A COMPREHENSIVE £40,000 action plan to reduce the numbers of gulls nesting in Worcester next year is to be considered by councillors,
The creation of three gull nest exclusion zones, subsidising property owners to make their buildings ‘gull-proof’ and campaigning for a change to the national rules which limit what can be done to control the birds are among the actions to be considered by the City Council’s Environment Committee.
The numbers of breeding gulls in the city have caused problems for Worcester residents and businesses, with the birds swooping down on people, calling out noisily early in the morning, interrupting sleep, and depositing large amounts of mess on pavements, buildings and unlucky passers-by.
Coun Andy Stafford, chair of Worcester City Council’s Environment Committee, said: “There are only a few gulls left in the city at this time of year, but everyone in the city knows that when they return in the spring for the nesting season they once again become both a pest and, in some cases, a direct threat to public health and safety.
“Earlier this year we doubled the budget to tackle the problems they cause to £60,000 and now is the time when we have to start planning for their return, so that we make sure there are fewer breeding pairs in 2022.”
The new action plan includes the idea of creating three experimental gull nest exclusion zones in The Tything, at Weir Lane / Lower Wick and around Fish St and Copenhagen St in the city centre.
To deliver these actions, the committee will be asked to support a further £40,000 increase in the gull control budget, with the 2022 plan estimated to cost £74,500.
The 2022 action plan would build on the successful work to control the birds’ population this year, which has included the licenced removal of 141 nests and 223 eggs, and the rescue of 29 chicks which were rehabilitated and released into the wild at coastal locations.
Gull-proof measures were introduced at 13 properties around the city while a giant cherry-picker to remove nesting materials from the tops of buildings was brought in after the nesting season had ended.
Watch the meeting on Tuesday (November 2) at www.youtube.com/WorcesterCityCouncil.
