S Gilmore, of Crowthers Hill, Dartmouth, writes: I was astonished to read that the Dartmouth Business Improvement District has suggested spending £5,500 on bringing in a squadron of hawks and falcons to rid the town of seagulls, Chronicle, April 17. Are they mad? I can tell them straight off that it won't work and it is a complete waste of money. We often get quite large birds of prey flying over our house and we see them being chased off by seagulls, so they should forget that idea. Waste of local funding totally. Why don't people understand that this is a seaside town. Sea birds live here – they have been doing so for ­centuries and for far longer than humans have. I have said this before: if you're silly enough to allow a seagull to share your lunch, then only blame yourself. If your car gets messed up by birds, clean it. The seagulls have as much right to live here as humans; in fact, they probably have more right, so get used to it. It might be better to spend the money on more important issues such as the pot-holed roads, cameras to catch people who don't clear up their dogs' mess in the street, or to catch the morons who destroy things such as the fountain in the park. I could go on...