Seagull problems lead to a demand for action

Liskeard's growing seagull problem, which has sparked fears about the safety of residents - especially the elderly - and the noise and mess they are making, has come under the microscope this week.

Angry Liskeard town councillors are calling for some kind of culling programme and say it was a waste of money for Caradon to have spent over £200,000 on sprucing the town up when they have done nothing about the seagulls messing it up again.

They are writing to the district council asking for some constructive action, amid reports of seagulls having been found poisoned and shot. A district councillor is to urge Caradon to find the money to clear nests from roofs.

Residents in Pike Street, including Wade and Irene Thurgood, and Mrs Irene Shirley are complaining that the noise of large numbers of gulls on their roofs are giving them sleepless nights, as are Market Street residents, town councillor John Goldsworthy and his wife Patricia.

Mrs Shirley says the seagulls are insomniacs and are turning her into one as well, whilst Mr and Mrs Thurgood are thinking of moving. 'This menace is driving us out of our home' they said.

Mrs Wrigley has been driven to such distraction she has contacted district councillors Ernest Arun-dell, and Dawn Austin. Mr Arundell spoke on the matter at the town council and volunteered, if the police gave him permission, to shoot them himself, so strong was his feeling on the matter.

Mrs Austin is to ask Caradon to find the £30,000 she has been led to believe is needed to clear nests - to prevent birds returning She has investigated how South Hams district council tackles its gull problem and says she has found they have an action plan with an integrated approach. When refuse is removed from an area street cleaners move in behind immediately to clear up scraps dropped - before seagulls arrive. Alternative plans such as proofing roofs to limit resting areas and so reduce the population have also been looked at.

Mrs Austin said: 'Apparently seagulls will travel l00 miles for a food source, so there is a need to work together with other councils to achieve a satisfactory result.'

She said one of her worries is that South Hams sought permission from the DETR to introduce a by-law banning feeding gulls, but the government said it was not in the public interest to fine people for doing this as it would be costly. She accepted the question of culling is a sensitive issue, but pointed out that she had been told by a vet that seagulls should not be touched, because they carry botulism etc.

She said she feels that they have become a definite pest problem and has arranged a meeting with Caradon's chief executive, Jack Neal, on Monday, for talks on the matter and has also contacted Caradon's environmental services manager, Mick Bullock.

He told her that following complaints about shooting of gulls in built-up areas last year a seagulls working party was set up to consider options. A policy was adopted including recommendations which took in employing two full time workers (subject to available funding), a programme of egg pricking and nest removal, and not adopting a policy of shooting except as a last resort