A DESPERATE council has put up fencing around a splash park to stop determined geese leaving their droppings on the popular Abingdon attraction.

Vale of White Horse District Council has erected the temporary barrier around part of the splash park area at Abbey Meadow following concerns about the creatures frequently leaving a mess on the children’s splash pads and the surrounding grassy area.

According to the authority staff spend 'several hours most days' cleaning the feature before the water can be turned on and then enjoyed by families visiting the park.

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While staff look into a long-term solution, the district council said it was trialling the temporary fencing as a short-term measure to allow families to enjoy the water in the summer holidays.

The council has also put out a plea to members of the public using Abbey Meadow not to feed the geese as they say it encourages the wild birds to come into an area mostly used by families with young children.

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Jenny Hannaby, council cabinet member for parks, said: “The geese have become a problem, so we’re looking into a number of different methods to deter them from the family areas of Abbey Meadow.”

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Helen Pighills, council cabinet member for community services and local ward member, added: “Please don’t feed the geese – not only does it encourage them to stay in the area, where their droppings are a problem, it also means they could start bothering people who have brought their picnics down to enjoy the riverside."

She continued: “We’re looking into a number of different methods to deter the geese from the family areas of Abbey Meadow – we appreciate the fencing is not an ideal solution, but hopefully it will allow families to enjoy the area over the summer holidays while we sort out something more permanent.”