City Council Increases Gull Control Spending by £10,500 Amid Councillor Concerns

An additional £10,500 is set to be allocated by a city council for gull control efforts next year, though two councillors have voiced reservations about the methods employed to manage the birds. In 2024, Worcester City Council workers have so far removed 125 gull nests and implemented “gull-proofing” measures on 16 buildings within the city. Gull control initiatives have concentrated on “areas of harm” as identified by the authority, such as the city centre, and have also aimed to support affected residents. However, Councillor Adam Scott expressed sadness regarding the treatment of the birds, describing them as endangered, while Councillor Richard Udall warned that the focus was on the wrong pests, arguing that rats presented a more significant problem. On Tuesday, the authority’s environment committee was informed that there are currently 1,188 breeding pairs of gulls in the city, an increase of 58 pairs since 2022. The largest populations are concentrated around the Blackpole Trading Estate, Shire Business Park, and the city centre. The committee approved the allocation of an extra £10,500 for gull control in the coming year. This funding will cover gull-proofing homes in areas where gulls have relocated, the removal of nests and eggs from a vacant BT building in Charles Street, and the implementation of measures in High Street to deter the birds from perching there. Culling gulls is prohibited by law, as wild birds are legally protected. Councillor Adam Scott stated: “ I hope we’re not chasing them away just because of their existence, and that we’re only reacting to complaints.” Meanwhile, Councillor Richard Udall raised concerns about the targeting of gulls, suggesting the actions might be “a little bit disproportionate”. He added: “If we are not careful we’ll take our eye off the ball with the huge problems of other pests in the city and I’m thinking particularly of rats, which do cause more problems for a large number of people,” “They are endemic in the city and we have plenty of residential and commercial properties which are providing harbourage for rats.” “Let’s not forget the traditional enemy and it’s the rat.” Mark Cox, from Worcestershire Regulatory Services, explained that sewer baiting—placing bait at manhole covers to detect activity—could be carried out if rats are sighted, and residents meeting eligibility criteria could receive free rat treatments. This news was compiled by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organizations. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.