With a ‘ban the use of Glyphosate’ motion going to Ventnor Town Council on Monday, it may be worth revisiting the Cabinet member’s recent words, that banning the chemical’s use on the Isle of Wight, is “not a binary choice”.
Cllr Phil Jordan, the Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, pointed out at the last Full Council meeting even if the Isle of Wight Council wanted to stop the use of weed killer (which it appears they do), its use has been written in to 25-year PFI contract with Island Roads, the highways contractor.
He explained at the meeting in February that to change the contract requires the waiver agreed by both parties, and despite Cllr Jordan continuing dialogue with the “most senior levels of management” at Island Roads, the IWC have not yet been able to secure “a more sympathetic approach“.
Not meeting the contractual agreement
Following a number of complaints about the use of Glyphosate in previous years, in 2021 Island Roads announced they would stop using the weed killer and instead rely on traditional methods of removing weeds through handtools.
The mammoth and slow-moving task didn’t go unnoticed and Island Roads told News OnTheWight the number of complaints about weeds on roads and footways increased dramatically.
The company claim they had 221 complaints about weeds in 2021, compared to 47 in 2020 and 14 in 2019.
Not only that, but by not clearing the roads and footways of weeds, they were also at risk of failing to meet the PFI’s contractual agreements and facing penalities.
If contract can be waived before, why not again?
Many residents have asked how, if Island Roads came to an agreement to not use the weed killer in 2021, this couldn’t just be extended?
Cllr Jordan told the Full Council meeting that he couldn’t comment on what type of agreement the former Conservative administration had reached with Island Roads in 2021 (prior to the elections which saw the Alliance Group take power at County Hall), but added that,
“We’re continuing to search for a sustainable alternative and we discuss all these issues with the contractor at the highest level.”
Bacon: Will put my weight behind seeking better alternatives
Cllr Jonathan Bacon, the Cabinet member for the environment, explained at the meeting that he would support looking at better ways for Island Roads to meet their contractual agreement.
Importantly for residents in Ventnor concerned about the impact of Glyphosate on the Wall Lizards (News OnTheWight highlighted previous calls for a ban after lizards found dead after spraying of Glyphosate), he said,
“Having spoken to the Director of Neighbourhoods we are supporting careful selective use of glyphosate, while it is still going to be used, and particularly being mindful of wildlife where they may be affected.”
Talks are ongoing
News OnTheWight understands that talks are ongoing about the wall lizards in Ventnor.
Residents are keeping their fingers crossed that this will mean no harmful products will be used in the vicinity of wall lizards, colonies of which now spread from Bonchurch to the Ventnor Botanic Garden.
Petition shows strength of feeling
The petition calling for the ban on the use of Glyphosate by Island Roads has, at time of publishing, attracted 3,913 signatures.
It does appear however, that no matter how many signatures the petition gathers, unless a sustainable solution for Island Roads to remove weeds is found, the use of Glyphosate will continue.
European bans
In 2020 Luxembourg was the first European Union country to completely ban products containing glyphosate.
In the same year, France announced a partial ban of the use of glyphosate products.
Germany are also working to employ a total ban of glyphosate products by the end of 2023.
Image: © With kind permission of Benjamin Tonner
