Hounslow Council to Start Using Glyphosate Again
Weedkiller blamed for bee population decline now deemed to be safe
A Hounslow Highways employee removing weeds
February 14, 2025
Hounslow Council is planning to resume the use of a controversial weedkiller that some believe causes significant environmental damage and cancer risk.
The council’s contractor, Hounslow Highways stopped most use of glyphosate in 2019 after reports suggested that it could be contributing to a decline in the global bee population. The chemical was only used for managing invasive species like Japanese Knotweed and Mares Tail.
However, the recently published budget report revealed plans to reverse this decision. It states, “The Council, with Hounslow Highways, has reviewed its policy on the use of glyphosate and the Council has satisfied itself with evidence pointing to low human and environmental impacts with appropriate, regulated use. Given the need to ensure cost-effective weed management and reduce the costly long-term impact on infrastructure, the Council will revoke the ban on glyphosate with a fuller paper setting out its future regulated use in Highways, Housing and Parks to follow.”
Since the ban the council has struggled to control weed growth across the borough which, it is claimed has created safety hazards and drained resources. Manual removal of weeds has proved to be expensive and time-consuming and the council believes it can reduce spending in this area by ending the ban.
The guidance currently given to local authorities in the UK from the Health & Safety Executive is that Glyphosate is safe to use and it dismisses any link with its use and a decline in pollinators pointing out that it does non contain neonicotinoids which are believed to be the cause of most harm.
Recent opinions on glyphosate safety remain divided. Regulatory bodies like the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continue to classify glyphosate as unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk when used properly. However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) maintains its classification of glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans" and some environmental and public health advocates continue to call for alternatives to be used.
The borough’s Parks Forum, which is an association of local volunteer friends’ groups, asked the Council to review the ban on the use of Glyphosate in parks in 2023, following a vote at the November meeting.
Working in parks, groups saw paths and verges becoming overgrown with self-seeded trees, shrubs and perennial weeds. These eventually break up paths and verges and lift and damage fences and walls.
The Parks Forum concluded that the ban made keeping SUDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage) type, surfaces clear of weeds just about impossible. John O’Brien of Friends of Thornbury Fields watched a gravel track laid just a few years ago start to disappear into encroaching grass. He said, “Digging out the grass removed the gravel with it.” Being unable to spray the grass off around trees left them vulnerable to drought and to having the bark damaged by strimming close to them.
Chair of the Forum Kathleen Healy added, “We recognise that the intention was good, but it is important to review and assess the impact of changes made and we are pleased that the Council has done that. Overuse of Glyphosate, particularly in agriculture where it can create sterile monocultures, is a concern. Use globally has increased massively in recent years, particularly since Glyphosate resistant cereal crops were created through genetic engineering. Local Authorities, however, use little of it. They use it to manage weeds in hard surfaces; on paths and along verges and walls, where you really don’t want plants, including trees, to grow. Glyphosate is assessed as safe for people and the environment by the Health and Safety Executive which is the government advisor to public bodies including Local Authorities.
“We welcome the outcome of the Glyphosate review and look forward to working with the Council to enhance our parks and open spaces for wildlife”.
The move has also met with the approval of the Conservative opposition. The group’s leader Cllr Peter Thompson stated, “We have been urging the Council for years to get a grip on our weeds. Hounslow Council has finally admitted defeat in its glyphosate ban, acknowledging that uncontrolled weed growth has blighted streets, created safety hazards, and drained resources.
"Weeds collect litter, interfere with visibility for drivers, damage pavements, and clog drainage systems. Relying solely on manual weeding has been a costly failure. A 2023 Oxford City Council report has exposed the huge cost gap between manual and chemical weed control. Manual weeding costs £1,333 per km, while chemical methods cost just £10.48 per km—a staggering 127x more expensive.
“The initial ban on glyphosate was driven by concerns about its environmental impact, particularly on pollinators like bees. However, with no effective alternative in place, weeds quickly took over. Manual weeding has proven ineffective, as it only removes surface growth while roots continue to spread.”
“The Council is right to note that recent research has reinforced the case for glyphosate use.
"The Council needs to ensure that its environmental policies are driven by evidence, not symbolism. Going green for the sake of it doesn’t always deliver the best results. Moving forward, the Council must focus on sensible, balanced policies that prioritise both environmental protection and public safety.”
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