Work to refurbish Ross Bridge in Penzance began on 5th January 2026. The project by Cornwall Council was originally expected to take 13 weeks.
Following a pause in work over the last week, Cornwall Council provided this update on Tuesday 20 January:
“During last week’s work to dismantle Ross Bridge so that it can be refurbished, our team discovered active pigeon nests within the structure. As with all wild birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law, and we immediately paused work.
“Ecological surveys carried out before Christmas showed no signs of nesting, so it appears the pigeons moved in over the holiday period. Our ecological specialist has been monitoring the nest since its discovery, and a further survey this morning confirmed the nest had been abandoned and the eggs were not viable. The nest has now been safely removed.
“With this confirmation, works will now continue. We’re committed to progressing the project as efficiently as possible and will be bringing in additional resources to help recover lost time.”