I NEED HELP

[paul l]

JUST TALKED TO COUNCIL THEY NEED A LETTER TO SAY I AM HAVEING LOFT IN GARDEN  AND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE RACING PIGEONS EX EX  WHAT DO I SAY CAN ANYONE WRITE ONE AND ILL PRINT IT OFF  IF THATS OK

 

                         MANY THANKS      PAUL

[Wiley]

im sure theres some lads that can help you on here paul,that have gone through a simiular method of dealing with the council.Or you could do what alot of fanciers do just put the loft up not getting intouch with the council!

[ken]

hi i wouldent just put a hut up i done that afew years ago and i flew 1 ybird season, then they found out and they made me take it down ,now im on a alotment i would do it properly if you just put it up they can come any time and tell you to take it down, what would you do if it was the middel of the raceing season do it properly mate ken

[bluey]

Talk to your region secretary

[Guest shadow]

JUST TALKED TO COUNCIL THEY NEED A LETTER TO SAY I AM HAVEING LOFT IN GARDEN  AND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE RACING PIGEONS EX EX  WHAT DO I SAY CAN ANYONE WRITE ONE AND ILL PRINT IT OFF  IF THATS OK

 

                         MANY THANKS      PAUL

If it is a private house check your deeds to see if there are any covenants on the property which tell you what you can or can't keep on the property. If it is a rented property they will need the size of the loft how many birds you intend to keep explain the no of times etc that you will be letting them out.  they will need to know the height as it must be under 4mts high and you will need to ask your neighbours if they object to you keeping pigeons as only takes one to cause trouble for you. thats why most of the flyers in the north-east fly to allotments as the councils will not tolerate pigeons in the gardens. Hope this helps.

 

 

[Guest]

Just to add to Shadow's comments, the height of the loft depnds on the type of roof if Apex 4 metres if flat I think it's only 3, you need to check. The other important thing is the distance from the house it must be 5 metres away. I had a problem with Barnsley Council 6 years ago. I thought I had no problem because there were no covenants and it was my own house, not true, the height and distance requirements must be met. Councils are also trying now to include environmental restrictions on noise form birds and the amount of birds. If you adjacent to a road your loft must also be 5 metres from it.

I applied to barnsley retrospectively for planning permission because my loft was within 15' of my house. I must admit I thought I was snookered, because my next door neighbour said my birds were out on the roof all day , made a terrible noise and mess.

However what swayed it ( I did get retrospective much to the annoyance of my neighbour) was that my loft was in excellent condition, not an eye sore and that my other neighbours confirmed that the neighbour who complained was talking a load of B**ll*cks.

You need to plan the location of your loft to meet the above requirements, if you can't you will have to apply for planning permision costs about £120 (6 years ago). They will want a plan of your loft and what it is going to be made out of. More importantly visit your neighbours before you apply, talk to them and get a letter off them if you can confirming they have no objection to you having birds.

If any of your neighbours do object, listen to their objection and see if you can talk through the problem, you need them on your side. What ever you do, don't go ahead and do it without permission, if you're in a council house they will make you take it down straight away, it will create more heartbreak than not having birds at the moment.

The other person you could enlist for support is your local councilor speak to him her andget them on your side. It sounds a lot of work, its worth it in the end.

Good luck and best wishes  

PS remember if you are ina council house, you must ask the Housing dept for permission, then follow the process they require.

[paul l]

no its my hs i just bought what im doing is getting a garden shed to get me started a 10 x 6 and convert it to a loft

[Guest]

best of luck paul,fingers crossed it will go ok for u :) :)

[Guest]

OK Paul, check for covenants, make sure you are 15' away from any building and or road and below 10' for flat roof or 12' for apex. You should not need planning if you don't contravene those or any covwenants which will be listed in your deeds.

[Guest]

Sorry paul don't want to give you any duff advice. If it is an ex council house (I don't know if it is). You can guarantee the council will have put a covenant in prohibiting you from building any out building or having livestock without their permission check the conditions they attached to the sale. make sure you go through the proper process, it will be worth it in the long run.

Have been through the process as stated earlier and worked for the council as a Principal officer so I know how they think if nothing else. PM me if I can help at any time

[markbrown]

Paul,

 

Please see detailed below copy of my own letter used recently to be granted permission to keep/race pigeons at our new address. (private rented)..

You will note i have covered most avenues of the sport in the letter, talking of seasons, conditioning, pests, pictures of lofts, charities and also named dropped HM the Queen!!

 

Think we must provide as much evidence (ie photos of examples, pest repellers "boddy & ridewood" etc etc and basically try to explain the "GOOD" of our hobby and try to educate the people who may only think of pigeons as the "streeters" in towns etc

 

Hope this helps

 

Mark

 

Note - if you want to fill in the blanks (???) i will amend/print a copy of this letter and post out to you??

17th October 2006.

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

Re: The Keeping of Racing Pigeons at: ??????????????.

