News in Moray: Sonic devices to tackle Elgin's gulls
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Sonic devices will be installed across Elgin in an effort to end the town’s urban gull problem.
Elgin Common Good Fund is spending £15,000 to rent seven anti-gull devices which will be in place before the next breeding season.
The move follows a trial carried out by Elgin Bid (Business Improvement District) last year.
A sonic device placed on top of the St Giles Centre saw the number of nests fall from a hundred to just six.
Similar trials carried out by Moray Council at East End Primary School in Elgin and a works depot in Mosstodloch also proved successful.
The devices do not hurt the birds, but deter them from nesting and breeding.
All six Elgin councillors who administer Common Good funds agreed to spending the £15,000
Cllr John Divers (Elgin South, Labour) said: "The trials by Elgin Bid and the council appear to have worked in a very positive fashion.
"We’re dealing with a problem that the majority of people in Elgin have ask about for years.
"It’s not 100% effective, nothing is. But we know from the town centre trial there was a drop over 90% of nests and eggs.
"I’ll wait and see how this works out, but if it’s successful I’ll be jumping for joy."
The seven devices will be placed on some council buildings, a housing association property and another belonging to Moray College.
Elgin Bid will also place another device on the High Street.
Cllr Graham Leadbitter (Elgin South, SNP) said "This is an issue that has been raised repeatedly by the public as a matter of concern, and we have tried different approaches.
"The sonic devices have had a significant impact in the centre of Elgin and elsewhere.
"By using Common Good funding to expand that network to cover the vast majority of Elgin, it will have a big and positive impact for the environment and for the people who live and work here."
Common Good previously spent £22,000 on a nest and egg removal scheme in the town.
While it had some success, the measures needed to be carried out over several years to have a major impact.
Cllr Amber Dunbar (Elgin North, Conservative) is pleased all the town’s councillors came together to fund the project.
She said: "We all get complaints about aggressive birds. The sheer volume of them means they compete for food.
"The devices should result in fewer birds and less aggression towards people."
