I closed this, my petition, over a year ago, when the property landlord threatened me with police action due to 'harassment'. Events over the past weekend (2-3 July 2022) have made me reconsider my position and the need to re-open the petition. On Saturday evening, 2 July 2022, an adult Kittiwake became entrapped in the netting at Ferry Mews and I was contacted by a resident from a neighbouring property and tried to give advice. Local people were showing concern. A rescue took place that evening - with the Fire Service attending to release the unfortunate Kittiwake which was then handed to Blyth Wildlife Rescue for care. After great attention that night, the gull sadly died due to the trauma of the incident. When I closed the petition last year there was obviously no victory at all since the netting remained in place and the landlord refused to remove it.  

This is a historic location on the river for the nesting Tyne Kittiwakes. It was beside the ferry landing at North Shields where the gulls were first seen nesting on the river in 1949 and from here where they made their further adventures upriver. Now Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides are the stronghold of the nesting Tyne Kittiwakes, but we must not forget their early beginnings at North Shields. Both last year and this, the Ferry Mews Kittiwakes have cleverly nested around the netting, but it still poses obvious dangers. I wish to see no further such sad deaths either here or at other river locations. 

I hope that, if the petition can gain further signatures, the landlord may see sense and remove the netting and allow the Kittiwakes back onto their original nesting ledges, safe from this and any other deterrents. Kittiwakes are part of our natural, coastal and urban ecology and need our support at this time of their global population decline. The landlord has the option to consult with the Tyne Kittiwake Partnership over the matter if he so wishes.