Fife Council will keep using glyphosate in public places

Councillors were told that, ideally, the local authority wouldn't use glyphosate, which is alleged to have links to cancer, but they're finding it hard to find a cheaper and more effective alternative.

At the full council meeting on Thursday Lib Dem councillor Jonny Tepp asked about the use of the herbicide, which is used by the local authority to control weeds and protect infrastructure.

Environment spokesperson, Cllr Jan Wincott, said: "The council recognises the environmental harm that glyphosate can cause to biodiversity and eco systems.

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"To minimise this damage the grounds maintenance service has developed an integrated weed management programme that reduces the need for herbicide use.

"All soft surface treatments have stopped and hard surface treatments are approved for road channels, pavements, kerbs, footpaths, playgrounds and car parks."

She added: "There are no other non-chemical alternatives as effective as glyphosate herbicide which has a longer lasting effect and is significantly cheaper than other weed killing applications.

"The ultimate objective is not to use glyphosate but without an effective alternative there's a significant risk of weed growth damaging hard surfacing and drainage systems."

Lib Dem councillor Jonny Tepp. (Image: Fife Council)

In a written question, Cllr Tepp asked about the council's use of the controversial substance "given its perceived dangers to humans and biodiversity".

In 2015 the World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” but this was revealed to be based on "limited" evidence.

Cllr Wincott told councillors that "nearly every council" in Scotland uses it as a weedkiller and added: "It has been approved for use in both agriculture and amenity environments for over 40 years.

"Whilst there has been some controversy about glyphosate use this active substance is currently approved for use both in the European Union and Great Britain."

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She said the European Food Safety Authority and the European Chemicals Agency concluded it "did not pose an unacceptable risk to human or environmental health" and added that it remains approved for use in Britain until at least the end of 2025.

Cllr Tepp said: "It's a tricky problem. I'm mindful of the fact that Monsanto and Bayer have settled £11 billion of claims to date without admitting liability which seems like a high figure if there's no problem."

He asked the council to consider stopping using it in playgrounds and Cllr Wincott said she would raise the matter with the service.