Sir,
Following on from 'the thankless task' regarding how 'people of Tenby and Saundersfoot who complain to the council have nothing better to do'
I was under the impression that people who write into the local press have a right to express their opinion and ideas on issues that they regard as a benefit to the community to read and think about, regardless if they have nothing better to do. I myself am quite busy.
Seagulls make a seaside town, but we should stop feeding them. I echo Bob Lowe that cleaners deserve recognition for their work, especially with cleaning up after the gulls.
Preventing the seagulls associating food with bin bags is the way forward. Gulls and other animals who raid rubbish bags left out for collection and street bins are taking advantage of the throwaway human society we find ourselves in. The gulls are doing very well from our waste, maybe allowing their numbers to increase, safety in numbers, the occasional swoop to the unsuspecting tourist's ice cream or bag of chips is entertaining, maybe they are getting braver and see us as pushovers.
Food waste should be composted. Taking away waste food from bin bags left for collection may stop the gulls ripping up and spreading all sorts of waste over the town. A new design of street bin without open tops could prevent gulls from pulling out food and other rubbish.
According to the Pembrokeshire County Council website, the introduction of a 'food waste collection scheme' is underway, already being trialled on Stratford Road residents, Milford Haven, who complained about the noise of feeding seagulls in the early hours and the mess left.
If this scheme reaches Tenby, it would benefit the town, as seagulls will stop getting 'rewarded' for ripping at bags, and thus stop associating them with food, over time. More waste food will be composted and it may also make it easier for businesses and households, who do not, or are unable to, compost.
Tenby is not alone, seaside towns across the country have the same problem, with councils dealing with it in their own ways. Specially designed bin bags is one example adopted by Thanet District Council where refuse bags are placed within a 'seagull proof' bin bag.
I am sure the town would like to pay their thanks to the cleaners for dealing with the mess, and I hope they don't have to for too much longer.
To suggest opinions are left out of the paper for fear of looking like you have nothing better to do, is wrong!
Matthew Tebbutt,
Tenby.