Airport officials to turn down bird-box bid

PLANS to install bird and bat boxes at the Brighton and Hove Albion training complex in Lancing will be contested by officials from Shoreham Airport.

According to a report by bird-control co-ordinator, David Bennett, the animals would put aircraft at risk.

The report said attracting birds to within 13km of the airport would increase the risk of ‘birdstrikes’, as this was where aircraft approaching the runway would be at or below 2,000ft.

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Geoff Patmore of West Beach residents association argued that the bats would only come out at night after flights were over, and that birds such as blue tits and robins did not flock.

“The airport has birds scarers for crows and seagulls who don’t nest in bat boxes or bird boxes,” he said.

“Notwithstanding the fact that ground birds cannot now nest on airfields or football pitches.

“So much for preserving the environment.”