Hawks to deter birds ahead of car park demolition
Hawks are being used to discourage seagulls and pigeons from nesting in a multi-storey car park which is set to be demolished.
Abbey Walk car park, in Grimsby, has been closed since May 2024 because of structural issues caused by water penetrating some of the beams.
Plans have been approved to demolish the car park, which was built in 1969. However, should any habitable nests be found, the plans would have to be postponed until the chicks were able to leave the nest.
North East Lincolnshire Council said trained hawks Mavric and Chief were being deployed to fly at low levels throughout the car park twice a week to provide a deterrent against birds wanting to nest there.
The hawks were also being employed around vacant units on Osborne Street, which are also due to be demolished, the council added.
A town centre improvement plan for the area includes a new transport hub and a 120-space surface car park.
A spokesperson said the hawks were well trained, would not attack other birds and were purely used as a deterrent.
The pillars of the Abbey Walk car park feature modernist reliefs by artist and sculptor Harold Gosney, which a conservation team has scanned using 3D technology so they can be reprinted in the future.
It followed a campaign to preserve the artworks by the Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic Society.
The council said the demolition work would start in the coming months.
Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
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North East Lincolnshire Council
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