Angus councillors are preparing to scour the nation in search of potential solutions to the menace posed by the area’s gull population.
With the perennial issue back in the spotlight after a flood of complaints, elected members have asked the authority’s chief executive to examine a number of options to help deal with the problem and are preparing to quiz town hall counterparts around the coast of Britain about what measures they adopt against the nuisance.
Members at Hope Paton Bowling Club in Montrose recently raised the situation after they were forced to delay a competition because of the mess the gulls made on the green the club leases from the council.
The situation prompted independent councillors Mark Salmond and David Fairweather to meet chief executive Richard Stiff to discuss measures the council might develop to try to reduce the menace in the county’s coastal towns.
Both councillors have had constant complaints from residents in Arbroath and Montrose about the scavenging gulls attacking people, fouling and vomiting on cars, pavements and roofs, and causing noise nuisance.
“We were advised again that seagulls are protected by legislation and that we must work within the law, but this is difficult to accept when these birds are causing so many problems and are now becoming violent and aggressive in our town centres,” said Montrose member Mr Salmond.
Mr Fairweather said, “We had a constructive discussion with the chief executive, and betweenus identified areas f or improvement in how Angus Council could communicate better with the public on how to request the free nest and egg removal service that the council provides to residential properties.”
Mr Stiff has also been asked to look into the possibility of that scheme being extended to smaller commercial properties.
“I have requested information on what the likely costings and exclusions to this extension to the scheme would be after all, gulls do not discriminate between residential and commercial buildings,” said Mr Salmond.DeterringLocals and visitors could also find themselves being asked to take a more stringent role in deterring the winged menace.
Mr Fairweather said, “Another area that we have asked officers to look at is what legal measures can be put in place to stop people feeding the gulls in public places.
“This is just encouraging the gulls to our town centres and something Councillor Salmond and myself are receiving constant complaints about.”
The council’s own housekeeping is also set to come under scrutiny after the councillors discussed with Mr Stiff how Angus might be able to improve its town centre waste management.
Mr Salmond continued, “Gulls are very adept at pulling litter out of the bins and Councillor Fairweather and myself have asked for a review of town centre litter bin collections with a view to increasing the frequency during the peak summer season.
“The chief executive will also be contacting other coastal councils around the UK to see what initiatives they have put in place to deal with the ever growing gull population, to see if Angus Council can learn any lessons.”
They would be looking to Angus North MSP Nigel Don for support after he agreed to press Holyrood to find away to deal with this problem.
“The legislation which Angus Council applies originates through the UK and Scottish governments and I have written to Mike Weir MP, Nigel Don MSP and Graeme Dey MSP asking them to meet with Councillor Fairweather and myself to see what we can collectively do to reduce this problem for our Angus constituents,” said Mr Salmond.
“We look forward to meeting our MSPs and MP to see what influence they can bring in their respective parliaments to change the legislation to deal with this gull menace which is blighting our Angus towns.”