‘Contractual obligations’ are causing the Isle of Wight Council to reintroduce the use of a controversial chemical weedkiller, however, it will continue to try to find a sustainable alternative.
Vice-chair of the Isle of Wight Green Party, Councillor Cameron Palin, used public questions at the budget meeting at County Hall on Wednesday to express his disappointment over Island Roads’ decision to return to using Glyphosate.
He told the meeting its use harmed the natural environment, insects, bees and lizards.
The maker of Glyphosate insists it poses no adverse effects to honey bees, based on extensive testing. However, some studies say it does harm bees indirectly.
Nearly 3,500 people have signed an Isle of Wight petition asking County Hall to prevent the use of weedkiller and television presenter Chris Packham is among those criticising the decision.
On Wednesday night, Councillor Phil Jordan, cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said it was a contractual issue, not an ecological debate.
The highways PFI contract, which is delivered by Island Roads, stipulates its use and to change it would require a waiver, or a deed of variation, which both parties would need to agree on, said Cllr Jordan. A sustainable or agreeable alternative has not been agreed upon, but Cllr Jordan was determined to “at the very least, find a more sympathetic approach”.
The transport lead said he could not comment on how the previous administration had allowed hand weeding and non-herbicides in the first place and added the council is in discussions over performance standards that “fell short of contractual requirements”.
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, cabinet member for the environment and champion of the Isle of Wight biosphere, said he shared in the disappointment but understood the reasons for Glyphosate’s return. He said its use would be selective and particularly mindful of wildlife and promised to “put his weight behind seeking better solutions”.
Of course it effects Bees, it kills plants. BUT there are plenty of weeds about not just the ones growing through pavements.
I thought it wouldn’t be long before Island Roads started listening to the ignorant and ill informed moronic crew intent on killing anything green that grows in any of their precious tarmac. Their mentality is “Who cares about the environment? As long as everything looks *tidy*. So called tidiness is all that matters to them ! Heaven help us. Poor Chris Packham must be rolling his eyes with the stupidity and ignorance of certain people on this island. I know I am, nearly every day.
Has anyone seen the crew removing the weeds by hand ?? We watched them on high Park rd in 2020 what a farce they had 10 men it took 3 hrs to do approx 500 yds of road so at £10 ph it cost £300 !! …reckon it would take about 10 years to do the whole of the Island then start again ..So the man on the little buggy used to take 10 mins at £10ph to do the same job sso come on Council you do the MATHS and use our tax sensibly for once !!
Can we test it in vast quantities inside county hall?
I will happily join you in spraying this bunch of idjeets
Remember the wind carry’s the poison on to gardens i don’t think the bee’s will be to happy
It may be a contractual obligation but it is also a requirement to inform the occupiers of adjacent land to the area sprayed of the intent to spray and the dosage used. Records should be kept and made available. for years there has been a very lax approach to this work. Glyphosate needs 3 weeks to work if applied at the manufacturers instructions, I have seen plants go down after 5 days after kerb spraying a clear indication of overdosing and not compliant with regulations. There are bio alternatives and they should be considered.
Yawn, Yes, that will work out won’t it.
Knocking on people’s front doors to inform/ask there permission to spray the outside of there front walls.
Why don’t you become a councillor ?
You would fit in fine.
Lots of red tape, to play with.
Well Dr Jollop this is not a suggestion it is a requirement under the regulations for spraying any pesticide and should be complied with. .Our the council contractors are not complaint or displaying best practice. No I would never be a Councillor, there are too many ill-informed people pontificating at any one who wants to correctly fix an an issue.
A simple solution to those who are worried about the bees, only spray the weed killer out of season when there are no bees ie now, especially when the weeds have grown large.. We are talking about pavements and kerbs in towns and villages. Obviously it should not be sprayed on a windy day to mitigate it’s spread to nearby gardens etc
It gets into any plants at the root system and as it flowers it is in the pollen! The bees then feed or any pollinator, it causes massive neurological trauma and stops bees or other pollinators finding way back to hives, thus seeing the colony due a slow and lingering death from starvation, this I know as a bee keeper and as for saying Glyphosate is, safe for pollinators did our beloved leaders not know Monsanto went tits up because of all the proven cancer claims thrown at them from users of Round up particularly, who were not made even vaguely aware of any health imitations, since then scientists, have proven Glyphosate does not break down in human beings it stays in the brain, and if your unlucky enough to have the Parkinson /Mnd/Ms gene contact wit Glyphosate will trigger that gene no ifs or buts, and before you all howl with indignation the 221 complainants who wouldn’t get off their backsides to remove weeds manually! My husband died from Parkinson aged 49 London Nuclear Hospital confirmed via, a, slice of his brain in autopsy huge amounts of Glyphosate, as he was a dairy farmer and Round up when it first came out was the “in pesticide to use”! No health warnings no this can cause health issues! He sadly and unknowingly carried The Parkinson gene, it triggered it, so when a random quad bike pumping out Glyphosate roars, past you “try holding your breath” surely a, sustainable option would be getting Community services luents out on the job and beloved leaders that’s free
The council approves 0f spraying poison in public places! So that’s OK then.
Why not use white vinegar surely that would be safer and is very effective?
As long as its does not effect wild life, insects & us humans in any way its ok!
But not the cheap & deadly stuff previously brought.
Weeds are wildlife…