A petition has been launched calling for Kent County Council to halt its use of glyphosate weedkiller over concerns about the impact on insect and wildlife and even people’s pets.
Ahead of a planned eight week spraying schedule in Thanet, St Peter’s mum-of-two Kerry Sabin-Dawson has written to county councillors, lodged a complaint with the authority and set up the petition which has gained 646 signatures in 6 days.
Kerry, who is a teacher at Wellesley Haddon Dene School whose pupils recently joined a Restore Nature Now rally, says the fact Thanet council has stopped using glyphosate in favour of a safer steam foam alternative should mean KCC does not use the chemical treatment on the isle either.
However, KCC plans to start spraying in Thanet from this Monday (August 12).
Kerry said: “I’m a teacher at Wellesley Haddon Dene and we have a really strong ethos of looking after the environment.
“I’m very passionate about the environment and I know the problems glyphosate can cause. Professor Dave Goulson (professor of biology at the University of Sussex and a specialist in ecology and the conservation of insects) has written about the insect apocalypse and what we are doing to cause this.
“I was at Thanet council’s meeting when they voted to stop using glyphosate and I was overjoyed. Then I found out that KCC is going to do this spraying. I am absolutely appalled that they are going to do that when Thanet council no longer does.
“People in Thanet have already spoken out about this and were heard by our council but KCC is not listening to what people want.”
Last September Thanet councillors raised concerns over use in the district of weedkiller containing glyphosates.
Councillors Becky Wing and Barry Manners questioned the use of the herbicide which some studies have labelled as a probable carcinogen while others say the product, most commonly known as RoundUp, is toxic to fish and birds and can kill beneficial insects and soil organisms that maintain ecological balance.
In February of this year, Thanet council agreed that an additional £100k will be used to fund Hot Foam weed control instead of Glyphosate. The hot foam equipment can also be used to clean graffiti and chewing gum from walls and pavements.
The European Chemicals Agency says there is no reason to classify Glyphosate as a carcinogen and it is approved for use by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as safe to its users and the public, and for use on the public highway.
But The Pesticide Collaboration – hosted by Pesticide Action Network UK and the RSPB – is a coalition of environmental and health groups, academics, farming networks, trade unions and consumer rights organisations working under a shared vision to urgently reduce pesticide-related harms in the UK.
They say: “Pesticides are chemicals designed to kill living things. A product may be designed to target a specific pest, but it has been estimated that less than 0.1% of pesticides actually reach their target. The remainder of these chemicals end up contaminating water and soil, affecting non-target species such as birds and bees.”
The Pesticide Collaboration wants to see pesticide-free agriculture, ambitious pesticide reduction targets and the phasing out of pesticide use in urban areas for weed management in towns and cities, in parks and on roads.
A number of councils across the UK have already gone pesticide free or pledged to do so. This includes Glastonbury- the first to make the move in 2015- Tendring in Essex and, recently, Newton Abbot, Devon. Folkestone and Hythe council has drastically reduced glyphosate use.
Kerry says she has had good responses from county councillors Ros Binks and Derek Crowe-Brown but says that is not enough to turn around KCC’s decision on Glyphosate use.
She said: “They have both been very supportive but they are only two councillors so they are not going to be able to turn this around.”
Kerry raised the petition to “show the feelings of people in Thanet” and says the number of signatures and the comments have been encouraging.
She said: “It isn’t just me that feels this way. A lot of the population have noticed the decline in insects and that has a massive impact on all creatures feeding in those areas. Hedgehogs are massively affected as they are scampering around those edges picking up the poisons. People are also concerned about their pets, their dogs sniffing around it.”
Kerry says if she cannot get any action she will ask town and parish councils to lobby KCC for a change of policy on pesticide use.
She would like the 8 week spraying programme to be paused while KCC looks at alternatives, such as Hot Foam.
Weeded streets pledge
Green town and district councillor Tricia Austin said: “At Ramsgate Town Council, we held a two hour online meeting with KCC earlier this year at my request. They refused to stop spraying weedkiller on our streets but did say that if residents weed their own streets, they won’t spray them.
“They undertook to let us know when they planned to start spraying, and have been as good as their word, which is how we know they plan to start in Thanet on 12th August.
“I’ve publicised this widely on social media, and I know a number of residents’ groups have been out weeding, so it’ll be interesting to see if KCC do as they promised. I’d ask anyone who’s weeded their street to keep a close eye on what happens, and let me know on [email protected]”
Diluted
A KCC spokesperson said: “”The herbicide we use is glyphosate diluted with water. It is approved for use by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as safe to its users and the public, and for use on the public highway, amenity areas, private properties and gardens.