 

We write this letter with a hope of maintaining our family interest in the hobby of “Pigeon Racing”, of which I am currently a third generation fancier. We would like to request your permission to erect a racing pigeon loft at the rear of our premises at ???????????????????????????? (see sketch detailed at the foot of this document with choice of loft location. Initially to keep our 12 x pair of stock birds only with a view of breeding some young birds to form part of the race team hopefully again with your permission to breed ourselves a young bird team, for racing at this address.

 

As you may or may not be aware - Long gone are the days of the “image of flat cap and whippet brigade”, Racing Pigeons is now a highly competitive and professional type hobby which is developed/structured over 365 days/year. The sport is now finely tuned and fanciers divisionalised dependant on their preference of the type of racing you wish to compete in, ie sprint (50 mile to 200 mile), medium (200 mile to 350 mile) and  long distance (350 mile to 600 mile plus), of which each is specialist with its own type of bird and specific method of preparing the birds to be able to compete at this required level. The sport also houses such household names/celebrities as Her Majesty The Queen (obviously has a loft manager to look after the birds) ex footballers such as Gerry Francis, Duncan Ferguson and many more.

 

If approved the loft itself would be of wooden construction and pleasing to the eye (see evidence 1 attached), the loft we would choose will be similar to those shown in the photographs but with a pent style roof to limit the height of the loft and maximise natural sunlight warmth through the roof structure. It will be erected sectionally for ease of erection and also for dismantling, it will be raised approximately 250mm off the ground for airflow, limited damage to existing ground surfaces and assist with maintaining a clean/healthy environment. It will be treated annually with wood preservative either red cedar or woodland green, to maintain its aesthetically pleasing appearance.

 

The loft itself will have temporary lighting (internally) for use when cleaning each morning and evening (especially helpful during the dark winter mornings) and provides assistance when pairing/breeding early season. It will also be fitted with an electronic pest chaser (see evidence 2 attached), these are used to create a magnetic field around the loft area and develops a humane rodent free zone around the perimeter of the loft, by creating a high pitched pulsing sound which does not effect humans/dogs but rodents find it intolerable. It will also be fitted with the “Catwatch MK 2 Electronic deterrent” (see evidence 3 attached) to deter cats from entering the premises and the “Foxwatch electronic deterrent” (see evidence 4 attached)

 

The birds are cleaned twice daily (morning and evening), fed in plastic pots kept in their nestboxes to minimise spillage, they are vaccinated annually to prevent PMV and treated on a regularly basis against other common ailments such as cocci/respiratory which can effect their racing performances. Their water is changed daily to prevent disease and they are fed a commercial feed mixture (Teurlings NL) dependant on the time of year ie breeding, racing or moulting/resting.

 

During the racing season we feed a high protein content in the early part of the week, with increasing carbohydrates towards the weekend, a mixture of multi vitamins and amino acids are added at various stages to try and maximise energy output during the race.

The season:-

Breeding normally commences in January to May/June, Racing (Old Birds) – April To July, Racing (Young Birds) – July to September.

 

Young birds would normally commence training at approx 3 or 4 months of age (this gives sufficient time for them to familiarise themselves with the local environment whilst out at their daily exercise periods).

Road training normally entails them being basketed, driven to a predetermined location commencing at 5 miles upto 40 mile, being liberated to race home (therefore toning their mind as well as body).

 

Racing would normally take place on a Saturday afternoon (weather permitting), with the birds being race marked on a Friday night with the local racing club and transported down to the racepoint as part of a Federation of racing clubs from the area ie ???????????????. They will be liberated at an agreed time (weather permitting) and will therefore race back to their home loft, the fastest flying velocity will be determined the race winner.

 

I have done some local research and hopefully with your approval we would apply for membership of the ????????? racing pigeon club and the National Flying Club (see evidence 4 attached, shows correspondence via Her Majesty the Queen @ Buckingham Palace to the officials of the NFC)

 

Also I have attached some correspondence via the internet from our governing body “The RPRA” Royal Pigeon Racing Association which demonstrates a couple of the national fund raising events for UK charities ie Help The Aged with donations of over £250K since formation, ASBAH over £440K not counting the many many other national/local charities which our membership supports.

 

We do hope that you look kindly on this request to house/keep racing pigeons at the above address and look forward to your response.

 

Yours Sincerely

 

 

?????????????

[paul l]

thanks mate

[juan de winne]

Paul,

google uk sites "pigeon racing council " they give you a load of different council requirements for max bird numbers and locations etc .might give you a bit more of a chance especially if youre armed with marks letter

good luck

[swilcox]

I have just checled the deeds of the House im buying and there is no covenants that restrict the keeping of Pigeons, Pigs, Poultry or livestock.

 

There is a covenent that states you will not use your property as a business premises, or take part in an activity that would cause excessive noise and distruption to your Nieghbours. (This is pretty standard).

 

So as i see i it providing i construct my loft at least 5mtrs away from anyone house, its not more than 4 mtrs high and not more than 50% of my property is built on.

 

Ofcourse it wouldnt be a good idea to keep lots of pigeons in poor lofts so that it upsets the neighbours!!! But in truth once they are used to them i dont see to many problems!!!

 

Stuart