Council 'reneging on weedkiller vow' claim

MORE HARMFUL CHEMICAL USED DESPITE 'ZERO' PLEDGE - COUNCILLOR

- JANE HAYNES News Reporter

BIRMINGHAM City Council is under fire after appearing to renege on a promise to cut back and eventually eliminate its use of a harmful weedkiller around parks and residential streets.

The council had pledged to act quickly in 2022 after a 100,000 strong petition spearheaded by Bee Friendly Brum highlighted the dangers of the chemical glyphosate.

It would drastically cut back its usage and move towards 'zero,' officials told campaigners.

But instead of cutting back on glyphosate, the amount used has since gone UP by more than 1,000 litres a year.

Cllr Izzy Knowles (Lib Dem, Moseley) said: "I find it irresponsible of the council to issue statements suggesting they and their contractors are drastically reducing the use of a harmful chemical, when in reality they have done no such thing and are using more of it than they did three years ago."

She produced figures which show that in both 2021 and 2022 it used 2,850 litres.

In 2023, the year following the petition being submitted, it used 3,780 litres, in 2024, 3,635 litres.

The council has admitted in a series of written responses to councillors that it is continuing to use the chemical as its frontline weedkiller after struggling to find cost-effective alternatives.