Montrose residents have claimed their 15-year gull hell has intensified after the marauding birds were moved out of their home to make way for a new town road.
Sheds where the so-called “rats with wings” used to nest were cleared as part of the spine road project associated with the multi-million pound Montrose South regeneration programme.
The benefit to the town includes 200 new jobs and a £100 million private sector commitment but fed up River Street householders said the noise and mess created by hundreds of gulls is making their life a misery.
Dropping-splattered vehicles are a daily occurrence and locals fear aggressive gulls will become even more of a problem as the breeding season gets into full swing.
River Street resident Rose Sherriff said: “We’ve complained and complained to the council for years about the gulls but haven’t got anywhere and now it is just unbelievable.
“After suffering nine months of upheaval while the road was being built, we’ve now got all these gulls still in the area but with the sheds gone and people have no idea how bad it is living with them – they are rats with wings.”
“One night I counted 120 gulls just in the area where the shed was that they used to nest.
“They are noisy and for some reason seem to be flying around a lot more. One of my neighbours has a brand new car and every day it is absolutely covered in seagull droppings.
“We did get up a petition about sixteen years ago but never got anywhere with it. We’ve used the council’s nest removal service but that isn’t solving the problem.”
Mrs Sherriff said fed-up locals are now considering installing spikes on their properties to deter the birds.
“We’ve been told it’ll be around £260 for each chimney, but some folk I know are looking at having to pay thousands of pounds.”
An Angus Council spokesperson said: “Seagulls are protected under the Countryside and Wildlife Act.
“However, the Council has a “general licence” to control these birds by non-lethal means. The law does allow for lethal means of control in relation to seagulls, but only in very extreme circumstances, such as where there is a risk to human health.
“We offer a free egg removal service to all domestic residents and we ask anyone who sees nest-building activity on their property to contact us as soon as possible to make arrangements for the eggs and nest to be removed.
“Unfortunately once eggs hatch the gulls start swooping in order to protect their chicks – at this point no action can be taken.
“Owners of commercial premises may also contact us to request a treatment but a charge will be made for any work carried out.
“The gestation period for the eggs to hatch is approximately three weeks and adult pairs may raise up to three broods over a breeding season – which for gulls is usually between the beginning of April and the end of June.
“We do not have powers to force owners of properties to take action against gulls. We also discourage people from feeding gulls but again do not have any powers to take action against them if they do.”