“The HSE approval process specifically examines the safety of the herbicide for use on hard surfaces and its risk to people, the environment and flora and fauna.”
‘Irresponsible’
County Councillor Karen Constantine says she has raised the issue of glyphosate use three times at full council meetings and has called for a risk assessment for the workers using the products.
She added: “KCC are frankly irresponsible when it come to the use glyphosates.
We all now know that use of these chemicals causes harm. Every year where ever glyphosate has been used – residents report bee’s dying, dog owner’s report their pets becoming sick. KCC always downplays the risks.
“I’ve also requested a risk assessment in regard to KCC workers and contractors using these products. The GMB union has called for the guidance by the World Health Organisation to be heeded, and for these products to be treated as a severe health risk to the general public. KCC don’t listen to these pleas.
“On the balance of current evidence available KCC should stop using glyphosate immediately and replace it with safer alternatives – many of which have been trialled by councils in the UK. Indeed I reeled off a list for the councillor’s at the meeting.
“KCC would do well to heed this call to action, which as I pointed out, follows a landmark decision in the US which ruled that Monsanto’s Roundup – which contains glyphosate as its key ingredient – was liable for a terminally ill man’s cancer and ordered the company to pay $289 million in damages. This was the first case of its kind but there are another 8,000 similar cases pending in the US alone.
“This sort of significant legal claim will eventually happen in the U.K. and councils like Kent County Council who have turned a blind eye, need to be beware.”
Find Kerry’s petition here
And information about becoming a pesticide free town/district here
Could it be even more pointless having layers of local government who all do different things and spend more time explaining who does what than actually supporting residents and their priorities in a cohesive and joined up way.
I am apalled at the levels of weeds in Thanet.Its by far the most weed ridden place i have ever seen.What do you propose if your not going to spray.The weeds make the area look like a slum.
If you read the article properly, you’ll see that TDC uses a “stesm foam” system. I saw it in use on the Esplanade in Ramsgate a few days ago.
No noxious chemicals are used, just (very) hot water.
It does require more manpower and kit, but is much more ecofriendly than glycophosphate.
Andrew
Put needs reapplying every 3 weeks as it doesn’t kill the root. So it’s not cost effective
Where as glyphosate going into the water table = lovely tasty KNOWN carcinogens for all, the death of insects and the system collapse of pollinators…in an area of agriculture…
Could people on Community Payback, or whatever its called now, be used to rake out the weeds, and cut back overhanging hedges? The latter is a major problem for people on mobility scooters, and for the visually impaired.
Don’t listen to her kill the bloody weeds
Glyphosate going into the water table = lovely tasty KNOWN carcinogens for all, the death of insects and the system collapse of pollinators…in an area of agriculture…
What’s wrong with the good old garden hoe,it was good enough year’s ago, so why not now ,
Because it doesn’t destroy the roots.
Where as glyphosate killing the roots and going into the water table = lovely tasty KNOWN carcinogens for all, the death of insects and the system collapse of pollinators…in an area of agriculture…There’s a reason most farms round here have switched to using FGS Organics fertilisers…
You really think that kcc and tdc can afford to employ staff to weed all of Kent and thanet ?
I’m all for not using glyphosate but until something else comes along we have no choice.
Hot foam lasts about 3 weeks. Plenty of studies about this, as it doesn’t kill to roots same as using a hoe it doesn’t kill the roots.
Even Brighton have gone back to glyglyphosate because nothing else works. You can’t get a greener council than Brighton and they use glyphosate.
Glyphosate going into the water table = lovely tasty KNOWN carcinogens for all, the death of insects and the system collapse of pollinators…in an area of agriculture…
But sure, satisfy the nimbys who don’t give a FCK about long term and only want short term solutions.
“She would like the 8 week spraying programme to be paused while KCC looks at alternatives, such as Hot Foam”
Hot foam last for 3 weeks max so every 8 weeks is pointless.
Please put a link to support your observation that Hot Foam only lasts 3 weeks max.
Non glyphosate weedkiller works just fine. I have used it for ages. It’s widely commercially available.
The research found that:
Across 18 different environmental impact categories, hot foam had the highest impact in all but one category, with the environmental impact of glyphosate being lowest in all but two categories.
