A pioneering scheme to tackle the problem of nuisance gulls may have to be grounded in the resort where it was launched.
The Coastal Hawks Project was established in Rhyl at the beginning of this year by Mike Espley and his business partners after witnessing a growing number of incidents involving aggressive gulls in the town centre.
The team began patrolling the streets with birds of prey to frighten the gulls. They remain tethered to the handlers, who are dressed in mediaeval costumes.
Among those funding the scheme, which has proved extremely popular, have been Denbighshire County Council, Rhyl City Strategy Project and Wales Council for Voluntary Action.
With backing from Conwy County Borough Council, the handlers have also begun operating in Llandudno and Conwy, proving equally effective and popular with tourists.
But Denbighshire’s funding runs out next month, and Mike, a member of Rhyl Town Council, is now looking for other sources to enable them to continue working in Rhyl.
“We knew that the county council money was only until September but we believe that it should be an all-year-round service. The situation has certainly improved since we began,” said Mike.
Rhyl Town Council has expressed disappointment “at Denbighshire’s lack of commitment to the project from environmental, employment and tourism perspectives”.
“In Conwy,” said Mike, “the funding is very much tourism-based and not simply a public protection matter. The support we have had from the public has been absolutely phenomenal.”
Long-term unemployed have been taken on and trained as handlers and the team currently has 10 birds.
“I am hopeful that we can find funding somewhere to enable us to stay in Rhyl, especially as this is where we started,” he added.
Mike and his partner Rob Davies are keen to establish a falconry centre in the run-down Butterfly Jungle in Conwy, which they believe would be a huge attraction.
Richard Henderson, mangerof the White Rose Centre, Rhyl, which has been plagued by seagulls in recent years, claimed the service provided by the Coastal Hawks Project in the town had not reduced the number of seagulls and had increased the amount of droppings on paving and town centre furniture with seagulls being made agitated by the birds of prey.
“The seagull population of Rhyl has not migrated. As far as I’m concerned there is no reduction in the amount of nesting in fact we have more nestings. I have no confidence in the service.”