A BIRD sanctuary has been ordered to keep the noise down - or face a é20,000 fine.
Bosses at the Three Owls Centre in Rochdale - which has 600 birds - have 28 days to comply or they could end up in court.
Environmental health officials say they have been forced to act after receiving complaints.
But manager Nigel Fowler has blasted the measure as "ridiculous".
Rochdale council have called an emergency meeting with officers in an attempt to get the abatement notice scrapped.
Nigel, who says most of the noise comes from seagulls, initially thought the letter was a hoax. He had not been contacted by the council before.
He said: "It is not possible to put all the birds in sheds where they have never been housed and which would be so far removed from their natural state of living.
'Ridiculous'
"Any other such steps must mean to destroy the birds if they dare utter a sound. Does the council really expect us to do this? It is a ridiculous suggestion."
The Three Owls, in Norden, has been running for 37 years and has helped to save tens of thousands of birds.
Coun Ted Flynn said: "This is a well-established charity and it is ridiculous it is being treated this way."
Coun James Gartside said: "I do hope this situation can be resolved without any court action. That would be a real tragedy for Three Owls as its money should be spent on the centre and not legal fees."
But Adrian Watson, chief environmental health and licence officer, said he had issued a formal notice because `informal solutions' had not been successful.
He said: "The notice requires the sanctuary to improve how the birds are housed within 28 days in order to reduce noise levels.
"While we have no wish to hinder the work of the sanctuary, they have a responsibility to their neighbours, to take necessary steps to minimize the disturbance."
SHOULD noise officers leave the Three Owls alone - or do they have a valid demand? Have your say.
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This has to be a wind-up? Nigel FOWLER, indeed!
But if it is true, I can hardly believe that even the noise of 600 seagulls is more of a nuisance that one young man in a BMW with a boom box, and what can the council do about that? Nothing, I suspect - so let's go for an easy target.
Shame on the people of Rochdale.
whoever has complained about noise from wildlife really do live very very very sad lives and need to get a grip, annimals of any kind are an absolute joy to watch and be near we are the ones who have encroached upon them and we have a duty to protect them from mean minded humans.
Sounds like the same sort of people who buy houses near churches and then complain about the bells.
if they dont like the noise why dont they move to a house right next to the motorway. give me the noise of wildlife over car noise any day - whats up are the birds shouting and swearing - hanging on street corners wearing hoodies drinking cider all the time. idiots all the complainers
First of all don't class all Rochdale the same, you've got to remember these are "Norden" people.usually they think they are a cut above us lot down in the town..... Keep up the good work Nigel you will always get the odd moaner... he/she probaly goes to the same golf club as his/her council buddies.
So sad all animals are wonderful enjoy them please.
Come on this has to be a joke....or are there really some daft people out there....the bird sanctuary has been there 37 years.....a lot longer than any of the present nearby residents and they would have known they were purchasing a property near the Sanctuary....so come on you miserable moaning individuals....get a life and grow up!!!!!
But when the gulls from Three Owls are visited at 3am by wild gulls, and the noise is affecting people's health, then some steps by the owner to be a good neighbour might be a good idea.
Why are they wasting time saving Seagulls? Hardly endangered. Suggest striking a deal with a cat sanctuary.
What do these people do about the noise from wild seagulls, crows, magpies and starlings, then? If they can cope with normal bird calls then they can cope with a few seagulls squawking in a sanctuary.
The only reasons people have complained are a) because they have nothing better to do and b) because they can. I live next door to someone who plays music at full volume in the early hours of the morning - believe me, I'd happily swap my neighbour for some seagulls any day.
Credit to Three Owls Centre for providing a home for the birds in the first place, and for educating visitors about bird life.
John from Cheshire says:
"Why are they wasting time saving Seagulls? Hardly endangered."
Firstly, some breeds of gull are endangered, and secondly, the purpose of a sanctuary is not usually to breed endangered species, but to provide a safe home for birds and animals that have been injured or sick and would not survive in the wild.
It's called kindness. Some of us still believe it to be an important trait.
With regards to comments made by John, chesire - does an animal have to become endangered before people act to preserve it?
Just because they are common doesnt mean they dont deserve protection and care!
Also of Andrew, chadderton - What gulls do you know of that fly around at 3am?!
