A bid to restrict a type of weedkiller in Cumberland has been defeated.
Two Green Party councillors to proposed a motion calling for the local authority to stop using glyphosate.
Councillor Jill Perry (Bothel and Wharrels, Green Party) proposed the motion, seconded by Councillor Helen Davison (Belah, Green Party).
In the motion, they asked that the council recognised:
- The biodiversity decline in species of pollinating insects including bees, wasps, hover flies, moths, butterflies and beetles due to the destruction of natural habitats. Pollinating insects are the ‘key workers’ that ensure the successful fertilisation of flowering plants and food crops;
- The importance of health and well-being and recognises that 20 percent of the population of Cumberland reports daily activity being impacted by their existing health issues. This is higher than the national average;
- Glyphosate-based herbicides and pesticides are being used on council owned and managed land and this is detrimental to the natural world and, by extension, to society;
- Glyphosate-based pesticides and herbicides have devastating direct and indirect impacts on flora and fauna and are associated with several forms of cancer, with children particularly at risk. Indeed, glyphosate has been banned or restricted in many countries including France, Denmark and The Netherlands.
They said, over 80 local authorities across the UK have phased out or put measures in place to phase out toxic pesticide use.
Other local authorities have unanimously passed motions to phase out the use of glyphosate and have adopted non-chemical alternatives.
During the debate Cllr Perry said the decline in pollenating species was linked to the use of pesticides and small animals could be poisoned by the residue as well as fish were also being poisoned by the run-off into rivers and streams.
She said that a new bill on the subject was due to be heard in Parliament in April. She added: “My hope is that we will be ahead of the game here today.”
Councillor Bob Kelly (Millom, Labour), the Cumberland policy and regulatory services portfolio holder, said it was a very important topic and added: “There’s no doubt there’s a threat to biodiversity.”
He said there was no doubt that the chemicals were very effective in dealing with nasty species such as Japanese knotweed and suggested that the matter should be referred to the council’s climate and nature advisory group for further investigation.
However, Councillor Gareth Ellis (Wetheral, Conservative) said such a restriction would not be based on facts but it would be based on fears.
He added: “Much like the health scares over vaccines during Covid.”
He said glyphosate was not banned in other countries but it was regulated and added: “Glyphosate is entirely safe to use when used in the recommended ways.”
Councillor Sally Lansbury (Keswick, Labour) said there were fewer damaging ways of weed control including natural alternatives.
Councillor Helen Davison (Belah, Green Party) said the advisory group had no teeth and added: “All we can do is make recommendations.”
She urged members to go in the direction of being glyphosate-free and added: “We’ve a duty to protect our ecological system and we should go further as a council.”
The motion that the council agreed to:
- Establish a plan to phase out the use of glyphosate and other synthetic herbicides and pesticides on all council owned or managed land;
- Involve local communities in becoming pesticide-free, including ensuring the council communicates the benefits of stopping pesticide use and invites residents to take part in trialling other methods of weed management;
- Introduce a phased withdrawal from the use of all pesticides, including glyphosate, over a period of three years, including by all council’s subcontractors.
When the matter was put to the vote only six members were in favour, with 28 against and one abstention, and it was defeated.
