Call for Shepway to follow other Councils on Seagull Proof Bags

Sandgate Councillor Tim Prater has asked Shepway District Council to look into the use of Seagull proof bags for rubbish collections in areas using bin bags. Areas with bin bag rather than wheelie bin collection are often strewn with rubbish on waste collection days as the seagulls attack bags before they are collected.

Sandgate High Street is regularly covered in food waste on bin collection days due to Seagull bag attacks, and in recent weeks the problem has been highlighted in a number of streets in Folkestone as well.

@shepwaydc Seagulls & bin bag collections don't mix. The cure: http://t.co/2fzUOtxraR - as used by Torbay. Please arrange - TVM.

- Tim Prater (@timprater) June 20, 2014

Tim explained:

"Where wheelie bins can be used they work relatively well, but bin bags and seagulls just do not mix. Rubbish thrown across pavements and roads is unhygenic, makes the area look terrible, puts off visitors and costs time and money to clean up. There has to be a better way.

"Happily, Sarah Smith, the Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate in Dover, has found Cornwall Council have trialled seagull proof collection bags in some areas, and are now selling them. They are a large, bird proof and sealable sack that you can put up to three bags on waste in to leave on the street. The bin team can open the sack and take your waste bags out - the seagulls can't.

"Torbay Council are actively giving Seagull proof sacks to residents in areas where there is a problem - Cornwall are selling residents the sacks at a cut price.

"Shepway - and Dover - should follow their lead. just a few hundred bags for residents in key streets without wheelie bins could make a big difference."