NEIGHBOURS have demanded closure of a landfill site over fears up to 9,000 seagulls are preparing to launch a huge invasion.
Residents whose lives are blighted by gulls mobbing the site say they are living in fear of the upcoming breeding season which could see their numbers triple to 9,000.
SWNSThe town has been invaded by an ‘apocalyptic’ swarm of up to 3.000 seagulls[/caption]
SWNSResidents – who live 30 miles from the sea – are fearing the upcoming mating season[/caption]
SWNSLocals are demanding the closure of the Whinney Hill Landfill site operated by Suez[/caption]
Householders say they are already “close to breaking point” over the noise, smell and mess made by huge flocks of gulls that descend on the Whinney Hill tip near Altham near Blackburn, Lancashire.
Dozens of residents attended a protest meeting to demand the closure of the 205 acre site which they claim is the only solution to the gull infestation.
More than 50 protesters descended to Church Lane, Clayton-le-Moors, in Lancashire, on Saturday (April 5).
The controversial tip in Altham, operated by SUEZ Recycling and Recovery, has been the subject of repeated complaints for more than a year.
Irritated locals have complained about foul smells and flocks of more than 3,000 seagulls that swarm the surrounding sky – despite being 30 miles from the sea – which is expected to triple by the end of April.
Suez said it is “actively working to deter the seagulls” and respects residents’ right to peaceful protest.
Gary Hough, 62, admin of Facebook campaign group Tipped Over The Edge, said: “This is an unacceptable situation, and we refuse to tolerate it any longer.
“As we enter the gull breeding season, we anticipate their numbers will triple by April or May, far beyond the already unbearable levels.
“Unless you live in this area and experience it firsthand, it’s impossible to understand just how bad the situation has been for over a year – and it’s only getting worse.
“The relentless noise, mess, and disruption caused by these birds are having a devastating effect on people’s health, wellbeing, and their fundamental right to enjoy their homes.”
Hyndburn Borough Council passed a motion calling for “urgent action on the impact of Whinney Hill Landfill Site” when it met in Accrington Town Hall last month.
The council’s deputy leader Councillor Noordad Aziz, who proposed the motion to the meeting calling on SUEZ, Lancashire County Council and regulator the Environment Agency to draw up an action plan for sorting out the problems, said: “A temporary closure is the only solution because the health and well being of people is paramount.”
Gary welcomed the motion but said a temporary closure “is not enough”.
He said: “Hyndburn Council has recently called on Lancashire County Council to temporarily close the landfill – a step we welcome.
“However, a temporary closure is not enough as we firmly believe the tip must be shut down permanently.”
A spokesperson for SUEZ said: “Whinney Hill landfill site has been in operation since the 1970s and provides an essential service, managing primarily household waste from across Lancashire, including Hyndburn.
“Our site is regulated by the Environment Agency, and we have an active environmental management system in place to manage any odour or pests which we keep under constant review.
The waste company said that “Lancashire is home to one of the largest seagull colonies in Europe” which has grown in population following the pandemic, causing seagulls to “migrate further inland for food sources”.
They have also been taking non-lethal preventative measures to deter the seagulls using gas canons, blank firing pistols, pyrotechnics, lasers and birds of prey.
The spokesperson also said: “We are a responsible operator and recognise the inconvenience the birds cause when they are here.
“We respect the right to peaceful protest, and we will continue to engage with representatives of the local community on their concerns.”
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We’re taking action to ensure the operator, Suez, addresses issues at Whinney Hill landfill site and recognise the distress that odour and gulls are causing to members of the community.
“We will continue to carry out regulatory inspections and keep working with Suez to ensure the site is compliant with its environmental permit.”
Hyndburn Council has been approached for comment.
Gang of thuggish seagulls ruined our day at the beach – a bird the size of a cat stole my daughter’s ice cream
By Thea Jacobs and Stuart Patterson
GULLS will be gulls – but harassed holidaymakers around the country are wishing they would just flock off after a spate of attacks by the seabirds.
Some councils are even resorting to bringing in hawks to try to scare them off.
The winged thieves, which swoop down on unsuspecting victims to grab their food, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it illegal to kill or injure them.
Some repeat offenders have even gained nicknames.
There’s Lecter, as in Hannibal Lecter, in Ilfracombe, Devon, Dewi the Dive-bomber in Llandudno, Clwyd, and Stevie in Beccles, Suffolk.
Bournemouth in Dorset hit headlines this week after Greg the gull took to perching on a phone box in the resort where he had the pick of targets emerging from three bakeries.
A staff member at the Cornish Bakehouse said: “Angry customers sometimes come back in and ask for another snack because a seagull has just pinched theirs, but what are we supposed to do?”
Lecter, in Ilfracombe, uses the same trick. Katie Hampton, who owns the Harbour Bait And Tackle kiosk in the resort, said: “He must steal food 20 times per day.
“He will watch you and when you are distracted he will take whatever you have.”
Scarborough in North Yorkshire is one of the towns to introduce hawks as gull deterrents, though the programme was recently axed — leading to attacks by seabirds going on the rise again.
John Senior, of the town’s South Bay Traders Association, said: “This summer attacks on children and people carrying food in their hands are growing.
“The gull population has exploded again. These attacks are very traumatic. These gulls are big animals. They can cause injury, particularly to children.”
Daredevil Dewi in Llandudno is among a whole flock of marauding gulls.
One café owner said: “There was a bald-headed gentleman not so long ago who was attacked from behind.
“He was bleeding from the back of the head and they followed him down the street. He wasn’t eating anything at the time.
And supermarket shoppers are in just as much danger. Denny Williams warned online: “Be careful if you go to Aldi, Llandudno, shopping. The seagulls are stealing things out of trolleys.
“One swooped down and took an unopened pack of ham which was packed at the top of our bags this morning.”
In Beccles — around seven miles from the coast — gull Stevie has found rich pickings.
A Greggs staff member told The Sun: “It walks in through the door, takes a bag of crisps and calmly walks out again.”
In Aberdeen, The Old School House pub in the city was forced to arm diners with water pistols to keep swooping birds at bay while they ate.
And down the coast in St Andrews, the gulls have become even more brazen.
Little Chloe Steward, eight, had a hot dog stolen right out of her mouth by an airborne thief while at the beach with mum Lucy, 33.
Lucy said: “The seagull came out of nowhere and landed on Chloe’s head. It snatched the hot dog before she got any of it.”
SWNSLocals say a temporary closure of the site is not enough[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
