Regarding geese on the Glebe (Gazette, April 28, 'Scary plan for lakeside pests' I made my views known to the relevant authorities who I suggested were squabbling over responsibility.

The CEO of South Lakeland District Council replied that the Lake District National Park Authority was the responsible public authority.

The CEO of the LDNPA advised me that the Windermere Geese Management Group, comprising the LDNPA, SLDC, Cumbria University and the RSPCA, was formed in 2007 to deal with this problem. Nothing has materialised but he suggests this is a national problem.

We must deal with this urgent public health matter locally. Clearly the cause of the problem is people feeding the birds along the promenade and round Bowness Bay.

Windermere Town Council must step up here. We need a by-law prohibiting the feeding of waterfowl and other birds in this area.

The police, the LDNPA and the SLDC must sort out enforcement. Some people won’t like it but many visitors complain about people feeding the birds. It is a matter of public health. The alternative is a distressing cull.

The disused slipway by the public jetties should be fenced off. Geese will fly to the Glebe so we need a man with a sheepdog to put them to flight.

We will also need a temporary floating barricade around the promenade to stop hungry swans harassing visitors. Lane markers for an Olympic swimming pool might suffice, or a simple string of large 'sausages' could be made from plastic tubes. They should be able to spin round to stop swans and geese crossing them.

If they are not being fed these birds will go elsewhere.

Peter Langford

Bowness