A town council on the Isle of Wight has confirmed its intention to stamp out the use of controversial glyphosate weedkiller.
The chemical weed treatment has recently been reintroduced after Island Roads received hundreds of complaints last year about the number of weeds.
Alternative methods trialed
The highway authority stopped the use of glyphosates last summer, opting instead for organic herbicides and manual labour to remove the greenery, but after not being able to meet its contractual obligations has reverted back to the chemical weedkiller.
While the makers of glyphosates say it is safe to use there have been concerns and bans on the product in various parts of the world.
4,300 sign petition
The move to revert back to glyphosates has been met with backlash — including a petition signed by nearly 4,300 people, including wildlife television presenter Chris Packham, calling for the authority to think again.
Concerns had been voiced over the welfare of the town’s wall lizards if the chemical was reintroduced.
Not a binary issue
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“.
A ban on VTC-owned land
Now, Ventnor Town Council has agreed to immediately ban the use of glyphosates on 18 areas of non-ornamental green land it owns.
At its meeting last night (Monday), it also agreed to look at practical alternatives and costings for ornamental areas, in the Cascades and Ventor Park, where glyphosates will still be used in the flowerbeds.
Following its meeting in March, the town council wrote a ‘strongly worded message’ to the Isle of Wight Council and Island Roads requesting a blanket ban of glyphosates in Ventnor, and more generally across the Island, but said it was told that would not happen.
Cockett: Recognise significant controversy surrounding use of glyphosates
Speaking at last night’s meeting, Ventnor mayor, Cllr Steve Cockett, said the town council was not in a position to make a definitive decision on the safety of glyphosates, but recognised there was significant controversy surrounding them.
Cllr Cockett said there was no simple, straightforward like-for-like replacement as they are so effective and cost-efficient that removing their use would be at a cost or difference in quality in weed removals.
Overwhelming public feeling
There was also a reputational risk to the council, Cllr Cockett said, as there was an overwhelming feeling the public did not want the chemical weedkillers.
Deputy mayor, Cllr Steph Toogood, said she had spoken with the town council’s gardening contractors who assured her glyphosates used in the flowerbeds were used sparingly and at the lowest strength possible.
To leave the flowerbeds untreated, Cllr Toogood said, would lead to too many weeds.
Cost of alternative needed
Councillors echoed what had been previously said about looking to remove its use entirely from the town, but they needed to know costs to use alternatives.
Cllr Mark Jefferies told News OnTheWight that at the VTC’s last Assets and Services meeting, the issue was discussed he was assured that Cllr Steph Toogood had been exploring a biodegradable weedkiller with the contractors and had all the info and costings, but these were not included in the papers for the motion.
A way forward will be decided at its next meeting.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
Image: © Benjamin Tonner