Rochdale Environmental Health
GET A GRIP WILL YOU?
Birds making a noise is nature. Why don't they do something useful like clean up litter and chase offenders who rev up cars pollutiong the atomsphere and playing loud music to all hours!
Firstly I like to say were not talking Alfred HItchcock here.there are eleven seagulls,the rest of the birds are around the reserve,and I am not troubled by any of them.I would like to point out that I live next door to them.
I visited this place at the weekend and found no noisy birds - I know from previous visits that these people have tried to cause bother before; this is just their latest attack. The manager at the centre even let them live in the centres own static caravan whilst the couple did up their own house - talk about stab someone in the back!
You can visit the centres own website at threeowls.co.uk and see some of the work they do. I for one am very impressed. Hope they get to read this... Keep up the good work folks, don't let one pair of troublemakers put you down. (or any of your lovely birds). Paul.
What dod these sad people want, GAGS! honestly some people.
( have used qoutes from comments submitted as they say it all)
Qouted by Anne, Manchester
Come on this has to be a joke....or are there really some daft people out there....the bird sanctuary has been there 37 years.....a lot longer than any of the present nearby residents and they would have known they were purchasing a property near the Sanctuary....so come on you miserable moaning individuals....get a life and grow up!!!!!
Qouted by tids, manchester
if they dont like the noise why dont they move to a house right next to the motorway. give me the noise of wildlife over car noise any day - whats up are the birds shouting and swearing - hanging on street corners wearing hoodies drinking cider all the time. idiots all the complainers
It's ill conceived actions like this that undermine the value of an environmental enforcer. In addition to pointing out a problem, they should be forced to offer assistance, practical and financial. Don't simply come with a problem - bring the answer and earn some respect!
How can the Environmental Health Officials possibly take a complaint from such small minded petty people seriously, what a complete and utter waste of time and resources to follow up a complaint about the noises birds make ...in a bird sanctuary, it is sheer ridiculasness.
John from Chesire I sincerly hope that the comment you left was said in jest and not a true reflection of the ignorant fool you make yourself out to be.
Each and every bird admitted is given 100% care at the Three Owls Bird Sanctuary with a view to rehabiliitate and release were possible, surely Mr Fowler and his team should be left to do this rather than worry about possible fines when there is barely enough funding to keep the place open.
You can bet the pathetic people complaining will be permitted to remain anonymous. These birds need help because man has destroyed and polluted their environment. These creatures deserve help. I too would suggest that if they do not like the noise the moaners should relocate themselves: I suggest another continent. I would rather see my money supporting this venture than paying the benefits to those who will not work and expect us to support themselves and their offspring. As for the council? Another decision from Tonys cloud cuckoo land! It really is a jobsworths paradise.
Jo, Salford, Well said, absolutely right. wonder if these moaning minies would be as vocal to neighbours like yours!!?!!
Barmy.
Hope the people who complained are proud of themselves. Diverting the officials away from dealing with the idiot who plays music loud next door to me!!
If you dont like the noise, why did you choose to live next to the birds, move away!!
Is this a ploy by the YaYa's of dead posh Norden to have the santuary closed and build further YaYa housing / apartments.
Why in 37 years have the Council never acted until now ? Get a grip Rochdale.
This action is such a waste of Rochdale council tax payers money! I'm astounded that complaints aren't vetted before instigating expensive action.
Just what do people expect when they move into a house near a place like a Bird Sanctuary???
Get a grip and rip up the stupid noise notice before any more council tax money is wasted.
Nigel tends to have barneys with his neighbours and unfortunately the santuary suffers becuase of this. The only way people react back is through the sanctuary, which is a great shame when personal disputes affect a good charity.
Mrs "Smith"; you sound very much like the complainant! Are we now to presume that far from the birds making a noise, you simply have a grudge either against Mr Fowler himself or against the birds in general?
If so, making up such a savage story of birds keeping you awake just to have a pop at your neighbour is a very snide thing to do. If you really dislike living there to such an extent, why not move somewhere else - or is it that the Sanctuary is just an easy target? Either put up and shut up, or shape up and ship out. Either way, let the hard-working people at the sanctuary get on with the jobs they have done so well for nearly 40 years without you!