Cornwall is famous for its stunning gardens and lush landscapes, but a heated debate has erupted over plans to tackle a less attractive type of vegetation: roadside weeds.
Unified officials have announced plans to use the controversial herbicide glyphosate to clear sidewalks and curbsides, after its use has been largely phased out over the past decade amid concerns about potential harm to humans and the peninsula’s rich ecosystem.
Thousands of people have signed a petition opposing the plans, and dozens of protesters gathered at Truro’s courthouse on Tuesday to demonstrate ahead of a meeting where the issue will be discussed.
They argued that herbicide use could endanger people and animals, especially bees, and damage beloved and beautiful places such as surfing beaches in the north and winding river systems in the south.
Additionally, many claimed the council government, run by Liberal Democrats and independents, had been misguided to target weeds, arguing that there was enormous value in the humble dandelions, daisies and wild garlic that could be eradicated.
“This is a step backwards. I’m furious,” said beekeeper Nicola Andersen, who showed up wearing a hazmat suit and holding a placard that read “Bees need weed.”
“Other parts of the country are moving away from glyphosate,” said Oliver Baines, another beekeeper. “We’re moving in the opposite direction. Glyphosate isn’t a weed anyway. It’s a wildflower and bees love it.”
Oliver Baines, Nicola Andersen (right) and another protester in a beekeeper’s suit. Photo: Karen Robinson/Guardian
“The dangers of glyphosate are well known. Nature needs weeds. Weeds are an important part of the cycle of life,” said Leslie Fitt, who wore a gas mask to make her point.
Marianne Daish showed off her floppy ears to highlight her belief that glyphosate can harm mammals such as rabbits and hedgehogs. “My grandchildren pick wildflowers for me, but what if they have herbicides on them?” she said.
Some of Cornwall’s smaller councils have said they will go it alone and find other ways to tackle weeds. Penrhyn town council, near Falmouth, plans to organize a group of volunteers to keep its pavements clean without the use of glyphosate. Redruth Town Council is aiming for a similar community initiative, with one resident suggesting “community goats” could help keep unwanted vegetation in check.
Two petitions opposing the glyphosate plan have garnered more than 10,000 signatures, and 200 medical professionals have signed a letter advocating for the use of the herbicide near schools and medical sites.
Newquay Green councilor Drew Creek told a full council meeting in front of a packed public auditorium that the plan was a “major policy shift” and called for it to be put on hold. He said the World Health Organization had listed glyphosate as a possible human carcinogen since 2015.
Mr Creek argued that surface water runoff from the treatment area could enter waterways and eventually be discharged into the sea, including in the surfing town of Newquay, which he represents. “I don’t want kids splashing around in here,” he said.
Leslie Fitt donned a gas mask to make her point. Photo: Karen Robinson/Guardian
The UK Government has highlighted the benefits of moving away from chemical pesticides, and the Health and Safety Executive is assessing whether glyphosate should continue to be approved for use in the UK.
But during the meeting, Dan Rogerson, portfolio holder for cabinet transport, said a “limited reintroduction” of glyphosate was needed because routine weed control had not been carried out for years.
He said the Cabinet understood public health and environmental concerns, but weed removal was a public safety issue, not just a cosmetic issue. He said the diluted solution would be applied using “targeted droplets” rather than a spray and would not be used on roadsides or green areas.
Council leader Lee Frost said other local authorities in England and Wales were trialling “mixed methods” of diluted glyphosate and mechanical and manual weed removal, and thousands of people had complained about the condition of their footpaths and kerbs.
In a report on the issue, council officers said a wide range of non-chemical methods had been tried, but these alone could not effectively maintain Cornwall’s 1,000 miles of city roads. They said a three-year “tightly controlled recovery phase” would be required and that the impact on pollinator habitat would be “negligible.”
The report said: “National regulators now allow the use of glyphosate in the UK, and evidence shows that when used carefully, in a targeted manner and only on hard surfaces, the risk to public exposure and therefore to health is very low.”
Councilors ultimately voted in favor of Creek’s motion for a moratorium. However, this is only a consultative decision and it will now be up to the Cabinet to decide whether to proceed with the plan or halt it.
Loïc Rich, portfolio holder for environment and climate change, suggested the cabinet could change course. “While this is a recommendation, it is morally wrong to ignore such a clear message. I will spend the next day or two reflecting on what happened.”
