Swaffham Town Council debates whether to cull ducks to prevent ‘health problem’

A councillor has suggested culling a town’s duck population in order to prevent them becoming a “health problem”.

Cllr Stewart Bell told Swaffham Town Council’s full meeting on Wednesday that he believes something must be done about the birds living around the Swan’s Nest development.

However, he faced backlash from fellow members who insisted they should be allowed to live freely.

The council was discussing the matter after receiving complaints from residents who have noticed people feeding the ducks, leading to an increased population.

Cllr Bell and Cllr John Zielinski both admitted they have taken young family members to feed the birds before.

“But when I was mayor, this came up a couple of times and I approached culling them,” Cllr Bell said.

“It is legal to cull ducks - they are a game bird. All said and done, at certain times of year it can be done to control the numbers - because at the moment, they are spreading further and further.

“I am sorry, something has to be done because they are diseased. This is going to be a health problem. It does need addressing.”

Town clerk Helen Carrier had earlier told the meeting that she has spoken with Breckland Council officials about the issue, and discussed the possibility of putting up signs telling people not to feed the ducks.

She also suggested that legislation would prevent the council from culling them anyway.

Cllr Steph Cooper said: “They are wild birds - you can’t do anything about them.

“Let them live their lives.”

She also told councillors that a man who previously attempted to kill some of the ducks ended up with the police at his door.

Swaffham mayor Cllr Paul Darby insisted the council has “no control” over the ducks, and therefore faces difficulties in dealing with them.

“If you start saying you are going to cull them, you are going to get an outcry around the town,” he said.

Cllr Jacob Morton, who represents Swaffham on Breckland Council, said that Serco - a contractor - could be asked to clean up droppings around the pond.

But Cllr Bell said the council should be trying to “control the mess-makers, rather than the mess”.

He added: “I am not anti-duck, but it is not illegal to kill a game bird.”