Bird control for Chippenham’s stone town and its business parks
Chippenham has two very different kinds of building to protect. The old town is largely built in Bath stone, and its ledges, cornices and carved details need proofing that’s careful and discreet. Out at Bumpers Farm and Methuen Park, the job is more likely to be a warehouse or factory, where pigeons get in through doors and gaps and settle on roof steelwork.
We fit netting, spikes, wire and other deterrents to suit the building and the birds using it. If guano has already built up, we can clear it first, so the proofing goes on to a clean surface.
Guano clearance and bird proofing
Choosing the right bird proofing
There’s no single answer. What works depends on where the birds are landing, how the building is used and how visible the proofing will be.
| Where the birds are | What usually works | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under canopies and in loading bays | Netting | Closes off the space, so birds can’t get in to roost or nest |
| Long ledges and parapets | Sprung wire | Discreet, and stops birds settling comfortably |
| Signs, beams and narrow ledges | Spikes | Quick to fit, and leaves no comfortable place to land |
| Steep or shaped ledges | Slopes | Gives birds no flat surface to stand on |
| Awkward details | Repellent gel | Works where a physical deterrent won’t fit |
| Larger open areas | Scarers or electric systems | Useful where netting isn’t practical |
Bird proofing only works if it’s fitted well, and birds will soon find any gap left in netting. Our guide to stopping pigeons roosting explains each option in more detail.
Working on Bath stone and listed buildings
Chippenham’s conservation area appraisal describes Bath stone as dominant in many streets, with Bath stone ashlar on New Road and Yelde Hall as one of only two Grade I buildings in the town. It also notes that the stone on many buildings is dirty under the eaves.
That matters, because English Heritage says pigeon droppings are corrosive and can damage stone, as well as lead, zinc and copper. But proofing can also harm old stone if it’s fitted badly. Bath and North East Somerset Council’s guidance for listed and historic buildings makes several useful points:
- Consent: sprung wire and netting need consent on a listed building.
- Fixings: use stainless steel, placed in mortar joints where possible, rather than drilling into the stone itself.
- Appearance: avoid netting on exposed fronts, where it would spoil the look of the building.
If your building is listed or in the conservation area, speak to Wiltshire Council before work starts. We’ll explain what we’d fit and where, so you can give the council a clear description.
Warehouses and factories around Chippenham
Bumpers Farm is the town’s main employment area, with direct access to the A350 and junction 17 of the M4 about 4 miles north. There’s also Methuen Park and the business premises at Langley Park near the station.
On these sites, the concern is often hygiene and damage rather than appearance. Droppings can foul stock, racking and walkways, while nests can block gutters and outlets. We can close up gaps, net a canopy or a roof space and fit deterrents to beams and lighting, working from MEWPs where we need to.
If you have food, packaging or other sensitive stock, tell us at the survey and we’ll plan the work to protect it.
Clearing up before the proofing goes on
Proofing shouldn’t be fitted over a build-up of droppings and nest material. We clear the area first, in full PPE with dust control, then clean and disinfect the surfaces. You can read more on our pigeon guano page. We can also clear gutters blocked by nests at the same visit.
How a bird proofing job works
- Free site survey: we look at where birds are landing, roosting and getting in, and check for active nests.
- Written recommendation: you get a quote, with what we’d fit, plus risk assessments and method statements.
- Clear and clean: we remove any guano and nest material and disinfect the area.
- Fit: we install the proofing and check there are no gaps.
- Sign-off: you get photos and a work report, plus waste transfer notes for anything we’ve taken away.
The law protects a wild bird’s nest while it’s in use or being built, so if we find an active nest, we’ll plan the work around it.
Accredited, insured and documented
Locus is SafeContractor-accredited, Constructionline Silver and a BICSc corporate member, and our operatives hold IPAF and CSCS cards. We’re registered with the Environment Agency as a waste carrier (CBDU320327).