Below is a press release which Nairn BID along with Inverness BID issued to the press, following yesterday’s seagull summit.
Inverness City Centre BID and Nairn Connects BID Call for Balanced Action at National Gull Summit
Inverness City Centre BID and Nairn Connects BID have urged the Scottish Government to take urgent and meaningful action on urban gull management, following their joint contribution to the National Gull Summit.
Representing more than 1,100 businesses and property owners across Inverness and Nairn, the two BIDs were the only organisations invited to speak on behalf of people and businesses.
Most of the 40 or so attendees represented conservation and statutory bodies including NatureScot, the British Trust for Ornithology, RSPB, and Humane Wildlife Solutions.
The BIDs made clear that the voices of businesses and communities must be central to this national debate stressing that the law itself seeks not only to protect wildlife, but also to safeguard people.
Key Calls from the BIDs
- Open Forum: The BIDs put on the record that they were disappointed that a closed session was convened and called for a fully inclusive Open Gull Forum to now be held to allow businesses, elected members, operational pest control experts, the public and all others who were excluded from the Summit to contribute directly. This was rejected by the Minister who asked what value those not present would bring to the discussion? The Open Forum request appeared to be supported by other attendees in the PM session.
- Licensing Reform: The BIDs highlighted serious concerns over changing licensing guidance, arbitrary decisions, and alleged constant moving of goalposts. They argued for independent and transparent decision-making, separate from conservation duties, to restore trust and confidence, adding that there is a clear conflict of interest with NatureScot holding both conservation duties/responsibilities and licensing powers, with there being no right of appeal for applicants. The BIDs pointed out that it has been confirmed that it is the same Teams writing the Guidance that apply the rules and make the decisions.
- Human and Economic Costs: The BIDs highlighted the gaps in Urban Gull data and pointed out that impact assessments are also needed to quantify the real health, safety, and economic costs, on people and businesses which was backed by a Natural England representative in the afternoon session.
- National Funding: The BIDs emphasised to the Minister that a national problem requires a national solution and pointed out that it is unfair and unsustainable for local taxpayers, councils, households, and businesses to be expected to bear the main financial burden alone. They argued that the £100k recently announced for surveys and plan development “does not touch the sides”, as it provides no funding to actually deliver those plans to the frontline. The Minister declined to commit any resource.
Spokesperson Comment
A spokesperson for the BIDs said:
“This Summit, or round table as it is now being termed, had many key voices missing. That’s why we called for a fully inclusive Open Forum to now be held in follow up, so that going forward the debate is more fully representative and inclusive.
We asked that there be a review to look at independent licensing reform, to separate conservation duties from licence decision-making to restore trust and confidence.
We highlighted that long-term national funding will be essential and required if Scotland is to strike the right balance, between protecting both wildlife and people.
We supported calls from the RSPB that sanctuaries and alternative nesting sites must also be funded so that longer term solutions, rather than just displacement or shifting the problem around can be achieved in practical terms by using a degree of push and pull.
We highlighted that there appears to be a strong emphasis on conservation of the species, which is of course important but at the same time little regard for quantifying and reducing the impact on people, businesses and our communities.”.
