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Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
The 13 UK seaside towns where feeding seagulls could land you with on-the-spot £100 fine
Scroll down to read the breakdown of the fines in each town ANGRY BIRDS The 13 UK seaside towns where feeding seagulls could land you with on-the-spot £100 fine IF you're planning a trip to the seaside this summer, be careful not to make this costly mistake. While feeding seagulls may seem like harmless fun, it can actually result in hefty fines. 2 Feeding seagulls in certain UK seaside towns can results in hefty fines (stock image) Credit: Getty As summer kicks into gear, a lot of Brits are planning staycationers at scenic beaches. Advertisement But be warned because this little known coastal rule could turn your fish and chip supper into a serious expense. In some seaside towns across the country, feeding seagulls is not just discouraged; it is punishable by law. Luxury Group Stay, one of the UK's leading providers of premium holiday accommodation, has urged travellers to be aware of this local by-law. So even if these cheeky birds are begging for a chip, resist the urge to feed them. Advertisement In Aldeburgh, Suffolk, visitors are greeted by signs warning that anyone caught feeding gulls could face prosecution. This is enforced under public health and anti-social behaviour by-laws. Introduced in 2009, this rule is a result of rising public complaints about nuisance behaviour from gulls — including swooping attacks, persistent begging, and damage to bins and property. And it's far from an isolated case; a series of restrictions has emerged across the UK and the Channel Islands. Advertisement Many councils have introduced Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) or similar measures to clamp down on gull feeding. Inside colourful flat in seaside town featured on Scotland's Home of the Year Measures have been introduced along the North Yorkshire coast, with towns like Whitby and Scarborough issuing fines of up to £100 for feeding seagulls along their harbours and seafronts. The fine, introduced under environmental protection legislation, is part of a broader effort to manage behaviour in high-footfall coastal towns. And while the maximum penalty is rarely issued, local councils use it as a strong deterrent. This effort is more common than most Brits realise. Advertisement Similar bans are now in place across the South West, including East Devon, where feeding seagulls is prohibited under PSPOs. Fine amounts for feeding seagulls in UK seaside towns Exmouth: £80 - £100 Budleigh Salterton: £80 - £100 Sidmouth: £80 - £100 Beer: £80 - £100 Seaton: £80 - £100 Lyme Regis: Up to £100 West Bay: Up to £100 Bridport: Up to £100 St Ives: Up to £100 Whitby: Up to £100 Scarborough: Up to £100 Eastbourne: Up to £100 Hastings: Up to £100 Fixed penalties of £80 can be issued on the spot, with the possibility of higher fines for repeat offences or failure to pay. In West Dorset, towns like Lyme Regis and Bridport have adopted comparable policies. St Ives in Cornwall banned gull feeding in 2018 following multiple incidents of birds injuring visitors while attempting to grab food. A rep for Luxury Group Stay said that the rise in local fines and by-laws "catching guests off guard" has seen a change in customer preferences. Advertisement "We're seeing growing demand for private stays where families can relax, dine outdoors, and enjoy themselves without worrying about unexpected restrictions," they explained. With rules varying from town to town and signage often easy to miss, travellers are advised to check local guidance carefully. Plus, seven major holiday hot spots where you can get fined for vaping. And a common beach activity could also see you fined over £2,500. A holiday destination that's popular with Brits has introduced a new ban. Advertisement And a full-list of banned activities at your favourite holiday destinations.
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
The 13 UK seaside towns where feeding seagulls could land you with on-the-spot £100 fine
IF you're planning a trip to the seaside this summer, be careful not to make this costly mistake. While feeding seagulls may seem like harmless fun, it can actually result in hefty fines. 2 Feeding seagulls in certain UK seaside towns can results in hefty fines (stock image) Credit: Getty As summer kicks into gear, a lot of Brits are planning staycationers at scenic beaches. But be warned because this little known coastal rule could turn your fish and chip supper into a serious expense. In some seaside towns across the country, feeding seagulls is not just discouraged; it is punishable by law. Read More On Seaside Towns So even if these cheeky birds are begging for a chip, resist the urge to feed them. In Aldeburgh, Suffolk, visitors are greeted by signs warning that anyone caught feeding gulls could face prosecution. This is enforced under public health and anti-social behaviour by-laws. Introduced in 2009, this rule is a result of rising public complaints about nuisance behaviour from gulls — including swooping attacks, persistent begging, and damage to bins and property. Most read in News Travel And it's far from an isolated case; a series of restrictions has emerged across the UK and the Channel Islands. Many councils have introduced Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) or similar measures to clamp down on gull feeding. Inside colourful flat in seaside town featured on Scotland's Home of the Year Measures have been introduced along the North Yorkshire coast, with towns like The fine, introduced under environmental protection legislation, is part of a broader effort to manage behaviour in high-footfall coastal towns. And while the maximum penalty is rarely issued, local councils use it as a strong deterrent. This effort is more common than most Brits realise. Similar bans are now in place across the South West, including East Devon, where feeding seagulls is prohibited under PSPOs. Fine amounts for feeding seagulls in UK seaside towns Exmouth: £80 - £100 Budleigh Salterton: £80 - £100 Sidmouth: £80 - £100 Beer: £80 - £100 Seaton: £80 - £100 Lyme Regis: Up to £100 West Bay: Up to £100 Bridport: Up to £100 St Ives: