Gulls alert: more actions

A public information day will be held in Scarborough to inform residents and visitors to the area about the herring gull disruption and dispersal programme currently being carried out in the town.

NBC Environment, the company carrying out the programme on behalf of Scarborough Borough Council, will be in Scarborough on Sandside overlooking the inner harbour (near the old police call box) on Wednesday May 31 between 10am and 5pm.

People will be able to meet some of the birds of prey that are being used to deter and scare away gulls as part of the programme.

The council was forced into more effective action following its lack of response over months to pleas by the public who were the victim of dangerous food snatches by gulls.

Representatives from Scarborough Council will attend the events to offer advice and talk about the other measures they are employing to reduce the nuisance caused by gulls, including the importance of not feeding them.

Steve Owen, NBC Environment’s regional sales manager, said: “Gulls tend to return to the same nesting sites each year and with their offspring in tow, so the issue will become incrementally worse unless action is taken to move the birds to more appropriate areas outside of town.”