‘Don’t care’ council is slammed over gulls

Embattled Carbrain residents have slammed what they call the ‘’don’t care attitude’’ of North Lanarkshire Councils as seagulls continue to wreak havoc around the clock.

Last week, we told how deafening, aggressive and destructive gulls had taken over Carbrain.

Despite this, the council was refusing to take any action against them, unlike council chiefs in Dumfries & Galloway who put a project in place to humanely deal with the gulls.

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However environmental manager Mark Findlay said say they have no legal obligation to act and that anti-seagull measures would be too costly.

Several readers got in touch to vent their spleen including Bill Henry of Greenrigg Road.

The retired photographer said: “I’m really annoyed by the don’t care attitude of Mark Findlay. The noise starts around 4am every morning and continues all day, it seems we humans are the alien invaders on a bird sanctuary.’’

Community activist Angi Inch argued that the council needed to act.

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She said: “These gulls are a menace. People down here have needed stitches. You cannot let kids out when they are about. Folk won’t even go to the shop. They are too frightened of being attacked. It is a really serious problem.’’

Mr Findlay answered his critics by saying: “The gulls are following their natural instincts to protect both nests and their young. Last year we spent £4,500 on egg and nest removal on one building and residents didn’t notice any difference.“Multiply that by 50 sites in Cumbernauld and the potential cost rises to more than £250,000 a year for at least three to five years.“

“The Dumfries and Galloway experiment was paid for by the Scottish Government and had little effect on gull numbers.

“Even culling the birds, and it’s unlikely we would get approval, would be difficult in an urban area, be very costly and more than likely not reduce the problem.

“We would also face criticism from animal welfare groups.

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“In any event, seagulls are not something the council has any authority to regulate. It falls entirely to individual land and property owners to deal with in compliance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981,’’ added Mr Findlay.

“The problems should begin to reduce during the next week or so as the young leave their nests,’’ he said.

Anyone seeking advice on the birds should consult NLC’s website, he stressed.

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