Calls for national summit on 'deadly' gulls

A SUMMIT should be held to tackle “deadly” seagulls amid warnings someone could be killed, the Scottish parliament has heard.

- By Craig Meighan

Former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said Scots risk losing their lives over the “growing problem” of “nuisance” gulls. But one SNP MSP warned about “demonising” the birds.

Opening the debate, Mr Ross said people smirk when hearing that the Scottish Parliament is debating gulls, but said it was an “extremely serious issue”.

The Highlands and Islands MSP said constituents have told him they are worried about leaving their homes for fear of being “divebombed”, while others have suffered mental health issues thanks to a lack of sleep caused by noisy gulls. One resident, he said, spends £2,000 a year to remove nests from her home. He added: “People should not have to keep living in fear of being divebombed by these menaces on a daily basis, and are crying out for action.”