Charity calls for Council to replace drain covers to keep young animals safe
An animal charity is asking for support to change drain covers across South Tyneside after a series of incidents involving trapped animals.
A North East animal charity is calling for South Tyneside Council to consider changing drain entrances across the borough after a series of incidents where young birds got stuck.
Pawz For Thought recently supported the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service to assist ducklings which had separated from their mother after falling down two drains in South Shields town centre.
One incident involved a group of young birds stuck at the Flagg Court Health Centre Car Park on Dale Street, while another situation left ducklings stranded underneath nearby Winchester Street.
All ducklings were removed safely and reunited with their mother.
The charity is now looking for alternative covers to be used so fewer animals suffer in the same way.
Lorraine Thornton of Lawz For Thought said: “We had four callouts in the last three weeks for hedgehogs down drains and another four for ducklings down drains.
“A lot of the time the animals aren’t found and they die. These are only the ones we are alerted to.
“There needs to be something there to protect wildlife.”
As a result of the recent run of callouts, the charity is asking South Tyneside Council to consider ways to make drains safer for animals.
“There must be a way we can work together” says Lorriane.
She adds: “Whether that’s mesh or something like that, or where the water runs down but there’s something around the drain.
“You can’t just say there’s wildlife going down the drain and there’s nothing which can be done about it.
“If it was an open drain and a human fell down they wouldn’t tolerate it, so what’s the difference?”
Cllr Karen Pittuck, lead member for highways, neighbourhoods and community safety, responded by saying: “With more than 24,000 gullies across South Tyneside, any large-scale change to drainage covers would require significant investment, including installation and resource costs. Even introducing changes within a smaller area would involve considerable expense.
“At present, this would not represent value for money given the pressures on essential services, and there is no dedicated external funding available to support such a scheme.”