Trouble with seagulls

Some local residents still persist in feeding the gulls.

That is one reason why they have become so prolific.

This egregious and irresponsible behaviour goes directly against the advice of both the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the local authority.

One of our adult daughters was attacked by a gull, but, thankfully, was uninjured.

Gull protection under the 1981 Wildlife Act needs urgent revision.

The Vale Council says because the birds are wild, they can do nothing.

That is not so.

Where residents are known to feed these birds, a council officer can visit and ask in the strongest terms for feeding to cease.

In our area they disturb neighbours’ sleep during the nesting season by incessant squawking in the early hours.

In addition, they defecated on our washing line so frequently that it was impossible to keep laundered clothes clean.

We can recall that up to six or seven years ago our garden feeding boxes attracted scores of small birds: greenfinches, goldfinches, chaffinches, blue tits, sparrows and robins.

They have been driven away by gulls, abetted by brainless, anti-social individuals who have scant consideration for others.

Dianne and Derek Hooper

Radnor Green

Barry

A poem on Easter

Has Christmas become just an event

To be celebrated but once a year

A time for gifts and gatherings

Of kindness and good cheer

Have we forgotten to remember

It’s about the birth of Christ

Our God becoming human

And sharing in our life.

Has Easter become just an event

To be celebrated just in the Spring

A time of eggs and daffodils

Of palms and hymns to sing

Have we forgotten to remember

It’s about the death of our Christ

Followed by resurrection

And the promise of new life.

Has communion become just an event

To be celebrated just now and then

A piece of bread a cup of wine

Small thanks and muttered amen

Have we forgotten to remember

It’s the body and blood of Christ

A symbol in our church

A moment in our life.

Has church become just an event

To be attended on a Sunday

With Jesus lifted high

Then ignored again on Monday

Have we forgotten to remember

It’s all about our Christ

To walk with him continually

In the centre of our life.

Wendy Lynne Bryan

Carew Close

Barry

Reduction in councillors

SEVERAL elected politicians have been quick to express their biased views on the latest proposals to merge councils.

Surely, councillors have a conflict of interest in the matter and it will be impossible for the Welsh Government to influence them after failing the first time around.

Perhaps the public, who pay the bill, should have a say?

Vale of Glamorgan councillors tell us that they are the top performing council, suggesting they should be immune from change.

But Wales has too many councils and far too many councillors who cost about £22m each year, so some pruning is required rather than continually cutting services.

During the last attempt on mergers I compared Scotland and Wales to view the bigger picture and to add some evidence to the debate.

Scotland had a population of 5.3m people with 1,223 councillors.

Wales is a lot smaller with 3.1m people, but we have more councillors, 1,254 the last time I looked.

Scotland averaged 4,334 citizens for each councillor, Wales just 2,472.

One option put forward by the Welsh Government is for 10 councils in Wales and that could reduce the number of councillors by about 500 plus.

In 2014 I estimated that would equate to a saving of more than £11m every year, just on councillor payments.

Add to that a reduction of 12 chief executives, their support and their management teams and it is not difficult to see the potential for massive savings recurring each year.

Do we really need 22 councils in Wales and 47 councillors in our local council?

Dennis Harkus

FocusBARRY member

Cornwall Rise