Dead gulls lead to call to ban roof nets in town

A CALL has been made for a Northumberland coastal town to become net free after more gulls were found dead.

Campaigners are calling for the controversial netting to be removed from businesses in Berwick after a bird died trapped in netting above Morrisons.

The call comes after animal rights groups were left outraged when two gulls were trapped for five days on the rooftop of Caffe Nero, on Marygate, leaving behind fledging chicks.

Karen Francis, 55, from Bird Netting Free Berwick, said Morrisons should lead the way by removing its netting.

She said: “We have been petitioning for the netting above Caffe Nero to be removed. Since then a couple of gulls have been found dead in the netting above the petrol station at Morrisons and a dead gull on the main roof.

“I understand that for people living in coastal towns they can be a nuisance but nobody wants to see a gull dying an agonising and prolonged death.

“It is horrendous and distressing for people to look at. What we want to see is netting completely removed from Berwick.”

A spokesperson for Caffe Nero said at the time that the company was working with landlords to try and find an ongoing solution.

The controversial netting is legal and is believed to be an effective means of keeping birds off structures but the RSPCA website says problems occur when the netting is incorrectly installed or becomes damaged, leaving gaps where birds can enter.

A spokeswoman for Morrisons said: “We are very sorry to hear that this happened. Netting is a common method used to protect buildings by preventing bird access. It would never be our intention to trap any birds and we are taking the necessary steps to replace any damaged netting.”