WCCB passage Huge steel net to keep pigeons at bay
Bonn · A huge steel net is to be installed in the WCCB passage to prevent pigeons from fouling the footpath. Costs will run to around 475,000 Euro. The Federal Government will provide 355,000 Euro.
Pigeons have discovered the ventilation and supply pipes above the Welckerpassage between the new World Conference Centre Bonn convention hall and the Marriott Hotel, to the annoyance of BonnCC GmbH, which operates the WCCB, and hotel owners DevelopVisio Real Estate Konferenzhotel GmbH.
The passage is often dirty because of the pigeon droppings, and if it were not constantly cleaned, would sometimes even be impassable. This should now change. Construction workers are currently covering the pipes to prevent pigeons nesting there in future. They are using a dark wire mesh to sheath the pipes so the pigeons can no longer access them. “It is not only practical, but also looks good,” says Jörg Haas, of the BonnVisio Group, which owns the hotel’s operating company.
Its managing director, Jörg Pierdzig, explained the process. A steel net will be suspended under the city’s ventilation ducts over a 600 square metre area and fastened to a steel frame on the walls on either side of the passage. The steel net will have two inspection openings to allow the city buildings management to later service the ventilation ducts. It will be lit with chains of LED lights.
Pierdzig said the work is planned to finish at the end of September, in plenty of time for the World Climate Conference. Total costs are likely to run to around 475,000 Euro. The Federal Government will provide Euro 355,000 and 45,000 Euro will come from the city. “We will bear any costs over this,” said Pierdzig. (Orig. text: Lisa Inhoffen)
