The fight against Arbroath’s urban gull problem is being watched with interest by councils across Courier Country.
The public is also lining up to be involved in the fight against the scavengers after Angus Council gave a Dragon’s Den-style idea the green light.
Ian Watson’s colourful idea to curb the county’s gull problem is to be the subject of a trial, and red patches will now be painted at gull ”hotspots” across the town.
The impact will be monitored before the survey results are considered later this year and people from Dundee, Arbroath and Montrose have already offered to help.
The Arbroath community councillor’s idea has got everyone in the town talking, and was demonstrated to neighbourhood services director Ron Ashton at Victoria Park last week.
Mr Watson dubbed by some as the “Seagull whisperer” believes the colour red is a deterrent to the gulls and, as a result of the demonstration, the council will now lay down red patches in specific areas of the town, such as waste bins.
Members of the community council will also be asked to assist with the survey by undertaking spot checks on busy areas where seagulls normally cluster and create a nuisance.
They will be helped by people from across Courier country who have got in touch with Mr Watson.
Mr Watson told The Courier: ”People from Montrose, Dundee and Arbroath all who have seagull problems are asking to become involved in the trials.
”I will be reporting to everyone at this week’s community council meeting the fantastic progress that we have made in such a short space of time.
”I have been in touch with various community councillors and all of them have been 100% supportive of this simple but effective possible solution and are eager to participate.”