Concerns over plans to reintroduce weedkiller

Concerns have been raised about Cornwall Council's proposals to reintroduce the use of weedkiller as part of its highway maintenance programme.

Chemicals have not been used by the authority for a decade - but it has said the targeted application of glyphosate would begin again from next month.

Local town and parish councils and campaigners have expressed concerns and argued the chemical would be damaging to the environment.

Cornwall Council rejected those concerns and said it was the most effective way of tackling weeds to protect roads and pavements.

The council stopped the routine maintenance of weeds on highways in 2013 and in 2016 ceased using glyphosate on public land it looks after.

Town and parish councils in Cornwall have also been able to independently manage weeds themselves.

However, the authority has now decided to resume using the chemical on highways and footpaths.

Councillor Dan Rogerson, portfolio holder for transport at the council, said the solution would be diluted to contain one part chemical to 40 parts water.

"We've got those safeguards - using a drop process. It's very limited, it's very targeted.

"We're not going back to spraying," he insisted.

He said the council received thousands of complaints about the state of roads and pavements because of weeds and there was no need for a public consultation.

"We want to see that difference made to protect the infrastructure that people rely on and also to see that improvement in people's experience of their communities," he said.

Town and parish councils had been given three weeks to decide whether to opt-out and take on maintenance themselves - including some of the costs and ensuring standards were met.

Penzance Town Council said a lack of time and resources meant it was "impossible" for it to do that.

Independent councillor Stephen Reynolds, said: "It's hugely disappointing that Cornwall Council have unilaterally decided to resume chemical treatment at very short notice, effectively leaving us no scope to opt out."

Redruth Town Council, which declined to make a decision, has now set up a petition calling for Cornwall Council to reconsider its proposals.

The Mayor of Redruth, independent councillor Alison Biscoe, said: "We are asking them to manage weed management methods that do not use glyphosate which kills bees and causes significant and lasting damage to the ecosystem, human, animal and environmental health."

The Deputy Mayor of Penryn Town Council, Labour councillor Sinead Hanks, said it was now in a "difficult position" after deciding to opt-out.

"Cornwall Council have talked about things being done to their standards but they haven't really given us any information about what their standards are.

"They've suggested we have to have trained volunteers to take this on. If we're going to have volunteers doing this work we're going to need some more financial reimbursement," she argued.

Cornwall Council insisted it gave as much notice as it could and councils would receive financial support.

Green councillor Dean Evans, who represents Penryn on Cornwall Council, is one of those now backing a cross-party motion due to be heard at a meeting next week.

"We're asking for a delay and proper public consultation - give the people of Cornwall the chance to say whether they to see this weed killer reintroduced to our roads.

"There's still a lot of debate on the harm from glyphosate. It could be destroying things that we want to be there like pollinators. This is a step back to the bad old days," he said.

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