Pesticides continue to be used in Reading despite concerns about the environmental and health impacts, as they remain the most effective way of killing weeds.
Glyphosate is a chemical called a herbicide that is used to kill weeds from branch to root.
Concern has been raised about Reading Borough Council’s use of glyphosate, which is poisonous to animals and may cause cancer.
A push for the council to consider alternatives was made at a full council meeting.
Councillor James Moore (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) referred to a trial of the alternatives in 2022, and a decision by the council’s housing, neighbourhoods & leisure committee in July 2023 to require that any new weed control contract include a commitment from the successful bidder to work toward a suitable alternative.
He said: “Will the council confirm whether a new weed control contract has been awarded since July 2023, and if so, whether the requirement for the successful bidder to work toward a glyphosate alternative was included in that contract – and what progress, if any, has been made against that commitment?
“Almost half of UK councils are now taking some action to reduce or end pesticide use in public spaces, and Liberal Democrat-led councils including Bath & North East Somerset and the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames have made formal commitments to phase out or significantly reduce glyphosate use.
“Will the council commit to bringing a report back to committee setting out options for a formal, time-bound pesticide reduction plan for Reading – for example by adopting Pesticide Action Network UK’s freely available three-year phase-out framework?”
The question was answered by Finn McGoldrick (Labour, Norcot), the newly appointed lead councillor for environmental services.
She said: “I know this is an issue many residents are passionate about and it is important we get the right balance between our environmental responsibilities while ensuring the public realm is maintained in the way residents expect.
“Since 2024, we have procured weed control annually, allowing flexibility to adopt new technologies as soon as they become viable.
“Contractors are required to work with us on alternatives, and officers continue to the market and the experience of other councils.
“We have already reduced glyphosate use by 25 per cent and apply integrated weed-management principles: targeted treatments, reduced frequency, avoidance of sensitive areas and continuous review of alternatives.
“However, the evidence from our own trials and from the wider sector is clear: glyphosate is currently the only treatment that reliably kills the root system.
“Alternatives require far more labour, water and fuel, which have their own environmental considerations, while being less effective on established weeds.
“At present, no alternative offers the same combination of effectiveness, practicality and value for money and that is why most councils still rely on it for large-scale highway weed control.”
She added that she supports a report into the alternatives being prepared.
The answer was given at the meeting on June 30.
Cllr McGoldrick succeeded Karen Rowland as the lead councillor for environmental services following the council elections.
