Perthshire Advertiser

Extratraff­ic measures

- ROBBIE CHALMERS

Perth and Kinross Council has said there is nothing it can do to deal with divebombin­g seagulls.

And locals have been told to take their own action to protect themselves from the avian threat.

The birds are bringing misery to parts of the Fair City as they attack locals going about their business.

Last week, the PA reported that 67-year-old Andrea Bruce and her dog Lily had been forced to take cover inside their North Muirton home because of the creatures.

And another local has come forward to say the problems exist elsewhere.

The Perth resident, who does not wish to be named, has said he feels “trapped in his house” because of the seagulls.

He added: “I had to sprint this morning to get away from them with my dog, it is a good job I have good reflexes.

“I have lived here for six or seven years and every year they are getting more aggressive. Something needs to be done.

“They are really nasty. You don’t need to be near them for them to start, it is like they are on steroids.

“I dare anyone to walk Canal Street with a dog. You have to psyche yourself up just to go out.

“The thing is, if I fight back and hurt one, I could go to jail.”

Seagulls are known to attack people for food and to guard their nests.

A spokespers­on for the council said: “Perth and Kinross Council does not have a statutory duty to take action against gulls. It is illegal to capture, injure or destroy any wild bird or interfere with its nest or eggs.

“There are some simple solutions that all property owners can undertake to deter gulls from causing a nuisance. Ensuring that all food is securely disposed of will encourage gulls to look for food elsewhere.

“Also, working with neighbouri­ng property owners to discourage gulls landing on premises by using mechanical means, such as netting, wires or bird spikes, will help to reduce the gull population in the immediate area.

“The use of falconry to deter gulls is a natural control method which can also be used.”

The PA approached the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to ask what residents can do. A spokespers­on said: “Many adult birds use swooping as a defence mechanism if they feel their chicks are in danger. So while gulls are not naturally aggressive birds, during the breeding season, we should be more cautious around nest sites.

“Normally this will only happen for a few weeks until the chicks fledge, but it can be very scary.

“Young gulls leave the nest before they can fly which makes them vulnerable and means that the parents have to defend them from threats.

“If the parents think a person is walking too close they will start the swooping behaviour. The best way to avoid this is by not getting close to young gulls on

Perthshire A9 road users are being advised to allow extra time for journeys as additional traffic management is set to be installed on the route next week.

The measures will be implemente­d at the northern extent of the A9 Dualling: Luncarty to Pass of Birnam project from 8am on Monday, July 12.

A lane closure will be integrated into the existing traffic management and both will be in place for approximat­ely five days to connect new BT diversions to the existing telecommun­ications network.

The additional traffic management will reduce the existing dual carriagewa­y to a single lane for the five days to allow utility works to take place.

Road users are advised to allow additional time for their journey and take care on approach to the new traffic management layout.

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 ??  ?? Run for coverAndre­a Bruce, who featured in last week’s PA, checks the sky for seagulls
Run for coverAndre­a Bruce, who featured in last week’s PA, checks the sky for seagulls

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