Fernvale resident who stopped anti-bird nettings installation assisting police with investigations: 'I was very angry'

A 45-year-old man is assisting police with investigations after he used a pole to stop workers on a gondola from installing anti-bird netting in Sengkang.

Stomp earlier reported on a video a Stomper shared of the incident that happened at Block 471C Fernvale Street on June 21.

In the video, the man was seen using a pole to block the workers from moving up and later grabbed one of the gondola's ropes with his hand.

He was also heard shouting at the workers and threatening to sue them.

The police confirmed they were alerted to a case of rash act at the resident's block on June 21 at 1.26pm.

No injuries were reported and a 45-year-old is assisting with investigations, a police spokesman said.

In response to a Stomp query, a spokesman from Ang Mo Kio Town Council (AMKTC) said they had temporarily stopped installation works at the block "for the safety and well-being of everyone involved".

According to Shin Min Daily News, the resident said: "I was very angry and I stopped the workers as I was not affected by the birds and did not agree to the installation work in the first place."

He also expressed concerns over the netting making it harder to paint the exterior walls and to carry out air-con maintenance work.

A spokesman from AMKTC clarified that the anti-bird netting is not a permanent feature and covers only the air-con ledge area.

It also comes with a zip opening on the side which allows access for air-con servicing and repairs or installation works.

The town council added that they offered to install the netting for residents for selected blocks undergoing Repair and Redecoration Works and only proceeded with the installation after about 80 per cent of the residents opted for it.

However, they would not install the bird netting outside units of those who opted out.

In 2022, another Fernvale resident expressed unhappiness about the anti-bird netting, saying that the birds are moving to the ledges outside his living room and bedroom instead.