PIGEONS trapped in netting at Fosters railway bridge in Lower Street Haslemere, have caused an outcry from the founder of a local wildlife hospital.
Graham Cornick from Hydestile Wildlife Hospital is outraged that pigeons are being caught up in the netting on a regular basis and dying because they can't find their way out.
"On Tuesday there was one pigeon dead and four trapped," claimed Mr Cornick, who said he was getting more and more calls every day about the matter.
Mr Cornick said he had spoken to Robert Serman, the chairman of Haslemere Society, which paid for the netting to be installed earlier this year to deter the burgeoning pigeon population from roosting. It was put up by Network Rail contractors on their behalf.
"It isn't right to trap an animal like that and allow it to die, irrespective of what the creature is. Last time this happened the RSPCA came out and cut a hole in the netting and released the trapped bird.
"Somebody who called me yesterday was so angry that he was threatening to get something to pull the whole lot of netting down," Mr Cornick told The Herald.
"It is a distressing sight and I suggest the bridge should be netted in a proper manner."
A spokesman for Network Rail said this week that 10 pigeons had been released last Friday and a contractor was expected to inspect the site again on Wednesday.
"We have had to gain access from the trackside, and a contractor will have to come out and fix the netting. We are keen to get it sorted out as quickly as possible," said the spokesman.
Mr Serman was unavailable for comment on Wednesday afternoon.