Residents divided over Hounslow Council’s decision to bring back chemical weedkiller

Image: Left- Right, Jo Gilbert, Sabeel Khan and Tim Hurley at the meeting at St Paul’s Church

Backlash from residents at Chiswick Area Forum meeting

The use of the pesticide glyphosate was discussed at the Chiswick Area Forum on Wednesday. Officers from Hounslow Council were invited to explain why they had decided to return using it when there had been a court ruling in the United States which found it had contributed to the compainant’s cancer.

In 2019, Hounslow Council decided to ban the use of common weedkiller glyphosate to manage weeds in the borough, and use manual labour to remove the weeds instead.

The Council’s environmental pledge was reversed in February, and as of Tuesday 1 July, they have resumed spraying glyphosate on the borough’s streets.

“We are one of the few boroughs in the country that has been glyphosate free for five years and we really have tried it, but we do have to get that balance right”, said Tim Hurley, Service Director of Hounslow Highways.

Cllr Jack Emley, who chairs the Chiswick Area Forum and put the subject on the agenda for the meeting, took to the streets last week with colleague Cllr Ron Mushiso to clear some of chiswick’s ‘jungle’ themselves.

READ ALSO: If the Council won’t weed our streets, we will

Mr Hurley said complaints about weeds on streets had increased by about five times in recent years, with Chiswick pinpointed as one of the areas with the most complaints. However,  according to Hounslow Highways’ action plan, Chiswick will be the last area to be treated with the chemical in the borough, with plans to start in August.

Mr Hurley stressed that Hounslow Council had “not given up on alternative treatments” and were trying out the effectiveness of a saline solution on an area in Isleworth. However, he maintained that a course of glyphosate was necessary in order to bring weeds under control, so that new approaches can be discussed in future.

Some residents say weeds pose “safety hazard”

Another argument put forward by Hounslow Highways for the use of glyphosate was that excessive weed growth can be dangerous to public safety.

David Blackburn, resident of Bedford Park Conservation Area agreed. He said:

“The consequences of not dealing with weeds are serious. If these chemicals are applied properly, I do not think there is a great deal of risk.

“There is a much greater risk that people will crack their heads open, walk in the middle of the road, and create a safety hazard.”

Others  concerned about “poison” to wildlife and humans

One angered resident said to Tim Hurley:

“I don’t think we should be spraying poison in the area. We are trying to encourage wildlife in this area. We have hedgehogs, we have birds… this country is suffering from decimation of wildlife and birdlife, and this is contrary to that premise.”

“We are going to breathe it in as well! It is poison!”

Councillor Peter Thompson who represents Chiswick Riverside was keen to squash this use of language to describe glyphosate.

“Many of our household products are toxic and poisonous if used in the wrong place and at the wrong amount. I think we can’t ignore the fact that every single government agency here and in the EU haven’t banned it yet.

“I think there is a slight concern whenever we get onto language of science and chemicals that it becomes ‘poison’, and we perhaps create fears and concerns that may not be there”.

Image: Jo Gilbert, founder of Wild Chiswick, spoke against the use of glyphosate

Environmental group urges against it

Jo Gilbert of WildChiswick was at the Chiswick Forum Meeting. She urged residents not to use widely accessible products such as Roundup which contain glyphosate.

“I have researched: glyphosate damages wildlife”.

Jo cited a study by Professor Dave Goulson, which found there was a 25% reduction in house sparrows in areas that used glyphosate.

One resident asked Tim if they could avoid glyphosate being used near their home if they removed the weeds themselves.

“If residents want to clear what is outside their house, then when we get there to spray, there will be nothing to spray,” Tim said.

“If residents groups want to get involved and clear weeds, we will come along, help out and provide the materials to show our support for it.”