Letter: Don't blame the seagulls

I am from Scarborough and sadly now live away but love returning home.

My observations have always been that the gulls are not the problem. I have never seen a gull able to open a heavy wheelie bin for a start. Maybe the council should be called upon to sort out the bins especially on the seafront – how many times have I seen bags of rubbish piled up next to overflowing bins which encourages the gulls to scavenge.

People need to stop ‘feeding’ the gulls when they drop litter and food waste on the floor – the birds are naturally scavengers so will go after the food they see.

On a wider scale, we need to look at environmental issues – the oceans are becoming depleted of fish and the birds’ natural habitats are threatened due to human encroachment and pollution – the gulls are having to move further inland to nest and find food.

Finally, if you cannot stand to hear the call of the seagulls, then move away from the coast! It is a sound I cherish when I come home and stay with my parents. I live in the New Forest and would never dream of complaining of the ponies roaming around in the road or the sound of cows mooing!

Debbie Perkin

(nee Pickering)

Calshot, Southampton