Hounslow approves return to herbicides to blast weeds
Council will transfer £285,000 from parking revenue to support this year's weed removal programme
Hounslow Council has approved a one-off payment of £285,000 to Hounslow Highways to buy the herbicide glyphosate and pay extra workers to apply it on borough roads. The funds will come from the council parking revenue account.
Glyphosate has not been used on borough roads since 2020 and a council report notes that weed growth has become more widespread, more frequent and stronger as a result. The council has used glyphosate, which is not illegal in the UK or EU, for invasive species such as Japanese knotweed.
Most councils have avoided widespread use of glyphosate because it is recognised to be damaging to the environment and human health. According to the Pesticide Action Network, “at low concentrations it damages liver, kidney and skin cells and long term effects include cancer, infertility, pregnancy problems, birth defects and respiratory diseases.”
In 2015, the International Agency for Research in Cancer said glyphosate was “probably carcinogenic” but unknown dangers lie in additional chemicals in pesticides which are regarded as trade secrets by manufacturers.
Glyphosate is water soluble, so it can seep into the aquatic food chain and can affect amphibians and other aquatic species.
The new funds will allow two sprays of herbicides and additional workers to clear dead weeds. The new money will more than double the £212,000 already allocated to weed clearance.
Weeds have become a more common sight on west London streets in recent years. Last month, workers in Ealing were seen spraying small amounts of herbicide on street weeds.
The decision was published by the council today because it has a financial implication of more than £250,000 and in the interests of transparency and accountability.