Read the full story in todays Stratford Journal below.
Geese wrangle ruffles feathers
AN operation to remove domestic geese from Stratford's riverside was
called off at the eleventh hour yesterday because of the threat posed by
animal rights campaigners.
Former mayor Cyril Bennis had planned to round-up about 70 of the geese
and take them to Wychbold Swan Sanctuary, near Dro-itwich, where they
will be kept until they can be relocated.
Mr Bennis, who is a member of the town's swan committee, said the
removal of the geese was part of the overall management of the River Avon at
Stratford and was necessary because of the goose droppings along
Bancroft Gardens.
They are also responsible for destroying plants and grass in the
gardens and for the erosion of islands in the river, he said.
But animal rights campaigners have condemned the plans as a pointless
and cruel exercise.
They believes the birds removal will make no difference because the
void would be filled by the breeding of swans and Canada geese, the latter
of which is also the subject of a relocation exercise.
Katherine Green, director of Pigeon Campaigns UK, said: "We will not
stand aside and allow this operation to go ahead.
"Experts agree that this operation will have zero effect on waterfowl
numbers on the river in Stratford and the cruelty involved is appalling.
"Whatever assurances Mr Bennis provides, we have no doubt that the
geese will be killed.
"We are currently taking legal advice as to the legality of this
operation."
Mr Bennis said he could not understand why the protesters thought the
geese would be killed but vowed that the waterfowl would be rounded up
and taken away soon.
"I have postponed the removal of the geese because I am concerned for
the welfare of the animals more than anything else," he said.
"But the point is that we're concerned about the amount of farmhouse
geese because it is causing an imbalance on the river. It has got to be
done some time and the geese will be taken off and put into safe homes."