Public realm weed management – Joint Statement from Andrew George MP and Ben Maguire MP
We agree with Cornwall Council both that there have been numerous complaints about the safety and integrity of some pavements and the public realm where vegetation has become uncontrolled, and that any alternative policy adopted for public realm management would require agreement of all parties by the end of April, if it is to be rolled out in time to be effective. However, as it seems this has only been communicated to parish and town Councils, communities and the public in recent weeks it has not provided sufficient time to satisfactorily consult.
We therefore believe Cornwall Council has left this matter too late to implement this season, without generating significant avoidable controversy and undermining public trust. Nevertheless, the proposal can now be given time for sufficient further scrutiny, research, and review of the science prior to a decision taken in time to be rolled out next year. Given approval for the use of glyphosate in the UK expires in December 2026, this would also allow time for the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to complete a thorough review of the herbicide’s safety and effectiveness before deciding on its long-term renewal.
If the Council agrees, we will consult the Government, and seek the resources to – in addition to the formal HSE authorisation review – commission a thorough review of peer reviewed science into the human health, wildlife and other environmental impacts of using glyphosate, and on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and practicalities of alternatives to herbicide based solutions. We are aware that much of the science quoted in discussions has included selective material, including from sources too closely associated with companies with a commercial interest in promoting these herbicidal remedies. That’s why we would prefer to commission an independent review of all factors.
While we await a peer reviewed analysis of the impact of glyphosate we note its use is currently restricted in many countries including Austria, France, Belgium, Germany, Canada, Luxembourg and elsewhere due to concerns around its negative impact on biodiversity, soil health, water contamination, and potential serious health risks to humans and animals. We agree that the Council’s proposed diluted drip method mitigates some of the risks but it would not eliminate them altogether.
We would also welcome the opportunity to consult on the decision-making process and the management of this policy, as we would prefer the decision on the implementation to be handled through a more devolved process. Whilst of course Cornwall Council should retain overall responsibility for and continuity of the maintenance of pavements and the public realm, it should consult on devolving decisions and management to parish and town councils and to provide neighbourhoods down to the street level to adopt responsibility for the management and maintenance of their own street front, pavements in public realm, on the basis of providing per household council tax rebates to those locations which manage their own areas to the satisfaction of the council. This would then give those communities and neighbourhoods which have the strength of community and energies, and who feel strongly that they wish to avoid the use of a vegetation control measure they are unhappy with, to use their own lawful method as local volunteers during the spring and summer seasons.
While it is currently legal in the UK, we believe glyphosate usage should be minimised. And we acknowledge that there are still some circumstances where the most effective method of controlling the most seriously invasive non-native species, such as Japanese Knotweed, is difficult to achieve without syringe injected herbicide, but feel that decisions regarding the justifiable control of weeds on pavements etc to protect the integrity and safety of these important assets needs to follow a proper exploration of the facts and with sufficient time to properly consult.
Andrew George MP – Ben Maguire MP