Seagulls have been blamed for going on the rampage and scattering rubbish over Swansea’s streets by a local elections candidate who is calling for action.
Louise Thomas, who is standing for the Conservatives in Mayals, has shared images showing rubbish bags in West Cross being torn to pieces by the determined birds on the look-out for food. Gangs of seagulls had been gathering, she said, leading to worsening problems with mess being strewn across the city.
“We were asked to highlight the real issue of seagull nuisance in Swansea and I was supplied with some photos of the problem by local residents and businesses. Every day in the early hours rubbish bins are being opened and strewn all over the roads. This is happening all over Swansea and is an issue even in residential streets,” she said. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
She said the pictures gave a snapshot of a problem which was affecting a number of areas in the city.
Ms Thomas added: “One local shopworker said it's like this every morning, and it is getting worse.” She said complaints had been raised over the gulls previously but there was a wave of protests against the use of anti-gull spikes in Swansea. It led to thousands of people calling for the use of nets and rails to deter gulls to be banned in Wales. The Welsh Government said the measures should only be used “in exceptional circumstances.”
All species of gull are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it illegal to intentionally kill or destroy an active nest or its contents. But in certain circumstances, the act states that control measures may be necessary and licences can be issued by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) permitting nests or birds to be destroyed. Read about the man who wants to save seagulls here.
Control measures are only imposed if there is no non-lethal solution and if it is done to prevent serious damage to agriculture, the spread of disease, to preserve public health, preserve air safety or to conserve other wild birds.
Also standing in the Mayals ward at the council elections are Pam Erasmus (Labour), Chris Evans (Wales Green Party), and Daniel David Guttery (Welsh Liberal Democrats). You can read more stories about Swansea here.
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