12:00pm Tuesday 24th January 2012
By George Thorpe
PESKY peregrine falcons are the latest birds holding up progress in Southend after they were found nesting on the roof of a building due to be demolished.
Developers had been hoping to knock down the 14-storey Portcullis House, on Victoria Avenue, Southend, which has been derelict since 2008 when the Inland Revenue moved out.
Peregrine falcons then moved in. Now, if it can be proved the birds are breeding, the demolition plan could be on hold.
Alex Cooper, conservation officer for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said it was important to make sure the birds were protected.
He said: “We want to make sure the birds have another nest set up for them. We do not want to see the building destroyed before that is ensured.
“Ideally, it would have been best if we had been consulted before the plans were made, but we will now be seeking to meet with the landlords and Southend Council to help solve the problem.”
The falcons have followed the flightpath of the 1,000-strong flock of wintering ruddy turnstones that were found to be nesting on Southend Pier. The birds’ nests led to the size of the planned £3million cultural centre being halved and moved to the top of the pier, so the birds were not disturbed. Peregrine falcons, Britain’s largest falcons, have protected status under schedule one of the wildlife and countryside act.
The Echo previously reported sightings of falcons at the top of the building back in June 2008, when keen twitchers spotted a pair of them perched on the roof.
The sightings now could scupper plans from Mapeley Estates, the building landlords, who had permission to demolish the building.
Birdwatcher Richard Spencer tipped off the RSPB after spotting the birds soaring in the sky.
He is worried about the disruption that would be caused if the birds’ home is destroyed during their breeding season.
Mr Spencer said: “They normally breed around February and March, so it is pushing it in terms of knocking the building down before then. There is no protection offered to the birds when it is out of season, which I think is pretty unfair for the birds.”
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