Scarborough gull plan targets cleaner town centres: key details

North Yorkshire coastal towns could see tighter action on food waste, cleaning hotspots and bird deterrents under a proposed long-term urban gull strategy for Scarborough, Whitby and Filey.

The draft approach has been developed to manage the impact of gulls in busy town centres while recognising that species including herring gulls and kittiwakes are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. North Yorkshire Council says the gull management plan is intended to reduce conflict between birds and people without undermining conservation duties.

Gull numbers in urban areas have become a familiar source of tension in coastal communities. Residents, businesses and visitors often raise concerns about fouling, nesting, noise and birds scavenging or taking food, particularly where waste is easily available.

Food waste and cleaning at the centre of the plan

The proposed urban gull strategy focuses on practical measures rather than a single quick fix. The council says the approach would aim to improve understanding of gull behaviour, reduce access to food and make targeted cleaning more effective in known problem areas.

It also points to shared responsibility with landowners, the installation of safe deterrents and continuing population surveys. Those measures would be reviewed over time to ensure they remain lawful and aligned with conservation requirements.

For town-centre businesses, the most visible changes could involve closer attention to bins, waste storage and areas where discarded food encourages scavenging. For residents and visitors, the plan signals a stronger push on litter, public awareness and cleaner streets during the busiest parts of the year.

Cllr Richard Foster, executive member for managing the environment, said gulls are part of life on the North Yorkshire coast but their growing presence brings challenges.

“Gulls are an intrinsic part of the North Yorkshire coast, and living alongside them is something coastal towns have done for generations,” he said. He added that the proposed strategy seeks a “clear, balanced approach” that protects species while minimising the impact on residents, businesses and visitors.

Protected birds and everyday town-centre problems

The issue is difficult for councils because gulls are not simply a nuisance problem. Herring gulls and kittiwakes have legal protection, which means any management approach has to sit within wildlife law and conservation guidance.

At the same time, urban gull behaviour can create direct daily pressures in places such as Scarborough, Whitby and Filey. Food waste can draw birds into pedestrian areas, while nesting sites on buildings may increase noise and fouling in streets used by shoppers, workers and tourists.

The draft strategy has been shaped using evidence and feedback from local businesses, national conservation data and discussions with the Yorkshire Coast Urban Gull Partnership, Natural England, the Environment Agency, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Yorkshire Water.

That mix of local and specialist input is intended to avoid measures that simply move the problem from one street to another. Regular surveys would also give the council a clearer picture of whether gull populations and behaviour are changing over time.

Scarborough and Whitby committee to debate the strategy

The draft strategy is due to be discussed at a meeting of the Scarborough and Whitby area committee on Friday, 5 June, as part of the consultation process. A report has been prepared for councillors before the wider decision later this year.

Cllr Liz Colling, chair of the Scarborough and Whitby area committee, said she was looking forward to debate on the proposals, including how changes in public behaviour around food waste and litter could affect cleanliness and gull activity.

The council’s executive is expected to be asked to adopt the proposed strategy at a later meeting in 2026. If approved, it would guide the authority’s work on urban gull management across Scarborough, Whitby and Filey, with monitoring and reviews built into the process.

Source: North Yorkshire Council

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This report is based on North Yorkshire Council's published notice about the proposed urban gull strategy and its consultation process.

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• Checked the affected towns named in the source: Scarborough, Whitby and Filey.
• Confirmed the legal context cited in the source: gull species including herring gulls and...
• Verified the next dated step in the source: discussion at the Scarborough and Whitby area...
• Separated proposed measures from adopted policy because the strategy still requires execut...

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North Yorkshire Council

Scope

Scarborough, Whitby and Filey

Updated

2026-05-28 19:21

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Article contextPeople & topics2#7

Richard FosterLiz Colling

#coastal waste management#Filey coast#North Yorkshire Council#Scarborough gulls#urban gull strategy#Whitby town centre#Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

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