Call for litter fines amid gulls problem

Pressures are mounting to impose fines on people who are continuing to flout calls not to feed seagulls as the birds become increasingly cunning when attacking victims.

Last month signs were erected in Scarborough and Whitby warning people not to drop rubbish, which attracts large numbers of gulls.

PRESSURES ARE mounting to impose fines on residents and holidaymakers who are continuing to flout calls not to feed seagulls as the birds become increasingly cunning when attacking unsuspecting victims.

Last month signs were erected in Scarborough and Whitby warning people not to drop rubbish, which attracts large numbers of gulls, or give the birds food, however some people are ignoring the notices.

Scarborough Borough Council’s Cabinet member for public health Coun Bill Chatt said if the problem continued, he would be forced to enforce fines on litter louts in a bid to cut down on the ongoing seagull problems.

He said: “Feeding the gulls is the worst thing people can do as they look at us as a food source, when in reality they should be eating what’s in the sea. It’s not good for them to eat pizza, chips and kebabs.

“Littering is a big issue for me. I don’t want to discourage anybody from coming to the coast, but they need to take their rubbish home. If I can’t get control over this, I will have to consider fining people who drop litter and I don’t want to do that. The gulls see litter dropped on the beach and see us as somebody who feeds them and that’s how the ‘muggings’ happen.”

Coun Chatt said the council had been made aware of a seagull which sits on a roof next to Scarborough Harbour and waits for children to walk by, before swooping down and frightening them so they drop their food.

He said: “They are quite clever. The problem we have got is not stupid animals, it is stupid human beings.

“Once the birds realise they won’t be getting any more food, they will go back to the sea.

“Most people are very responsible, it’s just a few who don’t care. “You can’t educate seagulls, but you can try and educate people.”

From March to December 2016, 36 incidents of “gull-muggings” had been reported to Scarborough Borough Council.