Up to £100 Whitby: Up to £100 Scarborough: Up to £100 Eastbourne: Up to £100 Hastings: Up to £100 Fixed penalties of £80 can be issued on the spot, with the possibility of higher fines for repeat offences or failure to pay. In West Dorset, towns like Lyme Regis and Bridport have adopted comparable policies. St Ives in Cornwall banned gull feeding in 2018 following multiple incidents of birds injuring visitors while attempting to grab food. A rep for Luxury Group Stay said that the rise in local fines and by-laws "catching guests off guard" has seen a change in customer preferences. "We're seeing growing demand for private stays where families can relax, dine outdoors, and enjoy themselves without worrying about unexpected restrictions," they explained. With rules varying from town to town and signage often easy to miss, travellers are advised to check local guidance carefully. Plus, seven major And a common A holiday destination that's popular with Brits has And a 2 Anyone planning a seaside trip this summer is advised to read up on local by-laws to avoid fines (stock image) Credit: EPA
BBC News
16-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Dog control measures under review by Dover council
Residents in east Kent are being consulted on a council's plans to review its rules on dog control and anti-social District Council (DDC) is looking to introduce a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) which includes proposals on where people can walk their dogs and where dogs need to be on public is also being asked for views on alcohol consumption in public places. A council spokesperson said it was looking to "amend the locations where restrictions apply". PSPOs specify an area where activities take place that are or may be detrimental to the local community's quality of life. DDC said proposed changes were for minor adjustments regarding dog control, and a change in the designated areas for restrictions on alcohol consumption in public consultation runs until 13 May.
Telegraph
02-03-2025
- Telegraph
Fines for car idling and noisy dogs increase five-fold
On-the-spot fines for anti-social behaviour are to increase five-fold under new laws that critics claim will unfairly penalise 'crimes' such as car idling, untidy gardens and noisy dogs. The Crime and Policing Bill has raised the maximum fines from £100 to £500 as the Government attempts to tackle anti-social behaviour in city and town centres. The Home Office says that it is part of its zero tolerance approach to behaviour that is 'eroding the quality of people's lives and confidence of local communities'. It aims to target persistent behaviour such as threats, abuse, harassment, aggressive begging, drunkenness and disorderly conduct. However, campaigners say the powers have been widened by 'busybody' councils to sanction 'trivial' activities such as dog walkers who do not have their pets on a lead, people loitering in a group of three or more and messy front gardens. Private enforcement officers in Hillingdon, west London, issued 2,335 penalties for 'idling', which was not previously a punishable offence, 342 for spitting, and 115 for misusing motorised electric vehicles in 2023, according to freedom of information (FoI) requests by the campaign group the Manifesto Club. 'It's a toxic cocktail of extremely broad laws and incentivised officers enforcing them,' said Josie Appleton, director of the Manifesto Club. 'A fine of £500 is unaffordable for most people. The whole point of an on-the-spot fine is that it's a slap on the wrist but £500 is not. It's like half a person's pay cheque.' Activities in public spaces The increased fines are being introduced to enforce Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) which allow councils to ban activities in public spaces and Community Protection Orders (CPNs) for anti-social behaviour. They can be issued for actions that are deemed to have a 'detrimental effect on the quality of life'. Failure to pay the fines can result in prosecution and bigger financial penalties. They are in addition to Labour's planned new Respect Orders, which give police and local councils powers to ban persistent offenders from town centres or from drinking in public spots such as high streets and local parks. Failure to comply with the orders is a criminal offence. The Manifesto Club claims that PSPO and CPN fines have increased exponentially, with councils contracting out enforcement to private security companies who take a percentage of any penalty notice income and incentivise their staff with targets. Data obtained under FoI laws by the group has found 19,000 penalty fines were issued for PSPO breaches and 1,500 for CPNs in 2022/23. The largest numbers of councils (88) issued PSPO penalties for dog offences, such as entering a no-dog zone or having dogs off leads. This was followed by drinking in public (47), vehicle nuisance (18), urination (18) and anti-social behaviour (15). Harrow listed its penalties as amplification, feeding the birds, failing to produce a dog fouling bag, drinking, distributing leaflets, obstruction, smoking in a playground, spitting, street trading and table stands. Punished for untidy garden Durham council issued the highest number of penalties for CPN breaches, with 468 on-the-spot fines for 'untidy yards and gardens'. This was out of 914 CPNs issued, meaning that more than half of those who received a CPN for an untidy garden were later punished for breach. Ms Appleton said the Government should ban payment incentive schemes. 'The only reason the fines are so high is because many of them are being issued by people on commission so they will nab anybody they can,' she said. A Home Office spokesman said: 'Too many town centres are being plagued by anti-social behaviour, eroding the quality of peoples' lives and confidence of local communities. 'Our flagship Crime and Policing Bill is tackling anti-social behaviour head-on to ensure our streets and neighbourhoods are safer. We are absolutely clear that no anti-social behaviour should be dismissed as 'trivial' or 'low level'. 'This includes increasing the upper limit for various types of fixed penalty notices to £500, which will help deter more people from breaching them, and ultimately reduce anti-social behaviour.'
