Almost 1,000 people have backed calls to save a group of homing pigeons which face being destroyed because of a housing row.
Matthew Graves says he could be forced to cull more than 70 homing pigeons if he is not allowed to move into his father’s council house. An online petition supporting Mr Graves in his fight against Caerphilly County Borough Council has been signed by almost 1,000 people.
The pigeons have been housed at the home of the late Gwyn Graves at Castle View, Pwllypant, for many years and were jointly owned by him and his son.
When he passed away, Matthew Graves and his wife, Clare, applied to move from their council home in Churchill Park to Castle View.
But housing officials have refused to allow the transfer because, they say, there are other applicants with greater need.
Mr Graves said: “My father had the pigeons before I was even born, and we were always in the garden racing them together when I was growing up.
“There will be new tenants going in if it goes ahead, but what will happen to the pigeons? I’d have to cull what we have left.
“My father, mother and sister have passed away. I’ve got nothing left, and this is the last link that I have to my father.”
Colin Mann, the Plaid Cymru ward councillor for Llanbradach, who represents Pwllypant, has called for an urgent rethink.
He said: “These pigeons are homing pigeons and I have been advised clearly by the Welsh Homing Pigeon Union that they cannot be moved.
“This leaves the only alternative is for the council to have the pigeons culled which clearly would be appalling.
“Members of the Graves family have lived at Castle View since it was built 50 or 60 years ago. They are the only tenants. What Matthew Graves and his wife are requesting is merely a transfer of tenancy from their Churchill Park home, which is more modern.
“The council will not lose a property by allowing a transfer and it seems to me that the family are caught up in red tape. Surely, the council housing department should use some commonsense and, therefore, avoid these homing pigeons having to be put down. The stance they are taking seems ridiculous to me.”
A spokesman for Caerphilly County Borough said: “These pigeons will not be destroyed by the council. We are more than happy to work with the family to reach an amicable solution about their future.
“Caerphilly operates a Common Housing Register for both new and housing transfer applicants to register their interest in being housed.
“The selection of a property is determined by our policy, with allocations being determined by location and type of housing required and also the priority need of the applicant.
“Applicants are placed into one of three bands depending on an assessment of their circumstances. Those assessed with the greatest need are afforded the highest priority. In this specific case there is no legal entitlement of the family to the property and they already have a tenancy for a property that suits their needs.
“Due to the prioritisation of applicant need and the fact that the property in question is located within an area of high demand, it is unlikely that the family will be shortlisted for the property.”
I know this is sad, but its a shame people dont care as much as they do about this as they do about the cuts and corruption within the council.