PIGEONS should be gassed in a derelict mill, according to a councillor.

The dramatic call came from Clr Colin Stout, who wants to rid Brighouse of the birds.

He said: “They are a big problem, especially in the narrow passageway between the bus station and Commercial Street where droppings fall on people.

“There are quite a few pigeons at Brighouse Market as well and they bombard people who are trying to eat their lunch.”

Clr Stout added that the birds are a health risk.

He said: “There are 40 diseases – including tuberculosis and salmonella – which can be transferred from pigeons to humans.”

Clr Stout suggested the cull at a Calderdale Council meeting this week.

He said: “We should cull what we can and take away the eggs.

“It wouldn’t be a case of everyone blasting away with their shotguns. We could board up the windows of Sugden’s Mill and then gas them.”

The independent councillor added: “There needs to be fixed penalty fines for people who feed the birds. I’ve seen people on the towpath throwing loaves of bread down for the pigeons.”

But other councillors have rejected Clr Stout’s proposal. Instead, Calderdale will replace pigeons’ eggs with plastic ones in an effort to cut numbers.

A similar policy was undertaken in Halifax four years ago.

In Kirklees, councillors are expected to consider a plan to organise special feeding sessions for the pigeons at designated spots.

This could then leave them too lazy to breed, helping to solve the problems.

They also want to discourage residents from feeding the flocks.