Residents call in deer hunters
Kirsty Gibbins • Published 13 Oct 2011 09:24
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SNH has recommended that a small cull of roe deer takes place at Gullane Bents
EAST Lothian Council has been accused of "burying its head in the sand" by refusing to allow a cull of roe deer on land it owns at Gullane - despite Scottish Natural Heritage recommending the measure due to the safety risks the animals pose.
Gullane Area Community Council (GACC) has arranged for registered shooters from the village to take up arms and carry out a 'small cull' of the roe deer population in the vicinity of Gullane Bents beach and car park, following a survey by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
Complaints of nuisance deer in Gullane have increased in recent years with developments in the area prompting the displacement of the animals, meaning they are venturing closer to residential areas.
Wild deer have been blamed for damaging local gardens as well as causing traffic hazards throughout the village, with some being injured or killed.
SNH, which looks after all of Scotland's nature and landscapes, recommended a 'small cull' after carrying out a thermal imaging survey of roe deer located between Gosford Estate and Archerfield over two nights in January. They recorded 300 deer in total, with 100 of those spotted in the Gullane area.
The Gullane Bents owners' committee, made up of a group of homeowners living on exclusive Hill Road, has given permission for culling to take place on their land, which amounts to approximately 75 acres.
However, East Lothian Council - which has managed the entire site under a lease agreement with the owners since 1931 - has refused to allow culling on the land it owns at Gullane Bents, saying not many roe deer visit that specific area.
The volunteer deer hunters have operated in the permitted land at Gullane Bents on six occasions in the past fortnight. However only one deer has been culled so far.
Alastair McIntosh, Hill Road resident and GACC member, criticised the local authority's refusal to allow culling on its land as "ridiculous" and claims it is hindering the deer stalkers' ability to curb the risk posed by the animals.
"This is a serious health and safety issue and for the council to bury its head in the sand on this matter is just ridiculous," he said.
"The community council has taken a frank approach to this and has received numerous visits from concerned residents about the danger caused by the increasing number of roe deer in the area. Aside from the damage caused to local gardens as a result of the animals, there have been as many as three serious road traffic accidents caused by the deer in Gullane in recent years.
"They are huge animals and if one of them was to be startled and jump a fence, or charge out in front of a car, it could result in someone being badly injured.
"The area owned by the council is where most of the deer are located. We have repeatedly asked the council to explain their refusal but have yet to receive a straight answer."
A SNH spokeswoman said: "The January survey was carried out due to residents' concerns about the roe deer population, mainly the increase in vehicle collisions and near-misses with the animals and the damage being caused to private gardens.
"After carrying out the survey we reviewed a range of options for combating the problems caused by the increasing deer population, including erecting fencing to deter the animals from private properties and erecting road signs to warn drivers of the animal's frequent presence in the area. However, experience has shown that these signs are not terribly effective.
"Our recommendation therefore was to carry out a small management cull at Gullane Bents.
"It's important to note that the core population of deer will still be maintained but the cull should ensure that the population is restored to a stable and sustainable level."
Culling of roe deer is only permitted at certain times of the year. Males can only be killed between April and October, whereas females can be shot between mid-October to the end of March.
The SNH spokeswoman added that another survey would be carried out following the cull to assess the impact on the deer population.
An East Lothian Council spokeswoman said: "We believe that the council land is such a small part of the area that it is not necessary for the culling to be carried out there for it to be done satisfactorily. The land which the local authority owns is not an area which is frequently visited by deer."
Helen Clark, of Gullane's Hall Crescent, wrote to the Courier protesting against the cull after spotting notices at Gullane Bents advising the public that the deer were to be "managed" in the area.
She stated: "The deer are killed relentlessly on the roads, is it really necessary to shoot them too?
"These shy and beautiful creatures are an asset to East Lothian. Walkers and golfers are charmed when they see them.
"What next I wonder? Pot shots at the migrating geese because they're too noisy?"
This article appeared in East Lothian Courier 13 Oct 11
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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I heard that
Unregistered User
Oct 13, 18:56
Report commentPerhaps if all the stalking in the area was not taken by money orientated individuals who only want to charge large sums to shoot a roe, instead of actually managing the population, there would not be such a problem,
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Yes 3
No 2
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mates2ofbambi
Unregistered User
Oct 13, 23:03
Report comment -
NixInTheStix2306
1 post
Oct 14, 11:17
Report commentThe SNH state there are 100 deer in the Gullane area, what it does not say is that the deer are mainly living in the wooded areas at the beach and only a small handful actually come out to the roads/gardens. There is no justification for a deer cull as there is not enough populating the public areas & East Lothian Council are right in their decision to not allow the cull on their land. It seems that a small minority of people have taken this decision upon themselves which is not fair. So a small handful of deer eat/damage flowers & grass - what do people expect living in the country ! If you asked the population of Gullane and surrounding what there opinions are, I bet they are against the cull as well. It is a wonderful sight to be able to walk along the beach and paths and see the deer. There is far more crime in this area caused by people & careless driving, you only have to read the courier to know this. East Lothian Council can check themselves how many deer actually dare to go near the public areas - the cull should not be allowed anywhere in Gullane or nearby there is no threat other than minimal annoyance.
Recommend? Yes 1
No 3
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marjorie
Unregistered User
Oct 17, 12:27
Report commentUpset visitor. We recently returned from our yearly visit to Scotland touring around for 7wks one thing we love are the friendly people and Wildlife in a beautiful country.This year has been a little negative regarding deer
.We appreciate the deers have to be kept down for health,food supply and safety but even for us 4 deers is poor.I suppose people will say,lucky you-no!
Three were dead,one left by a golfcourse for two days{a large stag by Loch Corran,Highlands}
Second one again left by the road and the third was knocked down within three hours of us going down and back what is the longest deadend rd in GB reportedly
Fourth was alive a huge stag,with broken antler,where we will not say t protect it.
We are not troublemakers,but who speaks for wildlife,when man decides there are too many hence culling. Not everyone loves animals, I know,but we dont like speeding drivers,We saw more of those ,on quiet,roads than animals likely to cause an accident.People always have to be somewhere mins earlier,or leave late putting all others at risk.Maybe cull humans,{joke}
Animals make money when hunted by/for humans what happens when there are no more.We already take their living areas,to build,our wants,then kill or hate them for getting in the way as a pest,or at worst killers.
We come to a country we love.and feel most people there love it and the wildlife too so the deers, sheep, etc are part of that heritage. We need to live together.they were here before us some of them!!!!
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wildlife lover
Unregistered User
Nov 10, 22:19
Report commentGray is wll known as someone who "kills anything that moves".We lived on one of his farm cottages once and know this for a fact! Well done East Lothian Council in holding out against a deer cull!
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wildlife lover
Unregistered User
Nov 10, 22:31
Report commentThey also shoot the geese ,but I presume you are all aware of this!
Recommend? Yes 0
No 0
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