The dreaded Paignton seagull problem

Next to perhaps Nick Bye the seagull is surely the most maligned being in the Bay.

I want to say they’re like marmite – you either love them or hate them – except nearly everyone seems to sit in the latter camp!

“I wish we were allowed to shoot them,” said born and bread Paignton resident Mark Baker, aligning to the fact that he’s lost about a year in sleep thanks to their daily chirping at “stupid o’clock” in the morning.

Claire Reams, of Preston, declared: “They’re ugly, they scavenge, they steal people’s food and they’re droppings are everywhere.”

So not many redeeming features there then…

Earlier in the week the Herald Express ran the story that swooping seagulls were dive-bombing postman. 

A Royal Mail notification letter was apparently sent out to residents of Berry Drive that said: "I'm writing to let you know that we're experiencing difficulties in delivering mail to your address because of the actions of seagulls nesting at your property.”

So yet another problem with the seagull to add to the list – that of undelivered mail!

Unfortunately, being that seagulls prefer the open water, it looks like they’re a cross the Bay will always have to bear. In fact nearly half the country’s seagull population reside in the South West.

However there are apparently measures and initiatives to drive down the number of seagulls in an area.

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has frequently called for action to address the seagull problem.

He commented: “Torbay has had a seagull problem for some time: these creatures are often the embodiment of anti social behaviour and if they had a permanent address would certainly have received an ASSBO (Anti Social Seagull Behaviour Order) by now.

“Some people have called for a cull of seagulls but there are more humane and more cost effective ways of dealing with seagulls that the council should look into and the Government must support. In some areas such as Bath and even in Parliament birds of prey are used to dissuade seagulls from visiting certain areas and this could be used in Torbay, adding a little extra for the tourists into the bargain.”

Would people like to see birds of prey drafted in to sort out the problem? Does anyone out there actually like seagulls? Do you have any gull horror stories to share?