Island Roads have announced they will be returning to the use of glyphosate weed killer on the Isle of Wight.
In March 2021, the Highways PFI contractor, Island Roads, announced they would change their approach to removing weeds from Isle of Wight highways. The company said they would employ extra seasonal staff to remove weeds, wherever possible, by hand and traditional tools and with the use of organic herbicides.
Online petition
In response to the news of a return to the use of glyphosate – which is banned in some European countries – Ventnor Town Councillor, Mark Jefferies, has launched an online petition, calling for Island Roads to reverse their decision.
Cllr Jefferies told News OnTheWight that as soon as reports surfaced yesterday (Wednesday) about the return of the weed killer residents started getting in touch with him, concerned about the future of the Ventnor wall lizards and pollinators.
Concerns for wall lizards
As News OnTheWight reported back in 2019 and 2020, concerns were raised about the use of the chemical in Ventnor, home to the famous wall lizard.
Ventnor resident, Steve Jones, explained to News OnTheWight his concern about herbicide spraying of roadsides and verges fatally affecting the Ventnor wall lizard, claiming he found dead lizards just hours after Island Roads sprayed the area.
As reported by The Guardian in 2017, the Isle of Wight colony is the longest established population of wall lizards in Britain. As Go Wild On Wight explains, the wall lizard is a continental species that is very rare in England.
A rise in complaints
An Island Roads spokesperson told News OnTheWight that since trialing the new approach in 2021, residents have reported “a proliferation of weeds”.
The company claim they had 221 complaints about weeds in 2021, compared to 47 in 2020 and 14 in 2019.
A spokesperson said that at the height of the summer Island Roads had more than a dozen staff dedicate to weeding,
“This trial coincided with weather that provided the perfect conditions for prolific weed growth making it necessary to deploy many additional staff and increased resources to carry out work.
“In short, regrettably we are unable to meet our contractual requirements to control weeds on the network using manual labour and organic herbicides.”
Wheeler: Tightness in my chest and sore eyes
Prior to the use of hand tools and organic herbicides, the company employed operatives on quad bikes to drive along roads spraying vegetation.
As reported by News OnTheWight in the summer of 2020, Ventnor resident Adrian Wheeler wrote to Island Roads claiming,
“You have again been riding quad bikes illegally on the pavements in Ventnor and spraying a toxin indiscriminately at speed on a windy day. Your employee had no PPE whatsoever.
“I had a tightness in my chest and sore eyes after being passed by your operative.”
IR: “We take our responsibility to the environment extremely seriously”
Speaking to the recent decision, an Island Roads spokesperson told News OnTheWight,
“Following discussions with the Isle of Wight Council, our intention is to resume the use of licensed glyphosate-based herbicides, like those used in household weedkillers.
“These will be applied in a highly diluted form using targeted spraying by trained operatives as before. A system which we know effectively tackles the problem of weed growth.
“As a company we take our responsibility to the environment extremely seriously and, in partnership with the Council, keep our practices under review to ensure we continue to provide effective and responsible weed control as part our work to maintain a safe and accessible road and footway network.”
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.
IW contract running at a loss
In 2021 it was reported that the Island Roads PFI contract is running at a loss, whilst Eurovia (parent company of Island Roads) has seen record profits.
The Construction Index reported that the IW contract losses came at the same time Eurovia UK saw double-digit profit growth.
Jordan: Results of trial were not sustainable
Cllr Phil Jordan, the cabinet member for roads and infrastructure, told NewsOnTheWight,
“There is a legal obligation on us, as the highway authority, to ensure that roads and pavements are safe.
“We were pleased with Island Roads initiative to trial the use of other methods instead of chemical weed killer. This was a useful exercise, but the results were not sustainable nor successful in managing the problem we face of dangerous levels of weed growth.
“We agree with Island Roads that for now, the use of a chemical-based weed control is a way forward for a controlled approach to maintaining both safety and preservation of the condition of our roads and footways.
“We are mindful that other local authorities have also trialled non-chemical weed control methods but have returned to using chemical herbicides due to the ineffectiveness of alternative methods.
“Nonetheless, the use of other suitable methods and products is always being researched and considered; and it may be that in future seasons we are able to find an alternative approach that is sustainable and effective to deal with the extent of the problem we face.”
Lever: Regressive and potentially harmful
Cllr Joe Lever, Green Party, told News OnTheWight,
“Myself – and the Isle of Wight Green Party – are disappointed and concerned by this U-turn from Island Roads. A return to glyphosate use is regressive and potentially harmful, having been linked to adverse effects in humans, animals and the environment.
“I appreciate that Island Roads feel they can’t meet contractual obligations through the current service they offer, but there shouldn’t have a binary choice between that and a return to glyphosate. There are other options, many used by other councils across the country.
“I’m keen to understand why Island Roads were confident they could initially deliver a manual service, what’s changed that’s now stopping them from meeting contractual obligations, and what alternatives have or haven’t been explored to date?”
The views of others
News OnTheWight has contacted the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust for their view on the return of glyphosate products to the roadside.
Cabinet member for the Environment, Cllr Jonathan Bacon, has been asked for his view.
Vix Lowthion, Chair of the Isle of Wight Green Party, said in 2018,
“Whilst it may be effective at killing weeds, it also does a good deal of damage to biodiversity, soil quality and the environment.”
She had added Hammersmith and Fulham had been using a glyphosate-free foam with success for the last two years.
Island Roads helping the lizards
In 2017 Island Road announced they were helping Ventnor’s colony of wall lizards by installing a series of small tubes when carrying out masonry repairs in Judd’s Walk (The Terraces) to ensure the lizards can continue to use the structure as a habitat.
Article edit
9.47am 17th Feb 2022 – Comment from PJ added
12.30pm 17th Feb 2022 – Comment from JL added
Source: IWCP
Image: © Benjamin Tonner
