NEW ATTEMPTS TO BE MADE TO CONTROL GOOSE POPULATION IN ROWNTREE PARK (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

NEW ATTEMPTS TO BE MADE TO CONTROL GOOSE POPULATION IN ROWNTREE PARK

September 4, 2010 11:00 AM

Councillor Nigel Ayre

Methods for managing the goose population in one of York's most popular parks will be considered next month as City of York Council looks for ways to minimise the problems caused by the birds.

The presence of the large population of geese has resulted in a number of problems for visitors to the park. The large amount of droppings can make the grass unusable for picnics and games and make lakeside paths slippery and unattractive.

Concerns have also been raised about the way in which the presence of the geese can intimidate children playing in the park.

A report on possible ways to manage the population of geese will be presented to Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion, Councillor Nigel Ayre, later this month.

If the Officer recommendations are approved a range of non-lethal methods will be employed to control the goose population in the park. These would include taking steps to deter the geese from settling in the area as well as discouraging and managing breeding.

Councillor Ayre said the geese were a regular cause of complaints from residents and visitors.

He said, "Rowntree Park has been given a Green Flag award every year since 2004 but the judges often comment on the problems caused by geese as being one of the only negative aspects of the park."

"It is clear that something needs to be done to manage the population to ensure that residents and visitors are not put off visiting such a fantastic park."

"No single one of the proposed control methods will be effective by itself so it will be necessary to use a range of different humane approaches to try to reduce the number of geese in the park. All work will be carried out within existing budgets."

"This is a problem in a number of other areas in the city and I hope that the measures introduced in Rowntree Park will provide a good test as to which are the most effective measures that can be used in other areas."

The report will go before Councillor Ayre at the Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion Executive Member Decision Session on 14th September.