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Inverness gull management on the block for a second year running as four councillors block egg and nest removal, preferring a ‘do not feed the gulls’ campaign





Christmas shoppers 30 November 2021: Seagull. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Christmas shoppers 30 November 2021: Seagull. Picture: James Mackenzie.

Inverness city centre’s gull management programme could be at risk of not running at full strength for a second year running.

Four city councillors, it has emerged, have failed to support egg and nest removal measures that have previously been used to limit numbers of the birds which are often a source of concern in the city centre.

Their stance puts at risk Inverness BID’s application for a full NatureScot recommended scheme to tackle gull numbers.

The city faced difficulties last year too when it failed to meet the cut-off point at which egg and nest removal would be permitted.

A majority of members on the Inverness Common Good Fund sub-committee voted to decline a £27,050 application by Inverness BID to follow the scheme approved by national environment agency NatureScot.

Members referred to “many anecdotes and concerns from local residents, schools and business owners” about problems caused by gulls including “children being unable to eat outside at school” and “catering businesses being unable to use their outdoor seating”.

Claims were also heard of “cars being damaged by corrosive gull faeces and members of the public, particularly the elderly, being attacked and divebombed” by the birds.

NatureScot’s Chris Donald briefed the Inverness committee last August on its licensing system update which scuppered efforts to tackle the gull population last year.

The sub-committee, having heard all that, decided it would not recommend funding the gull management programme.

Three councillors - Lib Dem Councillor Alex Graham supported by independent Morven Reid and Conservative Isabelle Mackenzie, backed the enhanced programme.

Greens Councillor Chris Ballance. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Greens Councillor Chris Ballance. Picture: James Mackenzie.

But a majority made up of Greens Cllr Chris Ballance and SNP members Michael Cameron and Kate MacLean and Labour’s Michael Gregson voted against.

Removing backing for an application for egg or nest removal licences which would have been effective for up to 60 city sites between April and May what remains is a lasering and human disturbance to interrupt nesting along with deployment of a falcon three times weekly between April 1 to July 31 and the public awareness Do Not Feed the Gulls campaign.

The final decision rests with the Inverness city committee - which meets on Monday - but if endorsed would severely limit gull population control measures in the city centre.

A spokesperson for the BID board said: "The permitted approach to gull management has changed, with a stronger emphasis now being placed on a strategic, plan-based model, rather than focusing primarily on licensing for egg and nest removal.

“NatureScot has issued comprehensive guidance on the extensive measures required, and we have been advised to apply this updated approach moving forward.

“This will require a significant investment and may lead to higher costs for potentially less effective results, however our understanding is that the funding requested overall remains much lower than what other local authority areas have allocated for similar efforts”.

They added: “Our 2024 gull incident reporting portal found that the impact of gulls has been substantial and detrimental across our area. We remain, therefore, committed to doing what we can, subject to funding, to mitigate this impact and within the parameters allowed”.


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