Earlier in the year weeds were big news. We had a front page story in our Summer print edition and have been waiting for an update on the council’s plans to attack weeds, while reducing the use of the herbicide Glyphosate in the capital.
The problem with glyphosate is that some studies show it has carcinogenic properties, and the European Commission is about to review discussions over the licence for its use.
The matter was raised at committee level last November when the council asked for a new way of dealing with weeds on streets and green spaces. There was a follow up in June 2017 when Cllr Callum Laidlaw lodged a motion on the matter for discussion at full council.
Councillor Laidlaw who was elected in May this year pointed out that many difficulties arise from ignoring weeds across the city, such as damage to pavements and streets, and while he recognised that the council had discussed the matter in November 2016, said that more immediate solutions were needed.
Now the grandly titled Integrated Weed Control Programme will be introduced and progress will be reported on next year.
David Jamieson Parks and Green Space Manager explained they are looking at taking action on weeds in a certain (and rather determined) fashion. He also said that the number of complaints about weeds have dropped by 40%.
The Parks Department will now target unwanted green areas across the city by doing the following:
- They will map locations where there are weeds
- They will focus on street repairs and replacing pavements
- They will remove more detritus more thoroughly
- They will continue to use glyphosate weedkiller but on a reducing basis
Labour Councillor Scott Arthur questioned why the council was not wiping out the use of glyphosate completely, and also asked for more information on the way the council would deal with what he considers a paucity of resources to deal with the problem.
After the meeting Cllr Arthur told The Edinburgh Reporter : “I welcome the fact that The City of Edinburgh Council is taking weed control on our streets seriously.
“The outline plan approved today is the start of a process which I hope will result in a city which we can truly be proud to welcome friends and visitors to.
“With just 8 operatives currently responsible for 3,500 km footpaths, however, we have to ensure the approved plan is adequately resourced.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
