By Philip Murray

ANGUS COUNCIL looks set to be among the local authorities leading the way in the fight against the scourge of nuisance seagulls.

Scottish Government environmental minister Michael Russell recently announced the launch of a pilot scheme in Dumfries to tackle the menace posed by aggressive gulls.

If successful, he hopes it could be rolled out nationwide and used to provide valuable information to local authorities.

“In June, I chaired a summit in Dumfries to discuss what can be done about the issue. I said I would be tough on seagulls and tough on the causes of seagulls,” he said.

“By preventing gulls from nesting and destroying nests when discovered we can actively discourage them from breeding in Dumfries, and hopefully force them to look elsewhere.

“I expect the task force to start making plans now, ready to swing into action next spring to coincide with the next breeding season.

“If successful, lessons learned will be shared with other local authorities so they can see what has worked in Dumfries with a view to implementing an appropriate response to problems in their area.

“I am sure this will prove to be a worthwhile exercise and an effective means of reducing numbers of nuisance birds in Scotland’s towns and cities,” he added.

However, for Angus Council action is already well under way after councillors voted through measures earlier this year.

They were also among the local councils who attended the meeting in Dumfries which Mr Russell oversaw.

An Angus Council spokesperson said, “We were represented at the gull summit in Dumfries earlier this year and those who attended found the discussions and debates informative.

“The council has already agreed a range of measures to deal with gull problems which will be implemented in 2009.”

The council is to reinstate a free nest removal service last offered more than a decade ago. In 2006 complaints about gulls more than doubled to 95, prompting the creation of a paid-for nest removal service.

Councillors hope the situation will be brought permanently under control after agreeing to make the service free of charge.

A number of other measures were also agreed.

These included the commissioning of a further report setting out proposals for signs on the county’s streets, parks and other public areas.

Advice booklets will also be published and children will be taught not to feed the birds.