£100m building project halted after GOOSE lays eggs on site... so builders give nest its own security guard



Work on a £100million building development ground to a halt yesterday - because of a goose.

The bird has laid three eggs right in the middle of the building site and has been given her own bodyguard to protect her and her brood.

Security guard Jake Fielding has been assigned to give the Canada Goose 24-hour protection and takes his duties extremely seriously.



The development that is being delayed because of the goose is known as the Cube - which was meant to be the finishing touch to an exclusive area of Birmingham.



A goose has laid three eggs right in the middle of a building site, bringing work to a halt. The bird has been given her own bodyguard to protect her and her brood

It will contain a boutique hotel and residential apartments and is the final phase of luxury development The Mailbox, in an affluent area of the city.

Work on the Cube, which will be overlooking a canal, was expected to finish soon - but the arrival of the goose has delayed the whole operation.



Contractors Fitzgerald have been forced to hold off on any work on the pavements, where the goose has got settled.

A spokesman from Fitzgerald admitted that the goose was a source of both amusement and annoyance.



He said: 'The goose has been her for about three weeks now, and she's settling in quite nicely, which is unfortunate for us.

'But Jake Fielding, who is guarding the bird is doing a great job of keeping her safe and hopefully we won't be waiting too long for the eggs to hatch.



The development that is being delayed is known as the Cube - which was meant to be the finishing touch to an exclusive area of Birmingham

'We try to be very environmentally friendly, and don't want to do anything to disturb the bird.



'The goose has meant we have had to put off finishing the pavements around the bird and its eggs for three weeks.



'We have been able to work on other parts of the site in the meantime so we are not losing money but it is a pain that it has delayed the project.

'It is frustrating that we're being held up but I'm sure work will be able to continue as usual once the eggs have hatched.



'It wouldn't be a good idea to move her before her goslings have hatched.'



Cllr Mike Whitby said of the Cube back in 2006 before the goose incident that it would break all the boundaries of what has been achieved in Birmingham so far.

He said: 'Our city is a city of the future and as a futuristic building with phenomenal foresight in style and design, it is indicative of our plans in how we see Birmingham developing.



'The Mailbox has already raised the bar in the quality and calibre of our architecture and the retail offerings, worldwide brand names and stylish restaurants have given Birmingham a contemporary profile rivalling the capitals of Europe.

