Falcons to get 12 month reprieve

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$SUSSEX HEIGHTS (BRIGHTQN LIMITED Company Secretary and Registered Office: Arun Offlce-S~rvices Ltd, RBS House, 59-61 Sea Lane, Rustingtol), West Sussex BN16 2RQ, if 01903859685, Fax: 01903859166 .. Email: pambarton@arunoffice.co.uk ,.i"'Â·:.' .(,,.! .' Dear Leaseholders and Residents 26thJanuary 2010 At the last Annual General Meeting on the 2ih November 2009, the Board of Sussex Heights (Brighton) Limited outlined the results of a building survey by a Chartered Surveyor and the need for building works to be undertaken over the next few years. These works will require various builders, surveyors, and other professionals to have access to the roof. This access is required for major repairs to the roof, and to fix cradles for works to the facade (coating) of the building. A few of you are concerned about what will happen to the Peregrine Falcons during this period and the Board shares this concern. At the same time we want to put a cost efficient building programme in place and establish the required health and safety measures for those needing access to the roof. We cannot leave the birds in-situ as well as deliver these objectives in a timely and affordable manner. The Board's primary aim has to be to repair and maintain the building. It will carry this out to ensure the well-being of the residents and lessees. We have looked at the issues very carefully and have consulted (amongst others) with the RSPB and the Sussex Ornithological Society and will continue to do so. We were recently advised that the breeding season actua\ly starts as early as February and nesting lasts until July / August. This only leaves approx 10 weeks per year following the end of the breeding season and the onset of inclement weather in which it is not suitable to carry out waterproofing work and the application of an external waterproof coat. This is simply not a long enough period, per year, to allow the repair and maintenance works to be done to an acceptable overall timescale. It is illegal to disturb the Peregrine Falcons during the breeding/nesting season. While protecting their eggs they are potentially dangerous and could attack an intruder. However, the advice we received is that in exceptional circumstances it is permitted to temporarily deter Peregrine Falcons from returning to their nest site. We would do this by removing the nesting box at a time outside the breeding season. We have tried to assist in finding an alternative location for the nesting box. It might be worth noting that a former Board of SHBL contributed Â£1,000 from Company funds, towards accommodating the falcons and helping give them national coverage when they first began nesting at the flats; such was the delight that a pair of Peregrine Falcons had chosen our roof as their home. Of course the birds will decide for themselves where they wish to relocate, but it is likely to be as near as possible to their original territory. It is virtually certain that they or their offspring will return to SH when human activity on the roof has subsided. The RSPB notified us last week that the breeding season starts a month earlier than we had previously anticipated and therefore there will not be enough time to allow us to remove the nesting box and put other appropriate measures in place to deter the Peregrine Falcons from nesting on the roof of Sussex Heights in 2010. The start of the building programme will therefore have to be delayed until after the breeding/nesting season for this year. Since the Peregrine Falcons first took up residence on our roof we have not allowed the use of cradles during the nesting season and have limited access to the roof. Those of you who have replaced windows in the past will know that there are only a few weeks every year, when windows can be replaced due to the necessity of using a cradle. Builders can only work on the roof and use cradles during calm, dry weather in the summer and some of the suitable months coincide with the Falcons' nesting period. We very much hope that this explains the reasons as to why the Board has taken the decision to deter the Peregrine Falcons from breeding at Sussex Heights temporarily. Future newsletters will keep you up to date on progress. The Board of Directors seeks your understanding and support during this period. Yours sincerely The Board of Sussex Heights (Brighton) Ltd$

One thought on “Falcons to get 12 month reprieve”

Nina February 2, 2010 at 12:10 pm

I am glad to hear that! Yet I find it somewhat disturbing that the committe seems unable to envision a better alternative for both the falcons and the workers…Isnâ€™t there onyone who can offer their assistance in the form of creative thinking?

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