A Bridgend man who has kept homing pigeons on Auldhill Road in the village for more than 40 years has been given 28 days’ notice to quit.
Tom Weir had heard rumours of the planned redevelopment of the site for the last two years but insists no-one from West Lothian Council had any contact with him until he got the letter last week.
Tom, 70, has 100 racing pigeons in lofts and fears his birds will have to be culled because he will not be able to move them within a month.
“I’m not killing them, and the [council] won’t, but I’ve nowhere to put them,” he said.
Standing among his birds on the immaculately kept half acre he has maintained since 1979 he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “ I don’t know what’s happening. I’m the last man standing with pigeons up here. There used to be about 15 lofts. I’ve maintained this land for 46 years.”
He added: “I’d heard rumours and said I would need a year’s notice to find another place and set up for the breeding season.
“I’ve explained that you just can’t up sticks with breeding pigeons. This has been my life.”
He spoke to local councillor Tom Conn, telling him he would need a bit more notice.
“I’m disappointed in the council. If they had come to me and said, ‘look we’ve got things in the pipeline, we might have to move you’, I could understand that. But for them not to say anything to me then hit me with a 28 Day Notice, it’s out of order.”
The land is owned by Rosebery Estates but leased to the council. In December 2023 the council agreed proposals to create a woodland walk on the sloping site which lies across the road from Bridgend primary school.
Further up the hill, the disused allotments show signs of occupation but there’s a sullen silence to the landscape. Livestock is held in makeshift pens and fires smoulder. The area is littered with fly tipping. Crude fencing keeps people out. It’s a very different place.
“I don’t concern myself with what’s up there,” Tom said. “It’s as if the council has just decided ‘we’ll get him out as well’. I would just wish they would come and talk to me and tell me what’s happening. It’s the not knowing.
“They go on about people’s mental health, but this has actually had an effect on me. ”
Tom is a member of Winchburgh and District Homing Society. There are also active clubs in Bo’ness Broxburn and East Calder, although membership numbers are small.
“The pigeon game is dwindling but we’re in a federation. There’s still enough,” said Tom.
He added: “Where my house is I’ve got nowhere to put a shed up. They’ll not get me out in 28 days, and I wouldn’t be killing my pigeons in that 28-day period, I think it’s ludicrous that the council resorting to bully boy tactics with me.
“I’m not killing them, they won’t kill them, and the animal rights people would come in to stop it.
“I’m dealing with paper and emails. I never see a face. If they don’t talk to you, How do they know the situation?”
A spokesperson for West Lothian Council told the LDRS: “We are currently progressing with plans to deliver a new community woodland area in Bridgend.
“The site is leased to the council by the property owners, and there are a number of occupiers currently using the site for allotments, garages and other purposes.
“These occupiers do not have any right or agreement in place to use the site, so we are now taking legal action to remove them and allow the redevelopment plans to proceed.
“Any occupier who wishes to discuss potential options for relocation within a reasonable timescale should contact us.”
By Stuart Sommerville Local Democracy Reporter
