Bird droppings issue seems set to be resolved

Householders in Ahoghill who have been plagued by unsightly and unhygenic droppings from birds received good news this week.
MLA Paul Frew in the village of Ahoghill where overhead power lines have been a source of annoyance due to perching birds.MLA Paul Frew in the village of Ahoghill where overhead power lines have been a source of annoyance due to perching birds.
MLA Paul Frew in the village of Ahoghill where overhead power lines have been a source of annoyance due to perching birds.

NIE have announced ‘major works’ to remove the overhead power lines in the village which have provided perches for hundreds of birds - and made the livesof many local people a real misery.

Local Assemblyman Paul Frew said the move to remove overhead lines in the village and place cabling underground would be greeted with relief by residents.

He said: “ I have been working and communicating with NIE on this work now for some time and I’m glad that the works will be happening in 2017 and that it is a comprehensive works programme which will remove overhead lines that are effecting over 100 households in the village.

“The lines are straddling six main roads in the village and nine major developments namely Millwater Lodge, Brooklands, Meeting House Meadows, The Croft, Brookfield Gardens, Laurel Park, Quarry Heights, Thornbrook and Glenhugh.”

Mr. Frew explained that the birds issue had blighted the lives of many residents over the years.

People have had to contend with bird droppings onto cars, houses and driveways and it proved very difficult to resolve the issue as NIE had stopped the practice of installing ‘anti-bird discs and sleeves’ on the lines.

“NIE had previously argued that the associated costs of providing such items was often too high and in many case simply led to the displacement of the problem onto someone else’s drive and property.

“I’m glad now that they have agreed to commence this work and it falls into their forward work programme so soon. It is part of a much wider scheme to ‘underground’ many household supplies affecting the whole of the village .

“This work will take a considerable time and there will be disruption to the electricity supply and road works but I believe that it will lead to a much more securer supply and many more content residents and families in Ahoghill,” said Mr. Frew.

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