Scarborough gull plan targets cleaner coastal towns

By hiyastar.co.uk News Desk
Published: May 28, 2026

North Yorkshire’s coastal town centres could see a more coordinated approach to gull management under a proposed long-term strategy covering Scarborough, Whitby and Filey.

The draft urban gull strategy sets out how North Yorkshire Council wants to reduce the everyday problems linked to gulls in busy streets, seafront areas and commercial centres, while staying within wildlife protection law. The plan focuses on food waste, litter, cleaning hotspots, deterrents and regular population monitoring rather than any single short-term fix.

Food waste and town centre cleanliness

The council says gulls are part of coastal life, but their growing presence in urban areas has created pressure for residents, businesses and visitors. Common complaints include fouling, noise, nesting around buildings and food being taken from people in public spaces.

A central part of the proposed strategy is reducing access to food. That means looking at how waste is stored, how litter is managed and how local behaviour around food scraps can affect gull activity.

The council also wants targeted cleaning in problem locations, with shared responsibility between public bodies, landowners and businesses. In practice, that could mean more attention on specific streets, roofs, yards or seafront areas where gull activity is repeatedly reported.

Protected gulls and lawful deterrents

The strategy has to work around the legal status of gull species. Herring gulls and kittiwakes are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which limits what councils, property owners and contractors can do.

North Yorkshire Council says the proposed approach is based on evidence and feedback from local businesses, national conservation data and consultation with specialist organisations. Those involved include the Yorkshire Coast Urban Gull Partnership, Natural England, the Environment Agency, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Yorkshire Water.

Cllr Richard Foster, executive member for managing the environment, said gulls were “an intrinsic part of the North Yorkshire coast” and that coastal towns had lived alongside them for generations.

He said the proposed strategy aimed to balance the protection of species with the need to reduce the impact on communities. The practical measures named by the council include reducing food waste, improving public awareness and using effective deterrents.

Scarborough, Whitby and Filey in the plan

The strategy covers three of North Yorkshire’s best-known coastal towns: Scarborough, Whitby and Filey. All three have busy visitor economies, seafront food businesses and seasonal footfall that can increase the pressure around waste and litter.

For businesses, the issue is not only nuisance. Fouling, noise and scavenging can affect outdoor seating, shopfronts, accommodation premises and customer experience. For residents, nesting and early-morning noise can become a repeated seasonal problem, particularly in dense streets close to food sources.

The council’s preferred approach points to coexistence rather than removal. It aims to improve public understanding of gull behaviour, cut off avoidable food sources, install safe deterrents where appropriate and continue surveys so the response can change if local conditions change.

Useful details

• The draft urban gull strategy covers Scarborough, Whitby and Filey.
• Herring gulls and kittiwakes are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
• The council is looking at food waste, litter, cleaning hotspots, deterrents and monitoring.
• The draft will be discussed by the Scarborough and Whitby area committee on Friday, June 5, 2026.
• North Yorkshire Council’s executive is expected to consider adoption later in 2026.

Committee debate before adoption

Cllr Liz Colling, chair of the Scarborough and Whitby area committee, said she was looking forward to the debate and discussion on the urban gull strategy.

She said she wanted to see proposals on how changes in food waste and litter behaviour could affect the cleanliness of coastal towns and the way gulls behave.

The draft strategy is due to be discussed at the Scarborough and Whitby area committee on Friday, June 5, as part of the consultation process. If adopted by the council’s executive later this year, it will guide gull management across the coastal towns, with regular monitoring and reviews to keep measures lawful and aligned with conservation requirements.

Source: North Yorkshire Council