Angry Birds

My proposal that Shepway Council start the use of gull proof bags has been picked up by the KM Express this week, and run alongside pictures of seagull ripped bags and rubbish strewn streets from across the area.

In the article Rory Love - the Shepway Cabinet member for the Environment - apparently responded that the more effective way of stopping the seagull problem is those dumping sacks days before the collection, and that Shepway Council has just "stepped up environmental patrols" to deal with the issue.

Which just goes to prove that Rory either doesn't understand or care about the problem.

The major issue in Sandgate at least is NOT bags being put out days before collection. Granted, some people do put out bags the *night* before, but then many householders with wheelie bins do the same thing. Many waste collections are early in the morning. Will Shepway Council be targeting those who put their wheelie bin out the night before as well? Or would rory just like to focus on those living in flats and leave those in larger properies alone?

I accept that gull proof cover bags will not be 100% effective. But where there is a current probem, if the bags reduced it by 95%, that would be a big win. Rory needs to stop posturing, and start trialling gull proof bags.