GREEN COUNCILLOR CALLS FOR ‘GLYPHOSATE FREE ASHLEY’ TRIAL (2015)

Local Councillor, Gus Hoyt, is calling on the Mayor to use Ashley ward to trial alternative methods to weedkillers which contain the potentially harmful chemical, glyphosate.

Councillor Gus Hoyt from Ashley ward, which includes St Pauls, Montpelier, St Werburghs and parts of St Andrews and Stokes Croft has been contacted by many local residents who are concerned about the use of glyphosate in their neighbourhood.

‘An increasing number of people with concerns about the use weedkillers which contain glyphosate have contacted me over the past few months. The majority have been parents who are worried about their children playing on or near areas which have recently been sprayed. But lots of other residents, from community food champions to foragers and gardeners, have also expressed their concerns.’ said Councillor Hoyt.

Earlier this year an agency of the World Health Organisation found that Glyphosate, which is found in most herbicides including the weedkiller RoundUp, is ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’.  Green Councillors have already raised concerns with the Mayor, asking for more detailed information on how and where glyphosate is used across the city.

‘I’m sure Monsanto – with their vast economic interest in products like RoundUp – will fight claims that their product could cause cancer. Paris and the State of California have already decided to use the precautionary principle and ban the chemical after its safety was called into question. There are many safe alternatives to glyphosate-based weedkillers – many used here in the UK. I’m simply asking the Mayor to start with a trial of these more acceptable methods and compounds on the geographical area of Ashley ward. I’m a councillor for this small but important area of the city and would like the Council and its contractors to do best for the people I represent.’

When asked if all glyphosate use should be banned Cllr Hoyt replied that in some instances the experts agree on its effectiveness. ‘There are highly invasive weeds, such as Japanese knotweed, where it may be possible to argue that the use of glyphosate is necessary, but these are exceptional cases. I hope that a glyphosate free trial in Ashley would demonstrate that the alternatives to glyphosate which are used in other places could be applied to Bristol.’

Alternative non-chemical treatments are available.

Japanese Knotweed Agency is the first and currently only entity that offers a non-chemical Thermo-Electrical treatment against Japanese Knotweed. Delivering up to 5000 volts directly to the weed stalks and crowns, sends a massive destructive shock throughout the weed effectively boiling it in situ and it should decompose and leave no trace. It may take several treatments as would chemical treatment, but with thermo-electrical treatment, the ground is left 100% safe and chemical free. Treatment does not affect the ground or land or other foliage next to the treated weed.

Japanese Knotweed Agency will now offer this service across England and Wales throughout 2023 and beyond. Treatment of weeds such as Japanese Knotweed can now be done safely, and without the use of Glyphosates, protecting our environments and the health of children and adults and wildlife, and is a massive step forward that has been needed for decades in line with Europe.

Read more about the Japanese Knotweed Agency and their Thermo-Electric eradication on our website: https://japaneseknotweedagency.co.uk/rootwave/thermo-electrical-treatment/

Or call us freephone 03335 777 888

RELATED ARTICLES

https://thebristolcable.org/2021/08/a-toxic-chemical-weedkiller-glyphosate-being-sprayed-bristol-despite-pledges-progress-is-being-made-city-council/

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/marvin-rees-deliver-your-promise-to-ban-glyphosate-in-bristol

https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/pressure-on-bristol-city-council-to-ban-toxic-weed-killer/

Permanent ban on using glyphosate weedkiller approved by councillors

Liberal Democrat councillors have approved a permanent ban on the use of glyphosate weedkiller to control weeds in streets across the area.

The controversial chemical will now only be used for dangerous, invasive weeds including Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed. A major problem surrounding this decision is that these insidious weeds can be found everywhere including all public areas, schools & homes, posing a threat to locals. Typical treatment for Japanese Knotweed is carried out over a period of years (5/10 years), during this consistent treatment Glyphosate has been sprayed in an area the soil is highly contaminated by the chemical & there has not been any research to prove the duration that the chemical is still present.

The Council are looking into other alternatives to weedkiller & will prioritise for street weeds, and additional funding will be introduced for mechanical and manual weed removal from the next financial year.

Bath & North East Somerset Council says it will also research viable alternative methods of weed control and will look to work with communities to manage street weeds in some locations.

Cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, Councillor Dave Wood, commented: “In April we will be trialling £950k of investment in frontline services from street cleaning to graffiti, from repairing roads to banning glyphosate for street weeds with immediate effect.

This will contribute to our work in response to the ecological emergency, significantly reducing the use of chemicals in our operations and providing greater flexibility in how street weeds or pavement plants are managed.

We are all proud of our area and want it to look its best. Under the Liberal Democrats we are working hard to reverse the cuts, balance our books and give residents the services they deserve.

Councillor Jess David, the Council’s member advocate for biodiversity, welcomed the move and commented: The use of herbicides has a significant impact on the environment by indiscriminately destroying plants that are an important source of food and habitat for wildlife.

As well as having the support of organisations like the Soil Association, 3,500 people have signed a petition to this Council asking that we stop the use of glyphosate on our streets.

