Hythehill Primary pupils forced to eat indoors by seagulls
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CHILDREN at Hythehill Primary School in Lossiemouth are being forced to eat their snacks indoors due to seagulls.
The playground has become overrun with the birds, which are frightening children by swooping at them and dirtying the area with excrement.
The school has gone as far as to get the fire brigade in to clean up the mess, but the school hopes children eating inside will reduce the amount of litter, and therefore the number of gulls in the area.
However, this has upset some parents – who believe the birds are being prioritised over the school’s pupils.
The school stated in a letter to parents that children would have to eat inside for the time being, pointing out the time lost for eating will come out of class-time rather than break-time.
Ecolab, a global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, visited the school on Tuesday with a survey taking place and plans to go forward being discussed.
Parent Clive Shiach, who stressed the situation is entirely outwith the school’s control, does not believe this is the answer.
He said: “I find the current situation truly unacceptable, with birds seemingly taking priority over humans in our local area.
“I have discussed at length with my daughter the children’s’ experiences of swooping birds frightening children in the playground, which I have personally witnessed for myself.
“It is surely time to take action. I am extremely passionate about the fantastic school which my daughter attends. Our wonderful area, which we are blessed to live in, is spoilt by seagulls on various levels of everyday life.”
A Moray Council spokesperson said: “Our environmental health team are liaising with the school and a contractor has visited to discuss what can be done.”
