Gulls - one person's problem is someone else's pleasure
Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) held a 'drop-in' session on Wednesday 10th October, to gather residents' opinions, comments and concerns about gulls. This was a welcome attempt by the CBC and councillors to hear what people think and to encourage sharing of information.
CBC is trying to understand the reasons why gulls inhabit some areas more than others and it seems that high houses, multiple chimney stacks and accessible food sources are some of these.
A variety of ways to discourage gulls were on display, including the practice of oiling of eggs in nests, using hawk flights to deter gulls either from nesting or frequenting an area, the application of spikes to chimney stacks and pots and the use of netting where appropriate. While it was not clear what extra funds - if any - will be available from the Council, CBC did seem very keen to help and cooperate with residents, especially groups of residents with definite plans.
SPJARA understands there are differing opinions about gulls among residents in the SPJARA area. It appears that a majority of residents regard them as a noisy nuisance, some are quite indifferent to them and some people enjoy seeing them and hearing them in our area!
Local actions taken in parts of our area to discourage gulls have included several roads and streets clubbing together to pay for a programme of hawk flights, coupled with spikes being applied to roofs and chimneys especially when scaffolding has been in place for other purposes. This combination of measures resulted in fewer nests being established, a significant reduction in gull noise, a significant increase in the population of smaller birds and the consequent increase in pleasant birdsong.
We also understand that a number of Gratton Road residents are taking collective action to apply extra spikes to chimneys.
The SPJARA Committee will keep members and other local residents informed of any outcomes of the drop-in session and of local actions proposed by the Council through the SPJARA website and future newsletters. The CBC website page on gulls is here: https://goo.gl/2F8YQT
Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) held a 'drop-in' session on Wednesday 10th October, to gather residents' opinions, comments and concerns about gulls. This was a welcome attempt by the CBC and councillors to hear what people think and to encourage sharing of information.
CBC is trying to understand the reasons why gulls inhabit some areas more than others and it seems that high houses, multiple chimney stacks and accessible food sources are some of these.
A variety of ways to discourage gulls were on display, including the practice of oiling of eggs in nests, using hawk flights to deter gulls either from nesting or frequenting an area, the application of spikes to chimney stacks and pots and the use of netting where appropriate. While it was not clear what extra funds - if any - will be available from the Council, CBC did seem very keen to help and cooperate with residents, especially groups of residents with definite plans.
SPJARA understands there are differing opinions about gulls among residents in the SPJARA area. It appears that a majority of residents regard them as a noisy nuisance, some are quite indifferent to them and some people enjoy seeing them and hearing them in our area!
Local actions taken in parts of our area to discourage gulls have included several roads and streets clubbing together to pay for a programme of hawk flights, coupled with spikes being applied to roofs and chimneys especially when scaffolding has been in place for other purposes. This combination of measures resulted in fewer nests being established, a significant reduction in gull noise, a significant increase in the population of smaller birds and the consequent increase in pleasant birdsong.
We also understand that a number of Gratton Road residents are taking collective action to apply extra spikes to chimneys.
The SPJARA Committee will keep members and other local residents informed of any outcomes of the drop-in session and of local actions proposed by the Council through the SPJARA website and future newsletters. The CBC website page on gulls is here: https://goo.gl/2F8YQT
