Frustrated traders say fully reopening two car parks should be a council's top priority – not introducing a hawk to scare off pigeons and seagulls.

Ashford Borough Council is preparing to bring in the bird of prey to combat the 'growing number' of gulls in the town centre.

But business owners say they would rather see the authority working on the reopening of Edinburgh Road multi-storey, which has been closed off since July after concrete fell from the ceiling on the second floor.

They also want the top level of neighbouring Park Mall car park reopened as soon as possible as drivers currently struggle to find a space in the facility.

Claire Heel, owner of Emporia Fabric and Craft in Park Mall, says although she is scared of birds, there are more pressing issues in the town which need addressing.

"I'm scared of pigeons but I'd be more scared of a hawk," she said.

"I just don't see the point when there are so many problems with the car parks at the moment.

"There are more important issues which the funding should be spent on."

Charlotte Cambridge, social media and marketing manager at Emporia Fabric and Craft, says she feels the introduction of the hawk will be an "unnecessary cost".

"The birds don't even cause a problem; the car parks are more important to get sorted," she said.

ABC bosses first discussed plans for the hawk in April and say the bird will be brought into the town centre on a weekly basis.

But Zoe Everall, a volunteer at Made in Ashford in Park Mall, feels the pigeons and gulls should be left alone.

"I don't actually mind them," she said.

"I understand there is a falcon at the dump where they cause trouble, but because it's wildlife I think let them be.

"It's kind of a catch-22 I suppose as I know a lot of the pigeons have had problems getting caught in the roofing in Park Mall, so for their safety it could be useful.

"They do create quite a bit of mess sometimes so it could help to reduce the clean-up for the council, but I think you get that everywhere and it's just part of day to day life."

In a statement, ABC says the trial will run over a four-month period to allow bosses to measure the difference.

"It will involve the bird handler walking around the town with a hawk on his arm; the bird is not flown and it remains on the handler's arm," a spokesperson said.

"This is likely to be once a week. It is a low cost and safe solution to tackling the growing number of pigeons and gulls in the town centre.

"It also makes an interesting attraction for visitors as they can see the hawk up close.

"We are currently researching if businesses would support such an initiative, once confirmed we will arrange a start time for the trial."

Earlier this year, a Natural England report showed gulls – traditionally associated with coastal regions – have become urban creatures, prompting ministers to consider proposals on how to make removing them from towns easier.

The study found an estimated three quarters of the UK’s population of herring gulls now nest in towns and cities.

ABC is expected to issue an update on the future of Park Mall and Edinburgh Road car parks by the end of September.