DO NOT FEED THE GULLS
COUNCILLORS have approved the location of 11 new signs in Arbroath which will warn people not to feed seagulls.
At a meeting of the infrastructure services committee in Forfar on Tuesday, it was agreed that the notices should be erected at the eight proposed locations around the town in a bid to curb the urban gull problem.
Now 11 new signs, which will include three at Victoria Park, two in Queen's Drive and two at the West Links will state: 'Please do not feed the gulls - they may become aggressive.'
Other locations for the signs are the library, the ACCESS office, Bruce House and the Saltire Leisure Centre.
The noticeboards at Keptie Pond and the West Links pavilion will also be displaying notices urging people not to feed the birds.
Three signs already exist in Arbroath Harbour warning people against leaving food for the gulls.
Infrastructure services convener, Councillor David May hopes that people will take notice of the signs and heed their warnings.
He said: "Since the approval of funding in February 2009 the council has consulted with the local community councils regarding the most appropriate locations for the new signs.
"The council's free nest and egg retrieval service has been well used since its introduction in April and we will be able to further reduce the gull nuisance in our streets and open areas if people stop feeding them, so I urge people to heed the message on the new signs."
As reported in the Herald last week, Arbroath councillor Donald Morrison said he was 'exasperated' by the length of time it took Angus Council to approve the signs.
He added it took the authority two years to approve the signs after a motion on the plans was brought forward by the SNP group.
However, Councillor May argues that in order for the signs to be put in the right locations and have the most effect, a local consultation process had to be carried out.
He explained: "I would like to point out that following the budget decision, we agreed to consult over where the signs should go and we have taken account of all the suggestions.
"This has now taken place and my committee passed the report on signage earlier this week.
"It might be that the SNP's Councillor Morrison does not believe we should consult the local community as this would speed up decision making, but I can assure him that the Angus Alliance do believe in involving the local community and to do this properly takes time."
Since the council introduced the free gull nest and egg retrieval service for householders in April, 263 treatments have been carried out.
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Weather for Arbroath
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
