Plans to introduce £50 on-the-spot fines for people who feed seagulls in Burnham-On-Sea have been put on hold, it was confirmed this week.
Sedgemoor District Council had hoped the fines would disuade visitors from feeding the birds – thereby making the town’s seafront cleaner and reducing the numbers of gulls in the town.
It comes after the 2005 Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act gave local authorities the power to penalise persistent offenders – although the council confirmed this week that it has now shelved the plans.
Spokeswoman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It sounded like a good idea on paper, but unless lots of wardens are available, it would be difficult to enforce.”
“The feeding of seagulls is classed as littering under the Clean Neighbourhoods Act and several areas around the UK – mainly cities and large towns – do employ wardens to make on-the-spot litter fines, but we just don’t have enough staff to support this.”
“Several councils have also mentioned that litter wardens have faced aggression elsewhere in the UK, which raises staff protection issues.”
She added that while there are no plans for fines to be introduced this year, councillors have not ruled out penalities in the future.
Signs along Burnham seafront already advise people not to feed birds, but these are often ignored.
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