The problem of “urban menace” seagulls is too big for Dumfries and Galloway Council to solve, a councillor has insisted.
The local authority should instead be flying in help from the Scottish Government to reduce bird numbers and improve public safety, according to Councillor John Martin.
He said: “We’re never going to solve this problem. The only way it would happen is if you could shoot every gull that’s going about.
“They used to be called seagulls, but now they’re just gulls because they’re an urban menace.
“It’s a national problem. The Scottish Government should be taking a lead on this, rather than local councils.”
Councillor Martin was speaking at the communities committee on Thursday when councillors instructed officers to write to Scottish Government officials about exploring solutions to tackle the divebombing birds at a national level.
The council also agreed to spend up to £83,500 every year on implementing four different action steps to reduce gull numbers across the region.
These are: expanding the rollout of gull-proof bins – £42,000, fitting roof spikes, wires and nets on council properties – £30,000, egg and nest removal/egg oiling – £10,000, expanding the rollout of gull-proof sacks to businesses – £1,500.
Residents in many towns, including Kirkcudbright and Dumfries, have been complaining for years about problems caused by aggressive birds protecting nesting sites and swooping on people eating food in the street.
And the authority has spent considerable sums of money trying to address the issue with limited success.
Councillor Andrew Wood asked if officials had been in discussions with other councils about how they are tackling nuisance seagulls in their area.
Sandra Harkness, the council’s community protection manager, responded: “We have been working closely with other authorities. The environmental safety officer has actually been in touch with every single Scottish authority.
“She’s picked up on some in the north east of Scotland. There’s a joint working group in the north east that Moray Council, Aberdeen City, and Aberdeenshire have joined together to share best practice and information.
“So, we’ve tapped into that. We’re using some of the resource that they have and we’re learning from them.”
Meanwhile, Dee and Glenkens Councillor Pauline Drysdale called on officers to engage fully with residents and business owners affected by the seagulls.
She also asked for signs displaying “do not feed the gulls” to be erected prominently the worst-hit towns and added: “Quite simply, we cannot afford complacency at the moment.”
The council has set up the following dedicated email address for residents to seek advice or report problems gulls@dumgal.gov.uk
