Working Together to Tackle the Town’s Pigeon Problem
16 October 2025
Dear Residents, Business Owners, and Visitors,
We know many of you are concerned - and frustrated - by the ongoing issue of pigeon mess along Mere Street and throughout the town centre. It affects how our town looks, how welcoming it feels, and the enjoyment of those who live, work, and visit here.
Street cleanliness in Mere Street is the responsibility of South Norfolk Council, and we continue to work closely with their teams, who are supportive and proactive in their role.
At the same time, Diss Town Council is committed to doing everything we can to support those efforts, even when it means going beyond our usual responsibilities.
What We’ve Done – Going Further for Diss
In recent years, and particularly over the past year, the Town Council has invested additional time and resources to help tackle this issue head-on. Our actions have included:
Employing a professional falconer to fly a hawk through the town centre.
Installing ultrasonic devices to deter pigeons from roosting on buildings.
Introducing an automatic feeder in the park to redirect feeding away from the high street.
Working directly with shop owners to encourage regular cleaning of shopfronts.
Putting in place a daily cleaning schedule to complement South Norfolk Council’s regular street sweeping (Tuesdays and Thursdays).
These are all measures that go beyond what is expected of a town council - because we care about the look and feel of Diss. We currently spend over £7,000 a year maintaining just this small stretch of high street.
The Root of the Problem
Despite these efforts, pigeon mess often returns within hours of cleaning. A major reason for this is the continued public feeding of pigeons, especially in the town centre. While well-meaning, this is the single biggest factor contributing to the problem.
What You Can Do
We’re asking all residents and visitors to please stop feeding pigeons, particularly on Mere Street. Reducing their food supply is the most effective way to lower pigeon numbers and reduce the mess they leave behind.
We are also encouraging more building owners to look into bird-proofing options, following the success of recent works at Scrivens and the Corn Hall.
Looking Ahead
Together with South Norfolk Council, environmental health professionals, and local businesses, we are exploring further long-term solutions - but we need the support of the community too.
Diss Town Council remains committed to keeping our town centre clean, safe, and attractive. We’re proud to play our part and thank South Norfolk Council and our local stakeholders for doing the same.
If you’ve seen successful approaches used in other towns, or have ideas to share, we welcome your input at towncouncil@diss.gov.uk
Let’s keep working together for the good of Diss.
