Stop glyphosate weedkiller spraying in East Sussex

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Stop glyphosate weedkiller spraying in East Sussex

Cllr Peter Pragnell, Chair of East Sussex County Council and Cllr Claire Dowling, Cabinet member for Transport and the Environment

glyphosate weedkiller is sprayed on pavements

East Sussex County Council and East Sussex Highways must stop glyphosate spraying in East Sussex, with immediate effect.

What's so bad about glyphosate?

Glyphosate is a chemical herbicide that is a danger to human and animal health. In 2015 the World Health Organisation found that glyphosate was a likely carcinogen. There is mounting evidence that glyphosate solutions damage the life-cycles of important pollinators (bees and other insects), as well as other animal species (earthworms, hedgehogs).

The current main method of spraying is from a mini-tractor. This leads to accidental spraying (misting) of other plants, as well as unnecessary spraying of areas where there are no weeds at all. Road gutter spraying leads to glyphosate washing into drains and into waterways, killing aquatic plants and fish.

Regular application of glyphosate, particularly without the use of other weed removal methods, will increase the number of resistant weeds: glyphosate spraying is already ineffective against a number of persistent weeds.

Time for a ban

The Pesticide Action Network reports that 60 councils including councillors across the political spectrum have pledged to ban glyphosate and use alternative weed treatments. This includes Lewes and Eastbourne District Council.

It is time for East Sussex County Council and East Sussex Highways to do the same.

please note: only signatures from east sussex residents will be counted

We're of course grateful for your support wherever you live, but if you don't have an East Sussex postcode, the County Council will disregard your signature and it won't count towards the final total. Sorry non-residents! We still love you, and you can still sign it to show your support (but we'll have to filter you out of the final list of petitioners that we submit to ESCC).

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Lewes District Green Party

To: Cllr Peter Pragnell, Chair of East Sussex County Council and Cllr Claire Dowling, Cabinet member for Transport and the Environment
From: [Your Name]

We call upon East Sussex County Council and East Sussex Highways to stop glyphosate spraying in East Sussex with immediate effect.

We note that other UK Councils, including Lewes and Eastbourne District Council, have ceased widespread use of glyphosate formulations for biodiversity reasons and due to concerns about its carcinogenic properties.

We note that there are increasingly cost-effective alternative, non-toxic, means of dealing with unwanted foliage, including manual and mechanical removal, hot foam and electronic ‘zapping’.

We encourage collaboration with other councils and the Pesticide Action Network to find better weed removal solutions in accordance with ESCC’s own commitment to environment resilience and public health.