An appeals’ tribunal has refused to sanction an illegal pigeon loft in a residential area in St Julian’s.

The appeal was lodged with the Environment and Planning Tribunal last year after the owner’s request to bring an aviary into line was turned down by a planning commission.

The owner was served with an enforcement notice after an extension to a washroom had been illegally converted into a pigeon loft, complete with wooden aviaries.

He contended that he had fully complied with all the conditions imposed by the veterinary authorities and pointed out that three other permits had been granted in development zones.

The applicant denied that his pigeons exited the loft on to a third party property and submitted a health hazards report.

The tribunal said that the loft was in the centre of a residential area and creating problems for the neighbours, not only because of bad odours but also due to the mess left behind whenever they left the aviary.

“This development is not suited for a residential area,” the tribunal said.