Residents' anger at Council 'dismissing' concerns over children playing near potentially dangerous bird droppings

Residents of Teasdale Close in south Chadderton are fearing for the health of local junior schoolchildren, who they say are playing near and coming into contact with potentially dangerous bird droppings.

Fingers are being pointed at Oldham council as the situation continues, as trees in the vicinity of the Whitegate End school grounds and local residents’ gardens are not being tended to, and therefore attracting more and more birds to the areas.

A Teasdale Close resident told the Chronicle: “We have been aware of issues with very large trees at the rear of some of our properties for some time.

“These trees are in the grounds of Whitegate End school and are owned by the council.

“The issues are mainly debris falling from the trees and an absolutely massive amount of leaves in the Autumn months.

“Most people living in the houses are quite elderly and have complained to the council for many years for these trees to be cut back, or at least pruned, all to no avail.

“The answers coming back are ‘the trees are inspected regularly and there is no need for action at this time’.

“Since March, though, it has become apparent that the biggest problem is bird droppings.

“It is not noticeable so much with grassed lawns, but since we’ve fitted some decking to the garden adjacent to the school, it has been shocking to see the amount of bird droppings deposited on our decking.

“We have again complained to the council about the trees on Tuesday, May 23, 2021.

“We got a reply on Thursday, May 25, once again dismissing our concerns, stating that the trees may cause a minor inconvenience and no action is necessary at this time. 

“This ‘minor inconvenience’ is totally and utterly not the case and we feel it is a generic answer to this type of complaint.   

“The biggest issue that concerns us, however, is that Whitegate End school is an infant school.

“We have witnessed these children playing on the ground, kicking balls and then picking them up, all under these trees.

“The trees are two-thirds in the school grounds and one-third overhanging our properties (see picture above).

“From the amount of bird droppings on our property you can imagine how much has dropped on the school side of the boundary.

“I’m sure if the parents knew about their children playing in bird droppings, things would change.

“Bird droppings contain all sorts of disease.”

Bird droppings could be a breeding ground for disease-causing parasites.

Not only can these organisms attack the substrata of a building, they can spread disease to humans.

One health hazard that is a concern when dealing with bird guano is Histoplasmosis.  

These droppings could also contain E-coli, salmonella, campylobacter and many other harmful diseases.

There can be as many as 60 diseases found in bird droppings.  

The Chronicle has contacted Oldham council for a response and we are awaiting a reply.

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