Moray councillors want Nature Scot to change rules concerning gulls
Moray Council will be asked to lobby the Scottish Government over problems with urban gulls in Elgin.
A motion has been put forward by two councillors calling for “urgent action” to resolve the issue of birds snatching food out of people’s hands and injuring folk.
John Divers (Elgin South, Labour) and Sandy Keith (Elgin North, Labour) claims NatureScot’s licensing system doesn’t allow the council to deal with the “menace” properly.
The pair therefore want the Scottish Government to instruct NatureScot to change their rules.
Cllr Divers said: “NatureScot is nullifying us at every opportunity.”
Kathleen Robertson, the council’s leader, will be asked to write to Mairi Gougeon, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs.
As gulls are protected species it is illegal without a licence to harm them or to destroy their eggs, chicks or nests.
These are only usually issued when there’s a risk to public health or safety.
One contention is that it can take up to 28 days for a licence, which is a longer period than the 21 days a gull is pregnant.
Secondly, a tightening of the rules by NatureScot means a seperate licence must be applied for each individual property rather than for a designated area.
Recent deterrent measures have seen fewer chicks in Elgin.
Elgin Common Good Fund has spent £26,000 this year on sonic devices that hinder gulls form breeding. Meanwhile, Moray Council has forked out £100,000 on control measures across Moray.
On top of that, businesses have also spent thousands.
The motion will be tabled by cllr Keith and cllr Divers at a meeting of the full council on Wednesday.
