Dumfries and Galloway Council are aware of the issues residents have with gulls.
A Spokesperson for the council said “We carry out a number of initiatives to address the problem, but residents and the general public must play their part. One of the main reason’s gulls are attracted to specific areas is for food. Litter plays a big part in the gull problem and we must work together to solve this.
With this in mind we are trialling ‘Gull-proof Bags’. The aim of this trial is to reduce the amount of litter on our roads and pavements that has originated from waste bags damaged by large birds and other animals.”
The initiative has been developed through co-operation between the Council’s Waste Collection and Street Cleansing teams and will see around forty households and businesses in Dumfries Town Centre being asked to participate in a trial of gull proof bags for the disposal of their waste. Initially, the properties selected are concentrated in a small area so that the impact of the trial can be measured.
Officers from the Council will be contacting residents and business owners over the next two weeks to explain how the new bags will work and ask them if they wish to take part in a 6-month trial to test their viability and practicality.
Should the gull proof bags prove successful, we anticipate that town centre properties, currently provided with refuse sacks instead of a wheeled bin for their waste, will be permanently provided with these seagull proof bags instead.
Archie Dryburgh, Chair of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee said:
“There is no doubt that gulls continue to create misery for many people and we recognise this. We know they are attracted to litter, that’s why we ask people to dispose of their waste appropriately.”
Chair of Communities Committee, Andy Ferguson said:
“Unfortunately, gulls have learned where to find food sources, so we are rolling out these trial bags to see if this will deter them from creating havoc by pecking and spreading waste, thereby attracting even more birds. If successful we hope to roll this out in other problem areas across the region in the future.”
The bags have been met with some criticism from the Seagull community though. Gordon ZeGull squawked;
“These new bags are a problem. Where are we meant to get a good breakfast free of charge now? These are the beginning of the end for our ‘all you can eat’ days.”
