Pesky pigeons infesting the Union Chapel are causing serious damage to the historic stonework and posing a health and safety risk to visitors, papers submitted to the Town Hall show.

The grand west entrance to the working church and gig venue has been plagued by pigeon droppings for years. Staff have considered numerous options to ward off the feathered fiends, including smearing gel laced with paprika to the building to irritate the birds’ feet – but it merely stained the chapel’s brickwork.

Spikes and another gel, which makes the birds think there is a fire, have also been discounted. Now the Union Chapel Project, charged with looking after the 1870s church, have applied to Islington Council to put a thin netting over the central window and apply stainless steel wire to the ledges either side of the door.

“The combination of the two devices seems to be the most effective and less damaging solution to pigeon infestation of the chapel west doorway,” a report by Barbara Basini, building and maintenance works coordinator, said.

• Keywords
  CHURCHES AND CHAPELS (OTHER), PIGEONS, STONE MASONS
• Geographical keyword
  COMPTON TERRACE
• Persons keyword
  Union Chapel, Barbara Basini