• About
    • Ethics policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Ownership, funding and corrections
    • Complaints procedure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
Brighton and Hove News
29 July, 2025
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Brighton and Hove News
No Result
View All Result
Home Brighton

Weeds poke their way back into the council chamber

by Sarah Booker-Lewis - local democracy reporter
Friday 12 Jul, 2024 at 9:28PM
A A
9
‘Virtually impassable’ path left overgrown all year

Overgrown weeds obstructed twittens in Portslade making it hard for people on foot to use them

Conservative councillors have called for more action to remove weeds and more frequent grass cutting.

Councillor Alistair McNair, the Conservative group leader, spoke out at a meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council last night (Thursday 11 July).

He said that Labour had promised to “wage war on weeds” in the party’s 2023 local election manifesto.

Since then, councillors have given their backing to using glyphosate weedkiller, widely sold in shops as Roundup.

The council stopped spraying the herbicide five years ago but, in January, voted to go back to using, although applying it in a different way.

Instead of spraying the chemical, it is suspended in oil and applied directly to pavements weeds in a method that is less indiscriminate.

Councillor McNair called for a report to the cabinet to address the need for regular grass cutting and pavement weeding, with timelines and priority given to areas where older people live.

He said that Labour had promised a rose garden – but if there were roses, he said, they were hiding in among the weeds.

He said: “There’s more money for graffiti removal. More money for trees. More money for potholes. Why haven’t funds been released to solve the weed problem?

“This crucial service is still underfunded. Spraying with glyphosate once will not be enough to suppress weeds – hand de-weeding will also be required for larger weeds.

“We acknowledge many residents strongly disapprove of glyphosate. The council should still continue to investigate different methods of weed suppression.”

The Greens and Brighton and Hove Independents joined the criticism. They said that many people were concerned about the weedkiller and areas should be able to opt out of the glyphosate treatment.

Brighton and Hove Independent councillor Bridget Fishleigh said: “Many organisations, including Southern Water, have recommended that the council does not use glyphosates, citing the threat to the city’s aquifers and water quality.”

She said that a report on the matter should include the results of aquifer water testing for glyphosate contamination.

She added: “We want to remind all council operatives and contractors applying glyphosate to be cognisant of the recommendations to wear masks and protective clothing.”

Councillor Fishleigh said that she had received reports of workers wearing shorts while spraying.

Labour councillor Tim Rowkins, the council’s cabinet member for net zero and environmental services, said that the requests made by the Independents and Greens had either been done or would be done.

Councillor Rowkins said: “We need to make sure that our streets are safe and accessible and that the city is maintained to the satisfaction of residents – and that of course is why we were forced to act earlier this year.

Councillor Tim Rowkins

“I would just ask for a little patience … it’s not realistic to expect the promised rose garden that was quoted earlier in just a few weeks.”

Independent councillor Peter Atkinson said that weed removal had gone well in his ward, North Portslade, which was the first to be targeted.

Councillor Atkinson said: “The only issue (was) the eventual removal of the dead weeds. This is sometimes carried out by a Cityclean worker and sometimes by the residents themselves – so a little bit hit and miss.

“I am grateful, however, to the administration for the reintroduction of weedkiller and this problem should be much easier to deal with as the years progress.”

A report is expected to be presented to the council’s cabinet on grass-cutting regimes, including sight lines and verges, with residents to receive clearer timelines for weed removal so people will know when their street would be cleared.

ShareTweetShareSendSendShare

Comments 9

  1. Linda Jameson says:
    1 year ago

    It is regularly reported that the “droplet” model is being used but this is not accurate. There are apparently plans to move that but the original decision was clear they would be going back to indiscriminate spraying with all the negatives that involves.

    Reply
    • BertY says:
      1 year ago

      Citation please to these “apparent plans”?

      Reply
      • Tailor says:
        1 year ago

        Is mentioned in the Brighton and hove web site minutes

        It was recommended to spray the cancer causing poison by the contractor the council approached as they felt that the droplets would not be effective until at least two years of spraying. The cost to do this was nearly double that of the short handed hand weeding the council had been using. The contractor were unable to give a fix cost as ‘could cost a lot more’, would guess the droplet method will be more expensive. To be seen if effective but sure will be a council success just as they are congratulating each other now for poisoning residents and environment

        There was no mention of who or how much it would cost to remove the dead weeds once poisoned. Seems more economical and safer for city clean and residents to pull the weeds before they are droplets with a cancer causing poison ?

        Was also not mentioned that some areas of the city would be hand weeded as to not upset voters in case Labour environmental chair lost his council seat to the greens in the future and city centre that Labour would of liked to have taken from the greens in the resent election

        Reply
        • BertY says:
          1 year ago

          Perhaps you could provide the url of the minutes you state?

          I’d especially like to see the details of the costs of spraying which I would assume compares continual weed removal versus the limited attempts by a few council operatives with hoes.

          Did they use the term “cancer causing poison” or are you yet another misinformed scaremongering activist?

