Council Faces Pressure to Ban Glyphosate Use

A move to ban glyphosate-based herbicides and pesticides on West Berkshire Council land was put forward by Green group leader David Marsh on Thursday, citing risks to human and animal health.

"The chemical weedkiller glyphosate is both a herbicide and a pesticide, which is why you see both terms in my motion and in the wider debate.

"It is a herbicide designed to kill or control weeds, but falls into the broader category of pesticides, the umbrella term for any chemical substance designed to prevent, destroy or repel pests - including insects, rodents, and unwanted plants," he said.

"In 2015 it was designated a 'probable carcinogen' by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organisation."

Stuart Gourley (Lib Dem, Newbury Clay Hill), the executive member for the environment, said the council keeps pesticide and herbicide use to a minimum.

"On the public highway it is used to keep ways clear of weeds. It is applied once a year.

"Across parks and open spaces we look to minimise its use where practicable.

"With all that said, thanks for bringing it forward for discussion with officers."

The motion was referred without debate to the council's executive committee, which angered Mr Marsh.

"When can we get these motions debated?" he asked. "It seems like time and again, matters which are important to residents are not debated here and just decided upon by the same 10 people in the executive.

"With 43 people on this council, once again something is being decided by those 10."

The council chair, Stephanie Steevenson, said: "This is not just about budgetary things but also relates to operational matters on the council's land. So it is appropriate to refer it in this way."

Mr Marsh warned of broader harm from GBH. "The abbreviation GBH - glyphosate-based herbicides - is an apt one, because this chemical is committing grievous biological harm.

"Glyphosate residues are found in bread and many other foods, in beer, in our tap water, and in our bodies.

"It is devastating for wildlife, killing bees and other insects while stripping away food and shelter for birds and mammals, and polluting our rivers."

Professor Michael Antoniou of King's College London called GBH "the most deceptively toxic pesticides ever invented" and said: "There is an increasing weight of evidence that links GBH exposure to reproductive problems, including birth defects and developmental disorders, as well as cancers."

Mr Marsh said GBH use in the UK has risen sharply since 1990, partly because crops are sprayed to dry before harvest, and criticised past claims about its safety.

Newbury MP Lee Dillon, one of 35 MPs to back an Early Day Motion on pesticides in public spaces, said: "My motion proposes a two-year period to identify and phase in alternatives, such as thermal weed control or organic contact herbicides, as has been done successfully by other councils."

He also wants the council to warn residents about health and environmental risks and promote pollinator-friendly gardens and green spaces.

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter