Poll suggests people in East Anglia would welcome fines for feeding seagulls
A seagull in Lowestoft town centre. PHOTO: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
Many people in East Anglia would welcome the introduction of penalty fines for feeding seagulls, a poll has suggested.
A seagull swoops in Lowestoft town centre. PHOTO: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
So far 62pc of people who have taken part in the poll said they believed people should be fined for feeding seagulls, with 38pc opposed to the idea.
The poll is running on the EDP website following news that people in Devon could face an £80 fine and even a court appearance if they are caught feeding seagulls.
East Devon District Council is believed to be the first in the country to introduce a Public Spaces Protection Order to tackle the problem of seagulls, known for dive-bombing and sandwich-stealing.
West Dorset council has also held a consultation on introducing the same order.
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It comes a few weeks after Lowestoft Vision introduced a hawk and falcon to contain the gulls in the north Suffolk town.
The organisation, which is part of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce in Lowestoft and Waveney, took professional advice from Natural England and the RSPB in recent months to develop a scheme over the winter.
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While seagulls are seen as welcome residents in a traditional seaside town, the increase in population has seen a rise in complaints from shoppers which includes reports of food items being snatched and people feeling intimidated by them.
