Dundee’s lord provost has conceded the city’s seagull problem is worsening.
Senior councillor Ian Borthwick says he has seen an increase in the coastal birds around Dundee city centre and described the problem as “growing”.
In Fife, the administration will not rule out launching a seagull cull — but Mr Borthwick remains unsure if such a step would be legally viable.
Mr Borthwick said: “It’s a growing problem — I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.
“I have noticed an increase to some extent. We go through cycles with younger ones being born. There’s an increase in the population and then there’s a decrease.
“Workers have been working to take away the eggs. That reduces the population.
“I’m satisfied that environmental health are doing all they can do within the law, but I will take this up with environmental health again.
“It can be quite frightening, especially if you have young children and are eating outside. Every city near the sea gets this problem.”
Mr Borthwick believes discarded rubbish and food compounds the issue of problem birds.
He said: “The problem can be generated by rubbish being left out and not being secure enough.
“People not exercising due care and not being careful with depositing their food is part of the problem.”
Speaking last week, Ross Vettraino, Fife Council’s environment convener, said the local authority would not dismiss the possibility of a cull following several reports of members of the public being attacked in Kirkcaldy.
He told The Courier: “We should not discount anything. We should closely investigate every possibility.
“It is a problem that seems to be getting more and more acute.
“It is something that is being reported more frequently and that could be an indication that things are getting worse.”
