No money set aside at Moray Council to tackle moss which is encouraging gulls to nest on council house roofs

Moss on council property roofs is encouraging gulls to nest and ought to be taken off as a make a difference of urgency.

That was the message from Elgin councillors at a assembly of the housing and local community protection committee on Tuesday.

But Moray Council has no funds set apart to tackle the trouble.

Labour member for Elgin South, John Dives, instructed the committee not only did moss supply food stuff and nesting product for the birds, but gave them a secure “landing pad”.

Gulls are deterred from landing on clear roofs as there is a risk of slipping.

Addressing the urban gull problem is a priority for folks in New Elgin.

It was identified as a most important problem next a consultation and engagement training carried out as component of the Community Empowerment Act, resulting in a Nearby Final result Enhancement Program (Loip) getting manufactured.

Mr Divers mentioned: “Within New Elgin east we have a Loip which highlights the will need for working with seagulls.

“The reality that it is a Loip motion and a precedence of this council less than neighborhood planning, when is the intention to deal with moss on the roofs in New Elgin east?

“I realise it is not just New Elgin east it is a broader problem, but we really don’t appear to be to be working with it.

“It’s a Loip priority, a priority for constituents and for councillors.”

Sandy Keith, Labour councillor for Elgin North advised the conference the challenge was not limited to New Elgin.

He mentioned: “There’s a assets in a couple of hundred yards of exactly where I keep where you could argue the roof has bought a distinct color.

“It would be much more suitable to acquire a garden mower down it – I am not jesting.

“It’s also an space wherever gulls attacked my son past week.

“One of the parts of guidance we look to be receiving is to do every little thing you can to avert nesting in the first place.

“Moss removing would be just one of these factors.”

Assets asset manager Neil Strachan defined there was no allocation in the spending plan especially for moss removal.

He mentioned: “We could bring added is effective in for the new price range for the upcoming economical 12 months.

“We can definitely glimpse at the important challenges just now and see where there are specific challenges.

“We could make that into the spending plan for the upcoming economic year.”

A conference was held this 7 days with councillors, neighborhood authorities officers, NatureScot, Elgin Bid and users of Elgin Community Council to search at problems with the birds in the town.

A gull management prepare will now be set alongside one another to handle troubles.

It is illegal to ruin eggs, chicks or nests without a licence from setting company.

In the previous the council applied a licence to discourage gulls from nesting in individual parts.

Nonetheless a tightening up of the procedures indicates unique house proprietors or occupiers each and every need to have to utilize for one particular.

Household house owners are also encouraged to install prevention actions to quit gulls nesting in advance of far more immediate motion is taken.