Fears over aggressive gulls in seaside town

Arbroath: Community council issues warning after birds dive bomb pensioner and dog

Concerns over the aggressive nature of gulls in Arbroath are being highlighted in the town.

The issue will be discussed at this evening’s meeting of Arbroath Community Council after complaints were raised.

There are several pairs of gulls nesting and raising their chicks on the flat roofs on buildings in the High Street just outside the Abbeygate.

A warning was issued by the community council following a report of a pensioner and his dog being dive bombed by “very aggressive seagulls”.

Locals reported other incidents where people had suffered the same fate and the matter will be brought to the table at the community council at the Portcullis in Montrose Road at 7pm.

Chairman Kevin Smith said: “This problem has been around for many years now and there is still no real answer to the issue.

“More needs to be done to educate locals and visitors alike to the apparent dangers that these seagulls can cause and not to feed them.”

Mr Smith, who said he almost lost his bacon sandwich to a gull at Carnoustie recently, said he was worried that children could get hurt.

He said: “It’s the smaller children I’m more worried about so something needs to happen before there is a very bad incident.”

Mr Smith said th current legislation that makes it illegal to kill any gull or destroy an active nest is another big issue.

Angus Council has spent more than £200,000 combating the menace of “super gulls” and other pests over the past five years.

Some £114,749 was spent on pest control and £103,000 on gull complaints, as attacks have increased in urban settings.

The coastal towns have been worst hit – Arbroath recorded 305 messages passed on to the council, Montrose 285 and Carnoustie 82.

The council has received more than 751 complaints and effected 1,555 treatments since 2011.

A spokesman for Angus Council said: “Our environmental and consumer protection team have dealt with around 300 requests to remove seagull nests already this season.

“With the breeding season now welladvanced it is unlikely we could offer any intervention now, unless you have had a nest removed recently.

“Once young birds begin to fledge, parent gulls can become very aggressive in an effort to protect them.

“It is only permissible to deal with them at this stage in very exceptional circumstances.

“The best way to address this problem is to prevent nest building by using spikes, nets and wires.

“You can also help us tackle the nuisance caused by gulls by not feeding them, and ensuring proper disposal of litter and food waste.” gstrachan@thecourier.co.uk

It’s the smaller children I’m more worried about so something needs to happen before there is a very bad incident. ARBROATH COMMUNITY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN KEVIN SMITH

Picture: Kris Miller. Gulls are nesting on the flat roofs of buildings in High Street.