Flap over gull reduction measures

Jul 29 2009 by Julie Watt, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

THE COUNCIL’S seagull clampdown has been left in a flutter after one of the most common species was given special protection this week.

Gulls have become an ever-increasing menace in Dumfries town centre with the Scottish Government investing £87,000 in a three-year programme designed to rid the problem birds from the town.

However these measures to control the growth in gull numbers will have to be revised after the herring gull, one of the most prolific seabirds found in towns, has been placed on the UK’s Red List of species of high conservation concern – meaning they need to be conserved rather than controlled.

This is because, even though the numbers of gulls seem to be growing in towns, overall numbers in the UK have plummeted by around 70 per cent since 1970.

Experts have said that councils will now have to reconsider actions aimed at reducing the numbers of gulls in towns, such as destroying nests and eggs.

Nith Ward Councillor Colin Smyth, who has been calling for more action to tackle the seagull problem in Dumfries, believes this could have a major impact on the council’s policy.

He said: “I suspect most people will be gobsmacked at this turn of events and it really does leave the so-called seagull clampdown in a bit of a flutter.

“Most people rightly think gulls are little more than rats with wings and should be treated in the same way as vermin, not be protected.”

He added: “The one saving grace we do have is the fact that this decision only affects herring gulls and if you look around the town I suspect you’ll find a huge part of the problem is caused by black-backed gulls.”

It was only a few weeks ago that Nith Ward Councillors Colin Smyth and John Martin were calling for the council’s policy of nest removal to be extended.

Councillor Smyth has called for an urgent report to come before the next meeting of the Council’s Planning, Housing and Environment Committee to determine just what the implications of this decision will be.