          As you are well aware, Glyphosate has had its EU license approved for another 10 years and is legal to buy and use in the UK, the EU, and the US.

          As with all chemicals, usage instructions need to be followed and the cancer cases in the US related to commercial use on crops by operatives and not weed removal on pavements and gutters.

          The weeds in Portslade have been successfully treated. Many have just decomposed with the recent rains.

          Reply
  2. Soph says:
    1 year ago

    When even Southern Water, a company who apparently has no issue routinely dumping sewage in our seas and waterways, express concern about the potential harm of glyphosate use, it’s bonkers that the council ignore everyone and carry on regardless #ListeningLabour at their finest…

    Reply
    • Tailor says:
      1 year ago

      Agreed.

      Reply
    • BertY says:
      1 year ago

      Citation about Southern Water concerns relating to use of Glyphosate please.

      Was this, by any chance, in relation to use by farmers on crops entering the water supply, rather than pavements and gutters where any runoff enters drains and goes off to Peacehaven?

      Reply
  3. jon smif says:
    1 year ago

    while the application of weed killer has had initial success in the north portslade area it will require additional spraying if its to be successful. weeds are already starting to regrow in some of the treated areas and some places such as the alleyway pictured have not received any treatment what so ever owing to an almost comical oversight by bungling city clean bosses.

    Reply
  4. johnsmiff says:
    1 year ago

    the weed killer has been initially successful in north portslade however weeds are starting to regrow and it will require additional treatment if it is to be a success. most alleyways and twittens including the one pictured have not been treated owing to the almost comical ineptitude of city clean bosses.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most read

Brighton has Newhaven in its sights

Man punched in face at McDonald’s

Building collapses in Brighton

A27 Brighton bypass closed after two lorries crash

Vandals smash up seafront venue in early morning wrecking spree

Racist abuse suspect identified after public appeal

Weeds poke their way back into the council chamber

Man rescued from basement flat fire and taken to hospital

Two men face court charged with killing a sheep

By-election due as Brighton councillor resigns

Newsletter

Arts and Culture

    • All
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
    The Libertines announce intimate warm-up show

    The Libertines announce intimate warm-up show

    29 July 2025
    ‘On The Beach’ Day Seven with Kaiser Chiefs Razorlight & friends

    ‘On The Beach’ Day Seven with Kaiser Chiefs Razorlight & friends

    28 July 2025
    ‘On The Beach’ Day Six with Carl Cox & friends

    ‘On The Beach’ Day Six with Carl Cox & friends

    28 July 2025
    It’s ‘One Giant Love’ for Cud at Brighton concert

    It’s ‘One Giant Love’ for Cud at Brighton concert

    28 July 2025
    Load More

    Sport

      • All
      • Brighton and Hove Albion
      • Cricket
      Simpson steers Sussex into strong position on day two v Hampshire

      Sussex lose by an innings to Essex at Hove

      by Bruce Talbot - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
      25 July 2025
      0

      Sussex 204 (52.4 overs) and 261 (82.1 overs) Essex 504 (118 overs) Essex win by an innings and 39 runs....

      Simpson steers Sussex into strong position on day two v Hampshire

      Sussex end day three at Hove on cusp of defeat to Essex

      by Bruce Talbot - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
      24 July 2025
      0

      Sussex 204 (52.4 overs) and 245-7 (74 overs) Essex 504 (118 overs) Sussex trail Essex by 55 runs with three...

      Manager of Brighton and Hove Albion’s women team dismissed after allegations

      Brighton and Hove Albion sell Estupinan to AC Milan

      by Frank le Duc
      24 July 2025
      0

      Brighton and Hove Albion have sold Pervis Estupinan to AC Milan in a deal worth almost £18 million. The 27-year-old...

      Simpson steers Sussex into strong position on day two v Hampshire

      Sussex unable to dislodge Essex on day two at Hove

      by Bruce Talbot - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
      23 July 2025
      0

      Sussex 204 (52.4 overs) Essex 475-9 (113.3 overs) Essex lead by 271 runs with one first innings wicket remaining Hundreds...

      Load More
      July 2024
      M T W T F S S
      1234567
      891011121314
      15161718192021
      22232425262728
      293031  
      « Jun   Aug »

      RSS From Sussex News

      • Boy, 16, deliberately run over tonight then beaten with weapons 28 July 2025
      • Two men due in court charged with killing a sheep 28 July 2025
      • A27 closed after two lorries crash 28 July 2025
      • Police refer fatal motorbike crash to watchdog 26 July 2025
      • Police hunt driver who fled after crashing into house this morning 26 July 2025
      ADVERTISEMENT
      • About
      • Contact
      • Support
      • Newsletter
      • Privacy
      • Complaints
      • Ownership, funding and corrections
      • Ethics
      • T&C

      © 2023 Brighton and Hove News

      No Result
      View All Result
      • News
        • Opinion
      • Arts and Culture
        • Music
        • Theatre
      • Sport
        • Cricket
      • Newsletter
      • Public notices
      • Advertise
      • About
      • Contact

      © 2023 Brighton and Hove News