Dear Levy Payer
We need your input on what we should do about gull control this season.
You may recall that that we could not carry out the egg and nest programme two seasons ago because of the lockdown. Last season our application for a town centre egg and nest programme was refused because of a change in the regulations caused by new data on gull population numbers. That situation has not changed in 2022. You may have seen a recent news story that total gull numbers are lower than they were. Hard as that may be to believe in Peterhead at the moment.
As a result, we will not get a town centre licence this year. We may get lethal measures licences for individual businesses where there is evidence of previous attempts at prevention or where public health is at risk or food preparation takes place.
Aberdeenshire has recently confirmed that the unspent money in this project is still available for 2022.
Our options are:
- Apply for specific licences for individual properties on the basis described above.
- Offer grants to businesses to help finance prevention works like spikes, netting and wiring.
- Use prevention measures like birds of prey and noise to deter gulls from nesting in the town centre.
These are not standalone options. Ideally, we would do a combination of activities. Help businesses to pay for long term prevention solutions like netting and spiking. Carry out deterrence work because this will provide evidence that will help with future lethal measures applications. Apply for egg and nest removal licences for individual businesses that can evidence genuine public health or food preparation issues.
The new breeding season is now close. It would be really helpful to get your feedback on this. In particular I need to hear from businesses interested in installing prevention measures that we could help to fund and from those of you who would like us to apply for egg and nest removal permission.
I can be contacted at mail@rediscoverpeterhead.co.uk or 07741 628275
Leslie Forsyth
Manager Rediscover Peterhead
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