Forty bird flu warning signs to be put up on Melton roads

The signs are part of a series of measures being carried out by Leicestershire County Council, Rutland County Council, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) who are working together following a confirmed case of avian flu near the town.

The location has not been confirmed but it was believed to have been at the Twinlakes Theme Park.

DEFRA brought in a 10km zone last month and during the last two weeks, trading standards officers have been carrying out foot patrols in the control zone, knocking on 15,000 doors to identify bird owners, provide advice and ensure all flocks are identified for inspection by APHA representatives.

Those patrols are now complete, and officials are grateful for the support of bird owners in complying with the restrictions and responding to the new requirements.

Councillor Blake Pain, deputy leader of Leicestershire County Council and cabinet member for regulatory services, said “We are continuing to work closely with DEFRA to reduce the spread of avian flu and are installing these warning signs in and around the Control Zone to remind the public about the restrictions and to ask them to play their part.

“Working alongside partners, our trading standards team have completed a huge task visiting properties in the 3km protection zone quickly to help protect Leicestershire poultry flocks and businesses.

“The foot patrols were very well-received, and we had some very positive feedback from bird owners and members of the public.”

Councillor Lucy Stephenson, cabinet member for environmental services at Rutland County Council, said “It’s extremely important that anyone who keeps poultry and other captive birds knows and implements the very latest biosecurity measures – even if they only have a small backyard flock.

“Avian Influenza is present in the UK’s bird population and we need to do whatever is necessary to prevent the disease from spreading.”

From Monday, new measures will come into force across the whole of the UK, which will make it a legal requirement for all birds to be housed – either in sheds, coops or self-contained netted areas which wild birds cannot fly into.

The new restrictions are being brought in to keep poultry separate from potentially infectious wild birds.

They will apply to all bird keepers – from large commercial operations to backyard flocks with just a few hens in a garden.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK’s chief veterinary officer said: “We have taken swift action to limit the spread of the disease and are now planning to introduce a legal requirement for all poultry and captive bird keepers to keep their birds housed or otherwise separate from wild birds.

“Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, from December 14 onwards you will be legally required to keep your birds indoors, or take appropriate steps to keep them separate from wild birds.

“We have not taken this decision lightly, but it is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.”

Bird keepers and members of the public are being asked to report any dead wild birds to the DEFRA helpline on 03459 335577 and keepers should report suspicion of disease to Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03000 200301.

Public Health England has confirmed that the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency has said that bird flu poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers.

The Control Zone will be in place until further notice and will be kept under regular review.

Poultry keepers and members of the public who live in the Melton Mowbray area can check whether they live in the protection zone or the surveillance zone with the map at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/937290/TCZ-_declaration-melton-mowbray-IP-DPR-2020-31.pdf