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MSP to host virtual meeting on gull menace


By Alan Beresford

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THE gull menace which has been afflicting communities across Moray and Aberdeenshire is to come under the spotlight at a virtual public meeting next week.

Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Karen Adam.
Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Karen Adam.

Behind the meeting is Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Karen Adam, who will host and chair the event on Wednesday, September 22 at 7pm.

In the run-up to the meeting Ms Adam has reached out to Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils, bird and conservation organisations, and a pest control expert to sit on the panel of the public meeting.

Constituents will also get to pre-submit questions on the issue to have them addressed by panellists.

Confirmed attendees so far are Gordon Buchanon, Service Manager of Protective Services at Aberdeenshire Council, Gordon Duguid of GD Pest Control, an Ellon based company that uses Hawks to control problem birds and who’s work can be seen regularly at Pittodrie Football Stadium. Others are still to confirm attendance but invitations have been extended to a range of relevant organisations. One of which who are yet to confirm attendance is Moray Council.

The Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP has been vocal in her stance on working to find a positive solution to the ongoing issue.

Ms Adam said: “Thank you to everyone who’s contacted me about the seagull issue. It’s something that I know impacts all of Banffshire Buchan Coast, from Buckie to Boddam and across much of the north-east coast.

"I am delighted that off the back of my campaign that Aberdeenshire Council have set up a review into how the council deals with gulls.

“This is without a doubt one of the key issues that’s become apparent since I was first elected in May and I intend to do everything I can to help tackle the issue within my role as an MSP.

“Whether you are being woken by gull noise, having your doors and windows regularly splattered, property damaged, or have to cope with an aggressive gull protective of its nest, I understand the impact it’s having on so many along the coast.

“Because of this, I have been in touch with an array of interested parties, such as Moray and Aberdeenshire Councils, bird and conservation organisations and pest control experts, inviting them to join me during the public meeting so that we can work in collaboration to tackle this issue.

She went on to stress that there was no single solution to the problem, saying that a "tough task" lay ahead to mitigate the gull menace.

Ms Adam added: “This public meeting will allow everyone who has contacted me the opportunity to voice their thoughts.

"If you are a constituent and would like to attend, please email me at Karen.Adam.MSP@Parliament.scot as soon as possible so that I can also send you an invitation to participate in the event.

“What I am seeking is a collaboration between all relevant parties so we can achieve something tangible, especially into next year and beyond. Realistically this will be a challenge that could take years to get under control. Someone needs to do something about this and I’m willing to try my best to do just that.”

Read Ms Adam's Facebook post ‘We need to talk about seagulls’ at https://www.facebook.com/karenadammsp/posts/4325558880833882


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