year life span and will need to be revisited 4 years after the initial installation.

The contractor has given an indication of the cost involved which is estimated as quoted at £10,000, but in addition the Council would need to provide the elevation platform and fencing.

The buildings where pigeons flock to were list by the council as Ma Cuisine, Rowlands Pharmacy, The Polish Deli, The Giving Tree, Scholars and The Monument.