A bird rescuer expressed concerns that the fountain had become a “death trap” for birds seeking to cool off.
Justin King, 51, reported rescuing over 30 birds from the fountain during the current heatwave.
Councillor Mitchie Alexander, acting Cabinet member for Culture, Heritage, and Tourism, stated, “We are concerned about reports of fledgling gulls having issues in the Victoria Fountain and are taking swift action to mitigate any risks to the birds. We have adjusted the fountain’s operating times to include regular intervals where the cascading water is turned off, allowing the gulls’ wings to dry so they can fly away. We will monitor the situation to see the impact of these changes.
“While we are dedicated to preserving the city’s heritage and ensuring residents and visitors can enjoy this beloved fountain, we aim to minimize any risks to the gulls as much as possible. We also kindly remind residents of the RSPB’s advice not to feed gulls, especially near the fountain, and strongly advise the public not to enter the fountain to remove birds, as it poses safety risks.”
The fountain posed a danger to seagulls as the falling water saturated their wings, causing them to fall into the basin.
Herring Gulls, common in Brighton, are considered endangered and are on the UK Conservation red list.
Victoria Fountain had previously been turned off for several years starting in 2020 due to long-term restoration works that required its removal from the Old Steine for some time.
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