A new scheme is being launched that aims to combat the gull menace that has been plaguing Moray’s biggest town for years.
Nearly 1,500 homes in Elgin will be the beneficiaries of the £11,000 pilot project that will try to curb rising numbers of the birds which have had a detrimental effect on the lives of residents in the region.
Gulls have been a problem in the area for the past few years with holidaymakers even being forced to cut trips short due to their shrieking keeping them awake at night.
The feathered foes have also been involved in a number of dive-bombing incidents, with children at New Elgin Primary last year resorting to eat their food inside due to the birds aggressively going after their snacks.
However, Moray Council has developed a pilot scheme to curb this nuisance and now plan to carry out oiling of eggs in residential areas.
It will be funded using a combination of money from the town’s common good fund and housing department.
The pilot will cover 1,498 properties in the New Elgin, Kingsmills and Lesmurdie areas of Elgin.
Elgin Community Council chairman Alastair Kennedy believes it’s about time something was done about the seagull menaces but raised concerns about the effectiveness of these proposals.
He said: “At the moment, looking at it, it sounds like a good idea but we do have a few concerns about it.
“Since it is only being used in these specific areas, it might post the seagulls to another area of Elgin and it is not a quick fix, as it will take a few years before you will see any benefit.
“It is getting to the stage that they are becoming a nightmare and something needs done but even if this pilot scheme works, how can it be used in the rest of Elgin, which is a big area and how can we maintain it?
“So we have a few concerns but will have to find out more about it before we can fully support it.”
Egg oiling involves dipping the eggs in paraffin which prevents the unborn bird from maturing to the point of hatching while the parent will remain unaware it has been interfered with and will continue to sit on it.
Robertson Drive resident Elaine Chapman endured early mornings last year because of the seagulls incessant shrieking and said she backed the scheme if it is successful in controlling their breeding and noise.
