THE Prime Minister has called for a “big conversation” about the need for a seagull cull in towns like Barrow.

With the rise of ISIS in the middle east and the Greek economic crisis threatening to bring the European Union to economic collapse, David Cameron has quite a lot on his plate.

But that hasn’t stopped the most powerful man in the country from having his say on the seagull menace which brings chaos to the UK’s coastal communities every summer.

Asked about the subject in an interview, Mr Cameron said: “It is a dangerous one for the prime minister to dive in and come up with an instant answer with the issues of the protection of seagulls.

“Whether there is a need for a cull, what should be done about eggs and nests. I think a big conversation needs to happen about this.”

Whether making loud noises in the early hours, ripping open bin bags or even attacking children and family pets, seagulls have made plenty of enemies in recent years.

But wildlife experts and conservationists have warned that a cull is not the solution.

Pat Denny, owner of Hawcliffe Bird Sanctuary in Barrow, urged people to remember that gulls only get aggressive to protect their young.

She said: “They are going to people, there’s no doubt about that. They do swoop down on people but it is just temporary while they get their chicks up and away.

“We just have to put up with them for six weeks, that’s all and then they’re off and we won’t see them again. It’s the same every year.

“There’s no need to have them culled, they’ve got every right to be here.”

In 2013, Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock organised a seagull summit to bring different groups together to discuss the problem birds.

He said: “Aggressive gulls remain a problem in our area, and we should examine new ways of finding a solution.

“Of course we should protect wildlife but the issue of dive-bombing gulls in urban areas is a serious one.

“The prime minister is right to say that the issue deserves attention, so it is rather baffling that the money his government pledged for a research project into aggressive gulls has now been scrapped.

“We can all do our bit by making sure we put food waste in bins but unfortunately there are still too many nesting sites which for many gulls prove more attractive than the nature reserve.”

TIME LINE:

July 2011: Speaking at Millom Town Council, cllr Christine Lovell called for seagulls to be fed contraceptive pills to cut their numbers.

August 2011: Barrow Borough Council urges residents

June 2013: Shoppers were intimidated by an aggressive seagull which decided to nest in a traffic island between Matalan and Asda in Barrow.

July 2013: Brian Griffin, 72, required hospital treatment after he was attacked by seagulls in Barrow town centre.

July 2013: John Stephens, 65, was divebombed by four seagulls on his way to visit his mother at Millom Hospital.

July 2013: Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock sets out his “three-point action plan” to tackle the problem amid growing reports of birds dive bombing children, defecating all over the streets and dragging bin bags full of rotting food through back alleys.

August 2013: Staff at Furness General Hospital complain about the number of seagulls nesting near the building and raise concerns about the health risks associated with bird droppings.

September 2013: A “Seagull Summit” was held at the forum in Barrow to discuss the growing problem. A panel of experts resolved to consider ideas such as gull-proof bin bags to help tackle the problem – but has stopped short of calling for a cull.

May 2014: BAE Systems confirmed it would begin oilings any eggs laid on site in a bid to keep the gull population down.

November 2014: Ulverston Town Council discussed measures to control the seagull problem. Councillor Norman Bishop-Rowe branded the birds “flying rodents”.