We have stated publicly that we are facing a climate and ecological emergency, and I believe that stopping the annual street-spray is an important step in changing the way we operate.

This is great news for local biodiversity, allowing more plants to flower and offer benefits. I know this will be welcomed by the many residents that have been in touch with us on this issue.

In my role as member advocate for biodiversity I welcome other actions that the Council is taking to support local biodiversity including altering our mowing regime, identifying sites with rare species, and planting new wildflower areas.

I am also delighted to see that our Local Plan Update includes the requirement for developers to deliver a 10% net gain in biodiversity and that developer contributions may be used for biodiversity projects.

The Lib Dems are committed to addressing the Climate and Nature Emergency and to responding to the growing calls from our communities who want to see action on biodiversity and habitat restoration.

Alternative non-chemical treatments are available.

Japanese Knotweed Agency is the first and currently only entity that offers a non-chemical Thermo-Electrical treatment against Japanese Knotweed. Delivering up to 5000 volts directly to the weed stalks and crowns, sends a massive destructive shock throughout the weed effectively boiling it in situ and it should decompose and leave no trace. It may take several treatments as would chemical treatment, but with thermo-electrical treatment, the ground is left 100% safe and chemical free. Treatment does not affect the ground or land or other foliage next to the treated weed.

Japanese Knotweed Agency will now offer this service across England and Wales throughout 2023 and beyond.

Treatment of weeds such as Japanese Knotweed can now be done safely, and without the use of Glyphosates, protecting our environments and the health of children and adults and wildlife, and is a massive step forwards that has been needed for decades in line with Europe.

Read more about the Japanese Knotweed Agency and their Thermo-Electric eradication on our website: https://japaneseknotweedagency.co.uk/rootwave/thermo-electrical-treatment/

Or call us freephone 03335 777 888

https://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/17646808.bury-council-bans-use-cancer-linked-weed-killer-glyphosate-used-parks-playgrounds/

There has been much concern by parents in the borough of Bury. A large gathering of parents rallied together in St Mary’s Park in Prestwich to protest against the use of the harmful pesticides in parks and playgrounds.

BURY Council has called an immediate halt to the use of a chemical weed killer, Glyphosate which is still being used in children’s play areas, which has been linked to cancer.

The severity of the situation has prompted an instant ban of the pesticide, the council will deliberate in an in-depth Glyphosate council meeting next month.

Although Glyphosate is properly licensed and is used across the country by the farming industry and many others; it is also readily available in shops used by residents in their own gardens. It is also globally known as Round up. A jury in the USA this week ordered agribusiness giant Monsanto to pay more than $2 billion to a couple claiming the company’s popular weed killer, Roundup, caused their cancers.

There is debate about its safety.

In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organisation’s cancer agency, concluded that glyphosate was “probably carcinogenic to humans”. However, several other international agencies continue to declare it as safe, and many scientific studies have found no association with cancer. However, the wider opinion is now changing as more independent reports are being made, including a report recently released in the USA that says Glyphosate is probably the reason for a massive spike in the number of children born with autism.

Check out Robert F Kennedy’s video on Glyphosate, and states some well known facts that industry may have been aware of its dangers decades ago when his grandfather was President of the USA.

Europe banned the use of Glyphosate a decade ago, in fact the British government are hoping to phase out Glyphosate in 2025.Despite the conflicting evidence, Roundup has already been banned by some local authorities across the country, with Bury now following suit.

Councilor Rishi Shori, leader of Bury Council, said: “We are aware of the recent concerns expressed over the use of glyphosate to control weeds, including a campaign and petition from a group of Bury residents.

“We take all matters relating to public health seriously, and feel it is correct to stop using glyphosate herbicide in children’s play areas pending a wider examination of the issue.

“This review will also give us the opportunity to look at what viable alternatives there are and which would best protect our bio-diversity and ecology.

“I have had a positive discussion with local campaign representatives and will be meeting them next week to discuss how we can develop a community response to the use of glyphosate in Bury.”

Alternative non-chemical treatments are available.

Japanese Knotweed Agency is the first and currently only entity that offers a non-chemical Thermo-Electrical treatment against Japanese Knotweed. Delivering up to 5000 volts directly to the weed stalks and crowns, sends a massive destructive shock throughout the weed effectively boiling it in situ and it should decompose and leave no trace. It may take several treatments as would chemical treatment, but with thermo-electrical treatment, the ground is left 100% safe and chemical free. Treatment does not affect the ground or land or other foliage next to the treated weed.

Japanese Knotweed Agency will now offer this service across England and Wales throughout 2023 and beyond.

Treatment of weeds such as Japanese Knotweed can now be done safely, and without the use of Glyphosates, protecting our environments and the health of children and adults and wildlife, and is a massive step forwards that has been needed for decades in line with Europe.

Read more about the Japanese Knotweed Agency and their Thermo-Electric eradication on our website: https://japaneseknotweedagency.co.uk/rootwave/thermo-electrical-treatment/

Or call us freephone 03335 777 888