COMPLAINTS over crowing cockerels and cats put among the pigeons are causing consternation for an allotment association.

A number of cockerels are due to be culled following complaints relating to birds being kept at allotments in Cockerton.

Residents living on a new housing estate close to the site have blamed the cockerels living there for causing noise pollution.

Similar concerns raised in 2015 following the first stage of building work on the former Alderman Leach school site resulted in a cull that left allotment holders devastated.

Cockerton Allotment Association committee member Peter Wheatley said the cockerels and their “neighbours of old” had lived in harmony prior to that, despite council regulations banning the birds from being kept there.

The Northern Echo understands that the council were willing to allow cockerels to stay on site, providing that they did not cause a nuisance to their neighbours.

Mr Wheatley retaliated to the latest complaints by saying that the cockerels had been present for far longer than the new householders, adding: “We have been down this road before, when the first phase of houses were built - the cockerels were culled and then the complainant moved away.

“We lived in harmony with our neighbours of old and never had any complaints but then the newbies arrived along our western perimeter.

“I know we are rather bending the law but some of our members like to improve and refine their brood of hens, hence the cockerels - one member breeds show bantams, all bonny birds they are too.

“We’ve also had complaints about smoke from fires but we’ve been on this site since the 1920s – in years gone by, pigs were kept by members.

“In conclusion, we are keeping a green oasis for nature to thrive – why buy a house and then try to change your surroundings?”

Mr Wheatley also blamed the influx of new residents in the area for causing problems for allotment holders who race pigeons.

He said: “We too are suffering from the new builds – cats are roaming around the site so birds won’t come down to the loft, which is a particular problem on race days.

“If they won’t come down, they can’t be clocked with the time they arrive back – one of our lads might have a winning bird but it’s no good if it’s just flying round the loft.”

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council confirmed that a complaint had been received and said the authority was working with the allotment association.

She said: “We have been informed by the chair of the association that one cockerel has already been removed and the remainder will go by the end of next week.”

The chair of the committee, Cllr Paul Baldwin, said that the association wished to develop close links with residents to allow future issues to “be resolved quickly and amicably.”