Councillors who led the fight to ban the use of a toxic weedkiller in Midlothian have now backed plans for it to be used more across the county.
The local authority introduced a ban on the use of glyphosate in 2019 after SNP Councillor Colin Cassidy brought a motion against it – and when officers asked to be allowed to reintroduce it during the Covid pandemic he and fellow SNP councillors Dianne Alexander voted against it.
However they were outvoted and the weedkiller was reintroduced in 2021, but with restrictions on the way it is used and length of time it is sprayed during the year.
Last week officers asked councillors to extend the months of the year they can use glyphosate saying climate change had meant weeds growing longer.
Council officers said allowing them to start spot treatment with glyphosate in March instead of June would also save them nearly £18,000 by allowing them to axe a seasonal gardener job needed to remove weeds by hand in the summer.
And they said that while they remain ‘committed’ to reducing the use of the toxin, introducing it early would mean an additional 300 litres of it are spread over the year.
The lifting of the ban during the pandemic led to community action with groups like Danderhall Guerilla Gardeners set up to take over the maintenance of public spaces from the council.
The Danderhall volunteers struck a deal with the local authority to manage space in their communities on the understanding glyphosate was not spread on them.
At a meeting of councillors last week Councillor Dianne Alexander moved a motion to support the request for increased use of the weedkiller despite admitting to being ‘disappointed’ by its use.
She said: “I am disappointed we are having to use more glyphosate this year but I realise it is necessary just to keep Midlothian beautiful.”
Councillor Colin Cassidy, who led the campaign to ban its use, said: “I know the concerns the public have over the use of glyphosate. A few years ago now I brought a motion to council to ban glyphosate in Midlothian.
“I realise it is a necessary evil in the circumstances we use it and I am satisfied they way our environmental team are using it is very direct. It is not the old way we used to do it just spraying it willy nilly, and it is on no food sources and no bees are being harmed in the use of it so I am quite happy with this.”
Councillors unanimously backed the call for the increased use of the weedkiller.
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
