Kirkcudbright residents are demanding action to tackle the seagull menace that is making their lives a misery.
People living in and around Millburn Street and Buchanan Street say their mental health is suffering as they are being woken in the early hours of the morning by the screeching birds.
And they told the News the gulls are regularly attacking people and pets.
But despite making their concerns known a year ago, they are still waiting for meaningful action from the council.
One resident, Margaret Maxwell, said: “This year in particular has been extremely difficult and stressful with noise, guano and attacks from above.
“It is clear that the council needs to put a plan in place to deal with this ever growing problem.
“They tell us these birds are protected but what about the residents’ protection?”
The council’s communities committee agreed last year to extend their gull control programme, which runs in Dumfries and Annan, to cover Kirkcudbright and there were also plans for a gull officer.
However, any action taken as a result of those changes has yet to have a meaningful impact. Dee and Glenkens Councillor Pauline Drysdale said: “The council agreed last September to recruit a gull officer before the start of the breeding season.
“Unfortunately this didn’t happen because of the Covid pandemic and other circumstances – although I am hopeful that someone will be in place by September.
“In the meantime, other action needs to be taken to prevent and avoid further gull issues within the town, such as installing roof spikes.”
The plight of the residents is also being backed by Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Finlay Carson.
He said: “While it is something that people just have to accept that gulls are very much part of the natural environment here in the south west – and with that comes acceptance that the odd ice cream or fish supper may be snatched from time to time – we are talking about residential areas where the mental health of many people and their wellbeing is now being hugely affected.
“There are actions that can be taken to encourage gulls not to nest in these areas and we need to explore this as soon as possible.”
Seagull nests and eggs are protected by law but Councillor Drysdale is trying to convince officials to take advantage of NatureScot’s licensing guide which allows for action if communities are suffering tremendous stress.
A council spokesman said they had no statutory duty to eradicate gulls but in light of the “extreme nuisance” the birds were causing, it had been agreed last year to extend the bird control project operated under licence in Dumfries and Annan to other parts of the region.
He added: “The council will now be appointing an environmental safety officer to focus on prevention measures and apply to NatureScot for a licence to cover Kirkcudbright next year that will allow control measures to be taken as a last resort. We’re also ordering gull proof bins for Kirkcudbright.
“To assist with this, we have added a new section to our trusted trader site on gull prevention where existing members of the scheme within this category can be employed by residents to fit roof spikes.”
