Council and wildlife charity in a flap over right to stay at bird feeding spot |
Hoveton and Wroxham Riverside Trust (HWRT) has been running a stall at the Granary Staithe, next to Wroxham Bridge, for several years.
It previously sold bird feed to visitors but stopped this last year after complaints that it was attracting too many pigeons and rats to the area.
It now just features a display and information stand, which is run by a group of volunteers.
The Hoveton and Wroxham Riverside Trust have been offering bird feed and performing bird welfare checks for a number of years (Image: Hoveton and Wroxham Riverside Trust)
But all this could soon change as the village council has told them they want to remove them from the site.
Councillors made the decision to boot them off in January, claiming the group had failed to move the wooden stand from the staithe before a Christmas lights switch-on event.
Seemingly out of frustration, members subsequently ordered the Trust to move off the staithe by February 28.
They later said the group could stay until the issue was discussed at a meeting next week.
The Hoveton and Wroxham Riverside Trust fear they will be moved off from the Granary Staithe in Hoveton (Image: Hoveton and Wroxham Riverside Trust)
In meeting minutes, the council said: "Communication had been difficult with the Hoveton and Wroxham Riverside Trust... It was agreed that no long-term stands would be allowed on the staithe for the remainder of 2026."
Volunteers from the Hoveton and Wroxham Riverside Trust fear they will be moved off from the Granary Staithe in Hoveton (Image: Hoveton and Wroxham Riverside Trust)
However, the group claims the council has ulterior motives because it has been considering selling the staithe or finding ways to increase income from the site.
The waterside property may require the quay heading to be replaced in the future - a major expense for the council.
This prompted members to investigate selling it. They later decided not to do so, but to instead investigate ways to upgrade it.
Ahead of a meeting on Monday, March 2, the agenda lists an item, which calls on the council to also consider "options to generate additional revenue from the staithe" as well as discussing moving the stall.
People feeding the pigeons by the River Bure at Hoveton and Wroxham on Granary Staithe (Image: Denise Bradley)
The HWRT - many of whose volunteers are neurodivergent or vulnerable adults - have been left furious by the council's actions and said one member had been told by two councillors that they will soon be removing the stall "by hook and crook".
David Morse, secretary and trustee of HWRT, said: "We believe the council is putting profit ahead of animal welfare, and community purpose.
"The council should be acting on behalf of the community but it seems they are more interested in its financial interests."
Volunteers from the Hoveton and Wroxham Riverside Trust (Image: Hoveton and Wroxham Riverside Trust)
However, the council said it only wants to relocate the stall to a more appropriate riverside location, rather than get rid of it entirely.
Russell Reeves, chairman of Hoveton Community Council, said: "We will be further considering plans for improving the attractiveness of the Staithe in Hoveton, both for its residents and visitors, at its public meeting on Monday evening.
"We have been attempting to work with the HWRT that has a ‘bird welfare truck’ there, with the aim of relocating their truck to a more suitable location.
"Whilst not proving easy to work with them, we are continuing to try to negotiate a sensible outcome for the village."