Seaside scourge – or simply misunderstood?
SIR – You report (April 30) that a council in Devon is to start fining people who feed the seagulls, on the grounds that this encourages their aggressive behaviour.
I have lived by the sea for 73 years and have never seen a seabird attack a human, a dog or even a tortoise. I also work at a kiosk on the beach and have seen thousands of diners enjoy their hot dogs, hamburgers and cheesy chips without a single strafing manoeuvre.
Perhaps our seabirds are more couth than those in Devon? Personally, I think any policing and fines should be directed at the hundreds of dog-owners who watch fondly as their pets leave deposits for visitors to step in and take away as a reminder of their visit to our peaceful shores. The menace here comes not from above, but from ground level. George East Hayling Island, Hampshire