H&F Council Aims to Ban Chemical Weedkillers from Local Parks
Now working with contractors to replace herbicides with natural alternatives
Hammersmith and Fulham Council is aiming to stop spraying local parks with potentially harmful weedkillers.
The council says it has been looking for some time at alternatives to glyphosate-based herbicides, including foam and steam and says these chemicals are not being used by its contractors at the moment.
There have been serious concerns about these weedkillers since the publication of a report by the World Health Organization’s cancer agency IARC that glyphosate, the world's most widely used weedkiller is a "probable" human carcinogen.
However, the EU recently approved a 12 to 18 month extension on glyphosate’s use to allow time for further scientific studies.
Locally, a petition has been launched asking H&F Council to ben dangerous pesticides. It says: " It is not acceptable that ourselves, our children and the animals we share our community with are being routinely exposed to these chemicals, whether we like it or not.
" This is a matter of great importance for those of us who care about each other’s health and the health of our children, our cats, our dogs and all the flora and fauna of this city, of course including our beloved bees."
The news is of particular interest to dog owners in Fulham, who were advised by vets in 2013 to avoid walking in Hurlingham Park, after a severe outbreak of haemorrhagic gastroenteritis led to the death of one pet and made some others seriously ill.
At the time the ground in Hurlingham Park was being restored following the annual Polo in the Park competition.
In 2013 the council responded by reassuring the public that it now tested all horticultural products used in the popular Fulham park, and had ruled it out as a cause of the illness.
Wesley Harcourt, the cabinet member for environment, said: " As is the case at almost all local authorities, glyphosate-based herbicides are currently used by Hammersmith & Fulham council contractors, Quadron and Serco.
" However, we have been working with contractors for some months to replace these with chemical-free alternatives, such as hot foam and steam."
Nick Mole, policy officer at Pesticide Action Network UK, said: " We have been campaigning for a long time to make our towns and cities pesticide-free and it’s fantastic this is now happening in Hammersmith & Fulham.
" People are rightly concerned about glyphosate and other pesticides in schools, playgrounds and parks — and the long-term effects on children."
June 3, 2016
