Bridport: Call for clean up to combat seagulls (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Bridport: Call for clean up to combat seagulls

10:40am Friday 30th July 2010

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BINS need to be emptied more regularly and people educated to pick up their rubbish if we are to keep our tourist industry and stop seagulls attacking children.

So says Jill Williams from Evershot, who is making a plea for West Dorset to have more pride in itself.

After reading the story in the News last week about four-year-old Charlie Scadding’s seagull attack Mrs Williams says we all need to take action to clean up the filthy state of our streets.

She said: “I have holidayed in other countries and quite honestly this country is filthy. Over the weekends is the busiest time for families and weekenders to go out and the bins are not emptied.

“They should be emptied every day but of course costs come into it but you can’t have it both ways.

“You can’t encourage tourism to a filthy town. When the bins are not emptied it discourages people from using them, even if they are there.

“Anywhere within 60 yards of takeaways or fish and chips shops or picnic sites is usually a disgrace and it isn’t only food the seagulls are after.

“I have seen them marauding over a nappy liner. Why do people have to leave those things lying around? Then they wonder why vermin are all over the south coast.

“This couldn’t care less attitude has got to stop. You go to places like Jersey and there is not a thing anywhere. They clean up daily, seven days a week because they rely on tourists.

“It is going to have to be self help in these recessive times, though we need more bins with lids on.”

Bridport town and district Councillor Karl Wallace is fighting to sort out the early morning town mess created by herring gulls ripping open rubbish bags.

He said: “As well as being unsightly in a tourist town, there are health risks to the public too. This has gone on for too long.

“There are a couple of options that West Dorset District Council could consider. Firstly they could provide the seagull proof collapsible bin bags which Bridport TLC sell – an ingenious idea.

“These are already endorsed by WDDC, but could be offered and distributed to householders within the town centre, either fully or partially subsidised by the council.” The bags collapse for easy storage and the wooden base prevents it blowing away. The bags cost £10 and the TLC recycling project still has some available.

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