Total product usage was lowest, at 0.33 litres per km for glyphosate, compared to 4.06 litres of acetic acid (12 times more herbicide), and 5.38 litres of hot foam (16 times more than glyphosate) required to treat one kilometre of pavement.
Hot foam required 629.64 litres of water per kilometre – 62 times more water than glyphosate, which required 13 litres per kilometre. Acetic acid required 8.44 litres per kilometre.
Applying glyphosate used less fuel – just 0.18 litres of diesel per km treated, compared to 0.19 litres for acetic acid, and 12.33 litres of diesel, plus 2.13 litres of petrol for hot foam – that’s 63 times more diesel and 100% more petrol than required for glyphosate.
It took 0.16 hours of labour to treat one kilometre with glyphosate, compared to 0.23 hours for acetic acid, and 4.89 hours for hot foam.
Glyphosate was also the product that worked best – generating only four complaints, compared to 22 for acetic acid, and 29 for hot foam.
The trial, carried out following a recommendation from a CardiffCouncil Environmental Scrutiny Committee inquiry into the management of biodiversityand the natural environment, was conducted by Dr Dan Jones, an Honorary Research Associate in Swansea University’s Department of Biosciences, and Commercial Director of Advanced Invasives, a consultancy founded in 2016 to bring evidence-led thinking to the commercial management of invasive plants.
Thanks for that.
Where was the mention that it only worked for three weeks?
That’s the fed back I have had from people who have used it.
Not get me wrong if we could get away from chemicals I’m all for it and harming the earth.
But what people forget is the running costs of hot foam. The amount of diesel, petrol and water that is needed. Than the increase in staff and wages. Hot foam is not a very green product as it need fossil fuel and loads of water.
Where as glyphosate going into the water table = lovely tasty KNOWN carcinogens for all, the death of insects and the system collapse of pollinators…in an area of agriculture…
read and let sink in.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/monsanto-bayer-corteva-farm-chemicals-lawsuit-1.7231907
What I find interesting about these ban glyphosate people they never come up with how to fund the other options.
As I pointed out with the research I posted. Hot foam is not a green solution, it uses fossil fuel and a huge amount of water. I would guess that these people would want to reduce the use of fossil fuel yet promote a product that uses nearly 100% more !
For kkc to invest in hot foam the cost to us will be in the millions, money kkc don’t have. It means buying more diesel, petrol, water, it means more staff, wages, more general pollution.
I have nothing against the ban chemical approach my moan is they don’t tell you the facts about hot foam. The fossil fuel, the water, cost, the effectiveness of it, etc.
By all means call for glyphosate to be stopped but come up with a viable replacement. Or we just leave the kerbside etc full of weeds.
Bring back DDT-we all breathed it in for decades & it didn’t do people any harm.
First the weeds,then the dog poo,then the litter and finally the grafitti.Perhaps this lady wants all Thanets alleyways to be unpassable or the 5ft abundance of weeds to become 10 foot.In some areas the traffic islands are becoming lost under the kerb turf growth and weeds. I want to live in a clean area not a ghetto.
Get spraying it should have been done weeks ago to be effective.
Just spray the weeds and get the place looking cared for instead of looking run down and neglected. Every dam thing that is suggested is complained about by the tree kissers.
Tree kissers care about their friend, family, pets, and local environment. You seem to not.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/monsanto-bayer-corteva-farm-chemicals-lawsuit-1.7231907
Roundup (glyphosate) causes cancer. It kills all plant life, not just weeds. It causes cancers in its users, and is highly effective at also killing pollinators/pets.
If she’s this worried about how much KCC is spraying on the verges she’s going to absolutely shart herself when she finds out how much the farmers spray on their fields!
you mean the farmers round here that have mostly all switched to organic fertilisers and insecticides?
You’re going to have to provide some sort of evidence to back up that ridiculously outlandish claim, anon, otherwise you will be labelled as Fake News!
A last minute petition days before the spraying is due to start won’t be listened to. If KCC sprayers find there are no weeds to spray they won’t spray. The only way to make sure there are no weeds to spray is to get out with a hoe and pull the weeds up before KCC get there. And then get out there again and again every few weeks because the roots will still be alive and growing underground.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/monsanto-bayer-corteva-farm-chemicals-lawsuit-1.7231907
Glyphosate is a known carcinogen that the company has been successfully sued over multiple times.
Keep yourselves and your pets, WAY away from it.
Hope they’ve got plenty of the stuff, they’ll need it to lean up Thanet