 |
| Cornflowers, poppies and daisies used to be common on roadside verges and on the edges of playing fields, but now many, if not most, have fallen victim to NELC's application of Glyphosate |
CONTROVERSY has bubbled up anew over North East Lincolnshire Council's extensive use of a poison that destroys the vegetation that provides habitat for bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects.
As well as in parks and on verges, NELC sprays Glyphosate on pavements and in road gutters in order to eradicate any plants it deems to be 'weeds'.
But some residents fret that, as well as destroying plantlife (that, after all, is its purpose), the poison also poses a health risk to humans and their pets.
At a scrutiny panel meeting this week, the council's portfolio holder for the environment, Cllr Henry Hudson (Con, Wolds), banged the drum for continued use of the controversial chemical.
He said people had been "getting silly" about use of Glyphosate (also known as Roundup).
"There's been too much scaremongering," he declared. "Glyphosate is not dangerous - it is totally safe.
"It is a miracle chemical!"
Support for this view came from cabinet colleague, Cllr Ron Shepherd (Con, Scartho), who runs a popular market garden in Bradley, with produce sold to the public at the gate.
He revealed that, under licence, he buys a more potent version than that available in shops and garden centre.
He insisted it was invaluable in killing the wild plant, horsetail, which otherwise would grow as much as three foot in a single season.
"It is also effective against dandelions, nettles, brambles and, to a lesser exent, thistles."
However, misgivings were sounded by some panel members not just about Glyphosate but also about the adequacy of last year's consultation exercise with the public.
"The process was too complex,"claimed Cllr Kevin Shutt (Lab, Heneage).
Worries were also sounded by Cllr Kathryn Wheatley (Lab, West Marsh) who said there were parts of her ward - notably Duke of York Gardens - where she certainly would not wish to see poison applied,
"I don't want chemical run-off entering watercourses which are important for otters and swans," she said.
Following a debate, which was sometimes fractious, the panel voted in favour of a Glyphosate-free six-month pilot exercise in six of the borough's wards to assess both the impact and the response of the public.
Although Glyphosate will not be used, there will be nothing to prevent councillors or the public from removing weeds by hand or tool if, for instance, their growth is deemed to pose a hazard.
"What's's the harm in that proposal?" commented panel chairperson Nicola Aisthorpe (Lib-Dem, East Marsh) who went on to remind colleagues: "Some weeds look quite nice".
 |
| Nowhere for wildlife - the base of trees could provide precious habitat for wildflowers and butterflies but it has been destroyed in favour of sterility in many parts of the borough including this verge on Taylors Avenue (above). |
The Grimsby News says: If Glyphosate is "totally safe" why is is it a requirement for NELC operatives to wear protective clothing when applying it to open spaces? The portfolio holder is too gung-ho in his approach. There have been numerous examples, in previous years, of chemicals being deemed safe - only to be withdrawn later as their danger becomes apparent. And there is the wider question about the impact of this chemical on biodiversity - wildflowers and the bees, butterflies and birds that depend on them. Better for NELC - and for the community -to be safe than sorry.
