Fined for feeding ducks

A walk out with her young son to feed the ducks could end up costing Vanessa Kelly, 26, £75. The mum was spending time with her son feeding ducks in Smethwick Hall Park, Smethwick, East Midlands when she was approached by a council warden who informed Vanessa that feeding the ducks was banned because it could attract vermin, so the mum fastened up the bag of bread and thought that was that, until the warden pulled out a little computer and started to issue a ticket. She was also told that her 17 month old son Harry would have to be given a ticket too however due to his age he is “too young to prosecute”.

During the process Vanessa Kelly was made to feel like a criminal as her height, hair and eye colour was recorded by the warden while issuing the on the spot fine. The warden informed her that there were designated feeding areas in a bid to control the bird population.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for neighborhoods, Mahboob Hussain said, “We have had so many complaints from across the borough about problems caused by the feeding of pigeons and waterfowl that we decided to create designated feeding areas for birds”. Unfortunately for Vanessa Kelly she hadn’t seen any warning signs not too feed the ducks and thought that the warden would only give her a friendly warning as it was a genuine mistake, Ms Kelly has now submitted a formal complaint to the local authority and is waiting for a response.

Photograph courtesy of Vividy